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Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO).

Program Summary

The American Art Program supports scholarly loan exhibitions that contribute significantly to the study and understanding of art of the United States, including all facets of Native American art. These grants advance the Program’s efforts to empower art museums to reconsider accepted histories, amplify the voices and experiences of underrepresented artists and cultures, and facilitate important dialogue with diverse collaborators and communities.

The foundation gives the highest consideration to the cultural significance of the art, the intellectual rigor and originality of the exhibition’s conceptual framework, and the organizational capacity for the successful execution of the project. They secondarily consider geographic and institutional diversity. While accompanying publications and additional tour venues are not required, they can enhance a project’s strength.

Additional guidelines include:

• Art of the United States, including Native American art, should constitute significantly more than half of the checklist.
• The organizing institution’s permanent collection should not constitute more than half of the exhibition checklist.
• A single, privately held collection should constitute no more than half of the exhibition checklist.
• The holdings of a single commercial dealer should constitute no more than half of the exhibition checklist.

Deadlines

• CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MST March 16, 2026
• Sponsor Concept Note Deadline: April 24, 2026
• Sponsor Proposal Deadline (by invitation): June 26, 2026

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

• Project Summary (2 pages maximum): Describe the exhibition’s concept, cultural significance, and intellectual framework, highlighting the originality of the project and its potential impact. It should also outline the exhibition checklist, sources of works, and the institution’s capacity to execute the project successfully, including any optional enhancements such as publications or additional tour venues.
• PI Curriculum Vitae

To access the online application, visit:

Eligibility

Concept Notes must be submitted online by the originating institution and not by a participating-venue institution. (Letters are not accepted from individuals.)

Limited Submission Guidelines

Only one exhibition per year can be submitted per institution.

Award Information

While the foundation does not specify award amounts, have ranged from $75,000 up to $300,000.

Review Process

The foundation gives the highest consideration to the cultural significance of the art, the intellectual rigor and originality of the exhibition’s conceptual framework, and the organizational capacity for the successful execution of the project. They secondarily consider geographic and institutional diversity. While accompanying publications and additional tour venues are not required, they can enhance a project’s strength.

Applicants are judged as a pool throughout three stages of review. An external panel of advisors, including art historians and curators, participate in the advanced stages of the competition. Visit the to see recently funded exhibitions.