“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” - Edward Hopper

The visual arts serve as a starting point for aesthetic inquiry. A powerful form of expression, they help us understand our place in the world, provide us with an historical record of culture and civilization, and communicate a wide range of values and beliefs.

Description: Café Royal Cultural Foundation NYC will award an exhibition/project grant to NYC artists creating paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs.

Submissions: To ensure that each submission receives the attention it deserves we will be only accepting 40 application for each of our categories.

Deadlines: Our Winter 2025 Grant cycle is open and will close on Monday February 3, 2025 or if we reach our limit of 40 applications, which ever comes first.

Amounts: Up to $10,000.00  

Eligibility:
Artists in all genres of visual arts.
Composition for the proposed piece(s) of art must be completed by your deadline as stated in the application.
The applicant must be the originator of the material of the artwork.
Grants will not be made for the purpose of commissions to artist(s). 
Grants awarded in this category may fund costs associated with continuing the composition of work submitted or related new work.
Artist(s) applying must be a current citizen or resident of the United State and must currently reside in New York City and have lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.

We would prefer that the exhibition of your project take place in New York City’s five boroughs, or in a location in close proximity to New York City that has been discussed and approved by Café Royal Cultural Foundation. Email caferoyaldigital@gmail.com for inquiries.

Please make sure to submit your application with ample time before the start date of your project. 

Applicants can only apply with the same project twice.

Application Requirements: 

• Up to and no more than five links of work samples for Cafe Royal Cultural Foundation Selection and Executive Committees to view or download. Will also accept link to artist’s portfolio website as an addition. Please make sure your links are correct and not password protected. If they are not correct or have password protection your application will be declined and not reviewed by the Selection Committee.

• A short description of the exhibition / project.

• A short artistic biography of the person(s) involved.

• Budget must not exceed the amount of $10,000.00

• List of costs of how you plan to use the grant funds.
  (Please review our lists of Approved and Ineligible Budget Items for Visual Grant Funds, located below)

• You cannot include any fees related to you, the applicant, in the list of costs.

• You cannot pay yourself artist fees. 

• If available, a letter of intent from gallery with date of planned show. Please note you do not need to have a gallery support you.

• Artist(s) applying must be a current citizen or resident of the United State and must currently reside in New York City and have lived there for a minimum of one year prior to applying and plan to be a resident through the completion of their project.

• We ask that the exhibition of your work no sooner than 90 days after this application's due date (no sooner than May 4, 2025) and no later than 12 months after your grant’s award date (no later than March 24, 2026).

• Applicants can only apply with the same project twice.

• You may apply in a different cycle with a different project.

  We would prefer that the exhibition of your project take place in New York City’s five boroughs, or at a location within proximity to New York City that has been discussed and approved by Café Royal Cultural Foundation.
  Email caferoyaldigital@gmail.com for inquiries.
  
  Please review the list of costs that will be and will not be approved.

Review Procedures: The Café Royal Cultural Foundation Selection Committee Judges will review and score all applications. The top five scored applications will move to a next round and will be reviewed Executive Committees. In recognition of the time, effort, and professional expertise that our Selection Committee Judges devote to the grant selection process, Café Royal Cultural Foundation provides a stipend to honor their commitment.

The following criteria will be applied in evaluating grant proposals:

• Artistic excellence in executing the art

• Quality of the finished work

• Innovation or Original Quality of the work

• Importance of the Project/Cultural Relevance

• Promise of future achievements in visual arts
  

Grant Applications: 

We accept applications all year round, please view our submission dates in our Grant Schedule.

We ask that the exhibition of your work no sooner than 90 days after this application's due date (no sooner than May 4, 2025) and no later than 12 months after your grant’s award date (no later than March 24, 2026).

Good Luck!