Convening Grant
Sponsor: Terra Foundation for American ArtInternal Deadline: 09/21/2026Institutional Submission Limit: 1Sponsor Deadline: 11/30/2026Program Website
The Terra Foundation for American Art's Convening Grants program supports conversations, symposia, workshops, and other convenings that stimulate interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange related to the visual arts of the United States and Indigenous arts of North America. The program encourages convenings that expand knowledge, build relationships, and inspire new perspectives and practices across local and global networks.
Convening Grants support programs that share research in American art and professional practice, address historical, contemporary, and critical issues that deepen, challenge, or expand stories and voices within the field, and foster dialogue among artists, scholars, cultural practitioners, and communities. Projects may be in the planning or implementation stages, and in-person, virtual, and hybrid convenings are eligible.
Convening grants typically range from $10,000 to $25,000. The Terra Foundation permits only one Convening Grant application per organization per grant cycle. Therefore, the University of South Carolina will conduct an internal competition to select the institutional nominee. Applications must be submitted through the institution's designated representative.
The Foundation prioritizes projects that generate new knowledge and interpretive frameworks, engage artists, scholars, and communities representing diverse perspectives, foster inclusive practices, and advance more expansive histories of American art.
The Foundation does not support applications from individuals, projects that primarily support permanent collection reinstallations or exhibitions (which are eligible under other Terra grant programs), or projects whose primary focus falls outside the visual arts of the United States and Indigenous arts of North America.
Submission Process
Limited submissions MUST be coordinated with the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Those interested in pursuing this opportunity should submit the following materials as a single PDF to USCCFR@sc.edu by September 21, 2026:
• Project information, including the project title (40-word limit), requested grant amount, total project budget, anticipated event date(s), and, if applicable, fiscal sponsor information.
• A brief statement describing the organization's history, purpose, goals, and values (2,275-character limit).
• A description of the proposed convening, including the start and end dates, content focus, format, the names and titles of the individuals who will develop the program, and any partnering organizations (2,275-character limit).
• A statement describing how the project addresses the following program objectives: generating knowledge and interpretive frameworks that reflect the breadth and complexity of American art and its histories through the artists represented, voices included, and stories told; engaging artists, scholars, and communities that present a plurality of perspectives and methods, including intercultural and interdisciplinary approaches; and catalyzing inclusive practices and expansive histories in the field of American art (3,250-character limit).
• If the primary goal of the project is to influence practice change, a description of how the project will demonstrate engagement with the field of American art.
For questions regarding this opportunity, please contact:
Frank Terrapin, Corporate & Foundation Relations, University Development; terrapin@sc.edu