Artists, writers, performers, and musicians! Apply for funding for your creative ideas through Focus, a campus organization supporting students in the arts since 1972. Individuals or groups of students of all majors may apply for up to $600 for artistic projects outside the classroom. Grants support the creation and presentation of new work in visual art, apparel design, writing, theater, dance, and musical performances. Funding for Focus Grants is made possible through Student Government; awards are determined by a committee of students, faculty, and staff representing a broad range of the arts. Proposals that most often receive funding show imagination and motivation have a clear timeline of production, a detailed budget, and a dedicated advisor.
Deadlines
Grant applications are accepted twice a year: April 1 (First Round) and October 1 (Second Round). Performances must take place by mid-March. Visual projects will be exhibited at the Memorial Union in late March for about a month, and a reception will be held to honor the artists and see excerpts from performing and literary projects.
Guidelines
Funded projects may not be used to receive course credit or as part of a graduate thesis.
Funded projects must be completed according to the schedule provided by the Focus Committee. The committee may ask for a refund of the money expended toward any project not completed on time or not turned in by the deadline.
Focus Grant recipients will receive a Purchasing Card from Campus Organizations Accounting (COA) for all grant-related expenditures. A separate agreement must be signed with COA to receive your card.
Please read the Focus Grant Application Guidelines for all eligibility requirements and submission rules.
Role of Project Advisors
Advisors must be a faculty member with expertise in the project area, and need to provide a written recommendation. (Specific information can be found on the Focus Applications Page.) If your project crosses disciplines, consider having more than one.
Advisors agree to meet regularly with students to assess progress and troubleshoot. It is the student's responsibility to set up meetings with their advisor.
Advisors must submit 1-2 (very brief) progress reports during the course of the project that will accompany the student's visual review meetings with the Focus Committee. (Specific information can be found on the Focus Post Award Page.)
Evaluation of Proposals
The Focus Committee will evaluate proposals based on the following points:
- The extent to which the applicant presents a convincing rationale for funding the project. The proposal should demonstrate discipline, imagination, and creativity.
- The extent to which funding the project will contribute to the artistic development of the applicant.
- The extent to which the methodology proposed will result in the successful completion of the project. The project should be realistic, given time and budget constraints.
Hearings
Hearings with each applicant are scheduled to allow the committee time to ask questions about the proposal and see examples of the individual's (or group's) work. The hearings last 5-10 minutes, and students can bring examples and/or images of previous work to share with the committee. Hearings will be scheduled after the grant proposal is received.
Timeline
2025-2026 Grants
April 1, 2025 Applications for first-round grants are due
April 11 & 14, 2025 Grant hearings and award announcements for first-round grants
May/June 2025 Preliminary work may begin, and students will receive Purchasing Cards for buying supplies
July 1, 2025 Students may begin purchasing supplies
September 10, 2025 Written Progress Reports due for first-round students and advisors
September TBA, 2025 Visual Progress In-Person Reviews for first round students
October 1, 2025 Applications for second-round grants are due
Early October 2025 Grant hearings and award announcements for second-round grants
November 2025 Students will receive Purchasing Cards and begin buying supplies
January 25, 2026 Written Progress Reports due for first and second-round students and advisors
February TBD, 2026 Final Visual In-Person Progress Reviews for first and second-round students
March 1, 2026 Project summaries due for admittance into brochure
March 23 , 2026 Focus project dropoff at the MU Art Gallery (Specific time TBA)
March 29-April 29, 2026 Focus Exhibit on Display
April TBD 2026 Focus Exhibit Reception at the MU Art Gallery
Focus: Artist Grant Program Committee Members
Letitia Kenemer, Committee Chair, Memorial Union Art Programs
Johnny Diblasi, College of Design
Kristine Heflin, Associate Director, Memorial Union
Evan Hume, College of Design
Raluca Iancu, College of Design
Brenda Jones, College of Design
Sam McCauley, Former Grant Recipient & Design Grad Student
Dan Neubauer, College of Design
Olivia Valentine, College of Design
Rochelle Zuck, English Department
Zoe Barden, Focus Treasurer