New Works

The foundation believes in the critical role artists play in our communities—challenging boundaries, creating new narratives, and reflecting on the changing tides that impact our collective experience.

The New Works program draws inspiration from the founding vision of Phyllis Wattis by supporting smaller organizations to develop unique artistic experiences. Grants support new daring and diverse projects across various disciplines while celebrating the inimitable creative spirit of the Bay Area.

GUIDELINES

In addition to our general requirements:

Organizational budget not to exceed $1,500,000
Project budgets must be $100,000 or below
Grants will be awarded between $15,000 – $35,000 and will not exceed 35% of project budget
Projects must be completed within one year of receiving funds
Once a grant has been awarded, recipients must complete a 12-month rest period after the completion of the project, before requesting subsequent support
(Ex: if a New Works grant is awarded in 2024, the recipient will not be eligible to apply until the New Works 2026 application cycle.)
Current Legacy grantees are not eligible to apply for New Works grants. However, artists and organizations that are fiscally sponsored by Legacy grantees may apply.
Support for arts festivals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Prior to submitting a request for festival support, please contact foundation staff to discuss your request.
Competitive applicants can demonstrate a history of:
- Projects that feature a majority representation of Bay Area-based artists and contributors (Please note: The foundation recognizes that many organizational staff and artists have been forced to relocate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Artists supported through the grant are not required to currently reside within the geographic focus areas, but they should have a demonstrated history of living and working in Alameda, Marin, and/or San Francisco Counties.)
- Collaboration and community-informed practices, promoting meaningful relationships between artists and their communities
- Prioritizing support for Black, Indigenous, artists of color and those historically marginalized by persistent cultural, economic, and racial barriers

The open application dates for the 2025 New Works grant cycle are July 7 – 18, 2025.

Please find an overview of the application for your review and planning purposes. Visit the How to Apply page for more information on the application process.

If you have questions about application content such as project scope or type of request, please contact Tiffany Wood, Senior Program Officer, at twood@pfs-llc.net