New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants 2026 (Up to $20,000 in Funding) – Applications Open

Application Deadline: April 7, 2026

About the Grants

The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG) program provides grants of up to $20,000 to environmental art projects led by women, transgender, and gender-nonconforming artists across the United States and U.S. Territories. This initiative supports projects that inspire thought, action, and ethical engagement with environmental issues. Proposals should demonstrate thorough consideration of a project’s ecological and social ethics while actively engaging with an environmental issue at some scale.

For the 2026 cycle, the program will distribute over $470,000 in funding to support artists whose work addresses pressing environmental challenges. Projects that explore interdependence, relationships, and systems through Indigenous and ancestral practices are particularly encouraged to apply.

Award Benefits

• Grants of up to $20,000 per recipient
• Funding to support project completion between August 2026 and August 2027
• Recognition and visibility through NYFA and AWAW networks

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Identify as a woman, transgender, and/or gender-nonconforming artist
• Be 18 years or older on or before the grant deadline
• Be an individual artist serving as the project lead for the proposed project
• Collaborative projects are eligible and encouraged to apply
• While partnerships with organizations are permitted, organizations themselves cannot apply or serve as the lead applicant
• Have residence in one of the 50 states, a Tribal Nation, a U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia on the grant deadline
• Not be enrolled in a degree-seeking program of any kind during the grant term (August 2026 to August 2027)
• Not have received an AWAW EAG previously as the lead applicant
• Past recipients of other NYFA and AWAW grant programs are eligible to apply
• Not be a NYFA or AWAW employee, member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, or an immediate family member of any of the above

Project Eligibility

Eligible projects must:

• Focus on environmental issues
• Be already in development at the time of application (new projects are not eligible)
• Be completed or reach a completed phase by August 2027
• Include a public engagement component that is free to attend and takes place within the grant term (August 2026 to August 2027)
• Demonstrate thoughtful consideration of ecological and social ethics
• Prioritize sustainability in materials used, ensuring they are non-extractive and ethically sourced

Projects may focus on themes including but not limited to: regeneration, eco-social engagement, decarbonization as decolonization, ecofeminism, climate change, systems-restoration, interspecies relationships, natural or built systems, recycling and repurposing, clean energy production, and bioplastics.

Application Components

Applications must be submitted in English and include:

• Lead Applicant Information
• Artist/Collective Information (including artist statement/mission and artistic discipline)
• Project Information (name, location, synopsis, phase description, milestones)
• Project Timeline
• Environmental and Social Impact statement
• Public Engagement Plans
• Target Audience & Outreach Strategy
• Project Budget (using provided template, indicating total grant request up to $20,000)
• Work Samples (up to 6 total, including 1-3 in-progress samples from proposed project)
• Supplemental Materials (optional: artist bios/resumes, letters of commitment or permits)

Applications are evaluated based on :

1. Project Clarity and Feasibility – Clear concept, defined roles, realistic timeline and budget
2. Environmental Impact and Community Engagement – Clear environmental/social impact goals, feasible scope, effective audience engagement
3. Creativity and Artistic Merit – Sustained commitment to art practice, alignment between artist statement and work samples

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: April 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET
• Applicants Notified: August 2026
• Grant Term: August 2026 – August 2027

How to Apply

Applications are accepted exclusively through the Submittable platform. First-time users must register for a free account. Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Apply here by clicking here