Artist Communities Alliance administers funds to artists and artist residency programs in partnership with foundations and arts agencies.

These partnerships fulfill the funder's dedication to deepen engagement with their artist awardees, and deploy valuable resources to the residency field, in order to co-create generative and healthy residency climates.

Current programs include:

McKnight Fellowship Residency

ACA's partnership with the McKnight Foundation is designed to build equitable capacity in the artist residency field and connect McKnight Artist Fellows with residency opportunities.

Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund

This partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation provides up to three $30,000 fellowships for Rhode Island-based creators each year, rotating among composers, writers, and visual artists on a three-year cycle. 

Pew Fellowship Residencies

This partnership with Pew Fellowships in the Arts provides residencies to selected Pew Fellows at participating residency sites throughout North America.  

3Arts Residency Program

This partnership with 3Arts provides residencies to selected 3Arts artists at participating residency sites throughout the United States and France.

Regranting programs are vital part of ACA's work. Inquiries regarding these programs can be directed to grants [at] artistcommunities.org.

Participation Opportunities:

Grantmaking programs managed by ACA are a relationship between a funder, ACA member residency sites and eligible artists. ACA is an administrative partner to the funder, our team facilitates artist selection, residency placement, program evaluation, and financial disbursements.  

Participating residency sites are incubators for artistic practice, providing artists with generative and restorative spaces. Host sites generally provide one (1) to four (4) week residencies (depending on the program), giving artists opportunities to create new work, interact and engage with other artists and communities, and make new connections that may advance careers. ACA’s cohort of residency sites are situated in diverse topological locations including urban, suburban, rural and remote locations. 

For Artists: Artist eligibility is most often restricted, depending on specific program requirements. Please look at each program to determine if you are eligible to apply.

For Residency Sites: Residency sites can express interest in participating in ACA’s Grantmaking programs by filling out the Grantmaking Host Site Inquiry form (below). 

We strive to develop and sustain grantmaking partnerships that are collaborative and transparent. We look for residency sites that demonstrate commitments to maintain high standards of services for artists, deep engagement with issues of accessibility, safety, and responsiveness to artist needs, and a strong track record for including and supporting BIPOC artists. If you would like to inquire about how your program might partner with ACA, we encourage you to fill out the Grantmaking Host Site Inquiry form. For a full list of considerations, please email grants [at] artistcommunities.org.

Past programs include:

Diversity + Leadership Fellowship

Funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation, this fellowship is part of a broader initiative to increase diversity in the artist residency field. The year-long program is aimed at supporting emerging residency leaders of color and emerging residency leaders with disabilities. 

The Rhode Island COVID Relief Fund

This partnership with Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Foundation deployed over a million dollars to Rhode Island arts workers and creatives. 

Creative Access Residency Awards

Funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, this program provides visual artists and writers living with Spinal Cord Injuries with the opportunity to participate in a funded residency. Vermont Studio Center and Artist Communities Alliance partnered to coordinate twelve residency stays at four host sites.