Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities exist to invite artists, writers, filmakers, academicians, curators, and all manner of creative people for a time and space away from their usual environment and obligations. They provide a time of reflection, research, presentation, production and immersion into a new culture. They often allow an individual to explore their practice within another community; meeting new people, using new materials, experiencing life in a new location and potentially integrating elements of that experience into their art. Art residencies emphasize the importance of meaningful and multi-layered cultural exchange and immersion into another culture. (Wikipedia)

An unreached or least-reached people is an ethnic group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance (see JoshuaProject.net). The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization defines a people group as "the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance."

Yes, funds are processed through Allegro Organizational Solutions (www.allegrosolutions.org) which has 501(c)(3) status and provides tax deductible receipts for all donations, and year-end statement of contributions are provided to donors.

We are able to receive bank draft, credit card, check, PayPal, stock, employer matching gifts and GIK donations.

Funds will only be sent directly to an art residency, not to individual artists. Artists who apply to receive the grants must already be accepted to an artist residency and submit an acceptance letter which includes the costs and duration of the residency. If their residency is one already approved by Sending Artists, and after review of their application, selected artists will have the grant sent to the residency on their behalf to subsidize the residency costs.

There are two available grants: The first is for artists who are followers of Christ and committed to being salt and light wherever they are working and creating, who have been accepted to an approved artist residency in an unreached region of the world. The second is for local, national artists from an unreached region of the world, who have been accepted to an approved artist residency where salt and light artists are also working.

Grants are awarded according to available funds and assessment of need by a small committee, and may cover anywhere from 10% to 90% of an artist's residency costs. Costs vary with the nature and duration of the residency program.

Believing artists who have already been accepted to an artist residency may submit their information in a form and they will be contacted and sent an application for the grant. Local artists who have been accepted for a residency with one of our partner artist residencies will be personally notified of an available grant which they can apply for to subsidize the cost of their residency.

Grants will be awarded to believing artists, either emerging or established, who can show a portfolio of quality work, submit a well developed proposal for their creative goals during their residency, are mature and have a teachable and humble attitude, have demonstrated a desire to be cross-cultural bridge-builders, have signed a common statement of faith (see below), and are committed to being salt and light, in word and deed, wherever they are. Grants for local/national artists accepted to participate in subsidized artist residencies will be awarded based on the promise and quality of their work, their submitted proposal and goals for their residency, their commitment to creative community and connecting with other global creatives, and their personal artist statement and goals for themselves as artists.

An approved Artist Residency must be located in a city of an unreached people group, and must be structured for engagement with the community rather than isolated retreat. The city in which it is located must have believers working and living there long term, who are being salt and light and are invested in the establishment of indigenous, viable,reproducing churches, so that there can be follow up on the opportunities and relationships formed by sent artists in residence who are only there for a short period of time.

Annual reports are shared with donors, highlighting the opportunities that the grants have provided, but without sharing specific names of artists, in order to protect them and the residencies in which they are working in these least-reached regions of the world.

All donations will be used to fund artists according to the stated purpose of the fund, but without specific input from the donor regarding specific recipients. You are welcome to encourage artists whom you know to consider applying for an art residency with this grant opportunity in mind. Artists may contact us to discuss eligibility and approved artist residencies.

Yes, institutions may also donate, and we are able to receive bank draft, credit card, check, PayPal, stock, employer matching gifts and GIK donations. Allegro Organizational Solutions, which manages this fund, provides tax deductible receipts for all donations, and year-end statement of contributions are provided to donors.