Business Resource Library | DreamSpring

April 2025 DreamCreative News and Opportunities Round-Up

Written by DreamSpring | March 31, 2025
Discover the latest creative industry news, grants, residencies, and fellowships to support artists, makers, dreamers, and doers. 
 
 

 

Florida: WaveMaker Grants at Locust Projects

Grants of up to $6,000 support innovative projects in unconventional public spaces, encouraging Miami-based artists to bring new ideas to life across their neighborhoods. Open to visual artists, curators, cultural organizers, collectives, and collaborators in Miami-Dade County. 

Apply by April 1.

 

 

Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art  

The Decorative Arts Trust's new publishing grant program supports first-time authors of book-length publications on American decorative arts and material culture. Grants up to $5,000 are available for authors working on their first book based on completed scholarly research, such as a dissertation or thesis. 

Apply by April 1.

 

 

PAC NYC The Democracy Cycle

The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) and Galvan Initiatives present The Democracy Cycle, a commissioning program to support new works exploring the themes of democracy. Artists in theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary performance are invited to submit proposals. Each awarded project will receive $60,000 in support, including a $30,000 commission and an additional $30,000 for development (research, readings, workshops, etc.).

Apply by April 1.

 

 

 

New York: New York City Film Production Grant  

Grants of up to $30,000 are awarded for innovative storytelling and community engagement, supporting early-career New York City-based film directors taking creative risks in filmmaking.

Apply by April 3.

 

 

Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Visual Arts Grants  

AFAC Visual Arts grants support the production and exhibition of painting, sculpture, photography, installations, video and sound art, art publications, and multimedia works. Grants up to $20,000 are available for individuals and teams, or $35,000 for collectives and institutions.

Apply by April 4. 

 

 

Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Creative and Critical Writings Grants 

AFAC Creative and Critical Writings grants support critical arts and culture writing, children's and youth literature, graphic novels, short stories, poetry, and digital publishing platforms. The final product must be in Arabic. Grants up to $20,000 are available for individuals and teams, or $35,000 for collectives and institutions.

Apply by April 4. 

 

 

Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Performing Arts Grants 

AFAC Performing Arts grants support the production and distribution of theater and dance performances, public and site-specific interventions, performance art, and festivals, along with training and workshops. Grants up to $20,000 are available for individuals and teams, or $35,000 for collectives and institutions. 

Apply by April 4. 

 

 

Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Documentary Film Grants

AFAC Documentary Film grants support creative documentary films by directors in the Arab diaspora. Grants are available for up to $10,000 for development, up to $50,000 for production grants for feature-length films, up to $20,000 for short and medium-length documentaries, and up to $25,000 for post-production grants for feature-length films.

Apply by April 4.

 

 

New York: Woodman Family Foundation Housing Stability Grant for Artists 

This $30,000 grant is distributed over three years to New York City-based visual artists facing housing insecurity. This Woodman Family Foundation grant aims to help artists secure stable, affordable housing so they can focus on their creative practice. Five artists will be awarded in the inaugural cycle.

Apply by April 8. 

 

 

Rémy Martin This is My City Grant

The Rémy Martin This is My City grant program is looking for visionary artists, musicians, designers, and entrepreneurs making a cultural impact in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, or New York City. Four local leaders will each receive a $20,000 grant, paired with one-on-one mentorship from industry experts, to amplify their community work.

Apply by April 11. 

 

 

Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG) 

Grants up to $20,000 are available for environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists in the U.S. and U.S. Territories. Projects should inspire action and ethical engagement with environmental issues. For 2025, over $520,000 in funding will be distributed.

Apply by April 15.

 

FEATURED EVENT

 

 

 

Maker MasterMind: The Business of Fine Art with Rebecca White

Join DreamSpring in conversation with Rebecca White, an interdisciplinary artist and entrepreneur, on April 17 at 10 a.m. MT as part of our free Maker MasterMind series. Learn how Rebecca's work — spanning painting, sculpture, and participatory installations — engages audiences in new and thought-provoking ways while sustaining her as a professional artist. 

Register for the free April 17 webinar.  

 

 

 

 

Center for Craft Curatorial Fellowship

This 10-month fellowship awards $5,000 to an emerging curator to explore new approaches to craft. The 2026 theme, Craft and Community Vitality, seeks proposals examining how craft contributes to social, economic, and community well-being, particularly in response to challenges like climate change and natural disasters.

Apply by April 18. 

 

 

 

CCA Islands Travel Scholarship 2025 – 2026 

The CCA Islands Travel Scholarship offers emerging artists, curators, architects, designers, and those pursuing careers in contemporary art and culture the opportunity to conduct research and creative activities in Japan. The scholarship provides JPY 200,000 for research expenses and covers one return transportation fare to/from Japan. Recipients must stay in Japan for a minimum of four weeks and a maximum of eight weeks between Sept. 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, and are required to report the results of their research at the end of their stay. Preference will be given to applicants under 35 years of age.

Apply by April 25.  

 

 

 

Colorado: 2025 Creative Industries Summit  

The 2025 Creative Industries Summit, held at the Grand Junction Convention Center on May 1 and 2, is a two-day conference for creative entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural workers. Attendees will explore practical strategies for creative business, marketing, and community development, including a Table Talk by DreamSpring Community Engagement Officer Meghan Rauker. Cost is $225, with discounts for students, seniors, and Mesa County residents available.


Register by April 25. 

 

 

 

Harpo Grants for Visual Artists

The Harpo Foundation supports emerging and under-recognized visual artists through grants that encourage new artistic approaches and expand inclusivity in the field. Grants are awarded based on artistic quality, potential for aesthetic inquiry, and alignment with the foundation’s mission. Open to visual artists aged 21+. $15 application fee.

Apply by April 28. 

 

 

 

O’Shaughnessy Fellowships & Grants 

The O’Shaughnessy Fellowships & Grants program is a one-year initiative that brings together bold and undiscovered researchers, builders, and creatives to find, build, and spread new ideas. Fellows receive grants of up to $100,000 to support their work. 

Apply by April 30. 

 

 

 

Substack Creator Accelerator Fund 

The Substack Creator Accelerator Fund is for creators who are ready to expand their reach and subscription business by taking advantage of Substack’s growth network and full suite of publishing, community, and discovery tools. Any U.S.-based individual creator, or small group of creators, who have a monthly recurring revenue of at least $2,000 can apply. 

Applications are first come, first served.