Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice (US)

At New England Foundation for the Arts, they believe that public art has the power to shift public culture and change the future, for the better. Creating positive social change requires collective imagination.

The Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice grant aims to support teams that are dreaming up what public artmaking can be as they strive for more just futures for our public spaces and public culture.

Priorities

• Teams who meet the eligibility criteria will be selected based on:
  • Clarity of intentions: they recognize that public spaces are not neutral. And public art made in public spaces is not neutral. They want to know what has brought your team to this moment of exploration and imagination, and why now? What are your intentions for embarking on an imagination journey together?
  • Commitment to participate in virtual cohort gatherings in 2025.
• Priority will be given to teams that share in NEFA’s public art values and are commitment to the work of dismantling the legacies of racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy culture. In particular they are prioritizing teams that are:
  • Led or co-led by Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC): and more specifically BIPOC artists and creatives. They believe the path to dismantling the legacies of racism and white supremacy culture includes centering BIPOC-led creative exploration and expression in public spaces.
  • Built on trust and accountability: teams that are aware of the power dynamics within their Collective Imagination Team and broader community and are actively working towards addressing imbalances in power dynamics.
  • Rooted in community: and/or demonstrate deep relationship to place – particularly rural places and/or places where folks are experiencing/have experienced displacement.
  • Wrestling with the intersectionality of spatial justice and racial justice: in their community and public spaces.

Funding Information

• Each team will receive a $6,000 grant.
• A new cohort of Collective Imagination Teams will be selected to participate in a six-month imagination journey, from January through June 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants must be a team of at least three members, based in Massachusetts.
• At least two team members must be available to participate in the NEFA-facilitated monthly virtual cohort gatherings from January-June 2025.
• Teams must include:
  • an artist/creative
  • a community member who lives/works where the team is focusing their imagination journey
• Teams are welcome to have more artists and community members. And they also recognize that team members may wear multiple hats as both artist and community member.
• Teams may be led by an individual or an organization rooted in the community. Teams may include community-based organizations, activists, cultural organizers.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Project-specific funding requests. If you have a specific project that you are ready to implement, please consider applying for a Public Art for Spatial Justice Grant.
• Past CISJ grantees are not eligible to apply to CISJ again for two full calendar years.

For more information, visit New England Foundation for the Arts.