Individual Support Grant*

Information

About

Adolph Gottlieb began his career as an artist in New York in the 1920s, with no expectation of financial reward. He became one of the small group of artists who initiated the movement known as Abstract Expressionism, and achieved artistic and financial success far beyond his early expectations.

Over the course of his life Gottlieb had several friends and colleagues who, despite their artistic achievements, were not able to support themselves either through the sale of their art or through teaching or related work. Adolph and his wife Esther were known among their friends as people who would help out when times were hard or when someone was in serious need.

In that spirit, Adolph left instructions in his will that a foundation be created to benefit “mature, creative painters and sculptors.” When Adolph died in 1974, this paragraph became a mandate for an artists’ estate to develop a program that would provide direct financial assistance to individual artists.

Esther Gottlieb, having helped to conceive this idea, saw to it that his wishes were carried out and pursued the structural development and organization of the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation.

These grant programs exist as part of the continuing legacy of Adolph and Esther Gottlieb and reflect their dedication to assisting individual artists.

Individual Support Grant 

For painters, sculptors and printmakers who have been creating mature art for at least 20 years and who are in current financial need. Grants are available through an open application process, and they have been distributed to artists worldwide.

The Foundation wishes to encourage artists who have dedicated their lives to developing their art, regardless of their level of commercial success.

Please note that these grants are available only to mature individual visual artists. The Foundation defines maturity in this case as having worked for 20 years or more in a mature phase of art.

The Gottlieb Foundation does not fund organizations, educational institutions, students, graphic artists, or those working in crafts. The disciplines of photography, film, video, or related forms are not eligible unless the work directly involves, or can be interpreted as, painting or sculpture. The Foundation does not fund exhibitions, installations, or projects of any kind.

Last year, the Foundation awarded grants of $25,000 each to 12 artists.

This program was conceived in order to recognize and support the serious, fully-committed artist, and we hope these individuals will consider applying. Twelve grants are awarded each year. Applications are reviewed by a panel of five professionals in the arts who have no affiliation with the Foundation. In this program, the following criteria must be met:

Maturity

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate that they have been working in a mature phase of their art for at least 20 years. Maturity is based on the level of intellectual, technical, and creative development maintained over this time period. Artists must show that their primary involvement has been with their artistic goals, regardless of other personal or financial responsibilities. Artists must work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture, or printmaking.

Financial Need

In addition to the maturity requirement, eligibility for an Individual Support grant is determined by the applicant’s current financial need. Each applicant must complete the financial disclosure section in full and must submit the appropriate financial documentation.

Please note that applicants who have previously received an Individual Support Grant from this Foundation three times or more are no longer eligible to apply. 

How to apply

Visit the foundation website and click “continue to application.”