Art Grant Application Guidelines

Mission Statement

The mission of the unSCruz Art Grants Program is to support artistic projects created for and/or presented at unSCruz. Art Grants are designed to help artists realize their unique creative vision and to promote projects that are participatory and/or interactive in nature.

Every theme camp, mutant vehicle, and art installation brings unSCruz to life.Your projects are what make unSCruz an unforgettable experience. Our Art Grant program exists to support you in bringing your project to unSCruz for everyone to experience. We’re honored that you want to be part of our event.

Approximately $225,000 was awarded to 72 unSCruz 2025 art grant recipients.  We welcome you to apply for an art grant to support your effort to bring a theme camp, art installation, or mutant vehicle to unSCruz 2026: Absurdia.

The unSCruz Art Grants team reviews every application carefully. Detailed placement and art grant applications allow us to review applications efficiently and have a better chance of being accepted.

IMPORTANT! Read These Application Guidelines Before Applying

• Your project must align with our Mission Statement above to be considered.
• You must submit a detailed budget with your art grant application that lists all eligible expenses you expect to incur in order to bring your project to fruition at unSCruz. Use this budget template. Include the name, sale price, quantity needed, total for each item, and the grand total for all expenses. Paste a link for a vendor web page that shows the product and product price. Save this file as project name_budget_art_grants. Attach it to the application.
• DGS ticket costs for essential build crew members can be included in your art grant request. DGS tickets are $250 each. Include this total on your budget, if applicable.
• Eligible Expenses
  • Materials and supplies
  • Equipment rental
  • Limited contract work
  • Transportation costs including gas, box truck and trailer rental fees
  • DGS Tickets for Build Crew ($250 each, Max 10 allowed)
  • Other costs that are directly related to your project

FIRE ARTS: PLEASE NOTE THAT UNSCRUZ PROVIDES PROPANE AT NO COST TO YOU FOR APPROVED MUTANT VEHICLES AND APPROVED STAND ALONE ART INSTALLATIONS WITH FLAME EFFECTS.

• Ineligible Expenses
  • General Admission Tickets
  • RV Passes
  • Artist fees
  • Living expenses
  • Child care
  • Personal food or beverages
  • Any personal overhead expenses
  • Storage Expenses

• Decide on the amount you plan to request on your art grant application. Art grant requests exceeding $599.00 require submission of a completed W-9 form for issuance of a 1099 tax form. Applicants must notify their art grant liaison of address changes as soon as possible and submit a change of address form to the USPS.
• Your application for an art grant will only be considered if the application for the theme camp, mutant vehicle, or stand alone art installation it applies to is completed in its entirety and submitted before the deadline.
• You must submit a safety plan for your project that addresses weather/wind/climber stability for structures, lighting provisions for nighttime, and/or whatever precautions apply to your project’s physical presence in the community space. This must include a flame effects plan if your project includes fire.
• All requested attachments including the detailed line item budget must be included with your art grant application when submitted.
• You must maintain an open line of communication with unSCruz planning teams, via phone, text, email, social media, or other reliable method(s). Failing to maintain communication with your grant and placement liaisons can result in being asked to return grant funds.
• You are required to provide progress reports when requested in the form of videos, phone calls, emails with photos, studio visits, zoom calls, etc.
• Artists/projects must arrive at the event site on time (as agreed) and be completely set up by 8 am Thursday, April 30th. If you experience delays in production or delivery, please let us know as soon as possible. If you have not completely set up your installation by 8 a.m. Thursday, April 30th, your Placement will be forfeited and you are legally obligated to return the Grant funds awarded to you.

The link to apply for an art grant is available on the Placement Application page.