The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation advances the visual arts through artist-centred grantmaking, funding arts organisations and cultural institutions that support artists. Its programme spans substantial curatorial projects such as exhibitions and scholarly catalogues, and multi-year programmes including public events, residencies, publishing and other artist-centred opportunities. It seeks original work that expands contemporary art, and encourages risk-taking, experimentation and practices that challenge the status quo. It welcomes proposals highlighting artists and communities underrepresented in the cultural sector, and generally favours experimental, hard-to-categorise practices and artists who have received inadequate critical attention. Curatorial fellowships support scholarly research in contemporary art; the Foundation also backs artist-centred organisations defending freedom of expression and supports writing about contemporary visual art.

Themes

• Contemporary visual arts
• Experimental art
• Curatorial research
• Art exhibitions
• Artist residencies
• Freedom of expression
• Arts writing

Geographic Focus

US.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects that specifically relate to Warhol’s life or work
• Proposals through fiscal sponsors
• Grants directly to individuals
• Project Grants for Small-Scale Organizations only: Projects for which the visual arts are not central, and which have no public component; Youth-focused efforts
• Curatorial Research Fellowships only: salary replacement or course release monies for academics
• Exhibition Support only: staff salaries

For the main grant requests, submit a proposal with a project budget and the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) ruling by mail or email. Curatorial Research Fellowship proposals must come through an institution and include its director’s letter of support. International organizations submit a letter of inquiry to determine whether a full proposal will be accepted. Participation in the Regional Regranting Program is by invitation.

Deadlines: Proposals are due on March 1 and September 1 each year.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 63% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 577 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• A strong proposal clearly articulates the opportunities the applicant can offer artists; this is the central criterion for judging proposals.
• The Foundation generally seeks artists with experimental, hard-to-categorise practices or those without adequate critical attention.
• It encourages proposals that highlight artists and communities underrepresented in the cultural sector.
• Requests should be no more than 25% of an exhibition’s total direct costs or an organization’s annual operating budget.
• Projects should stress the creative opportunity for participating artists rather than their impact on the community, institution or audience.
• Grants most often go to organisations with support from multiple sources and a record of programmatic strength.