Franklin Furnace FUND
$2,000 to $10,000 grants supporting new performance works presented in New York City
The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art supports the creation of new performance works by early-career artists. Each year, the program awards grants to artists proposing original projects that will be produced and presented in New York City.
The program operates through a peer panel review process rather than curatorial selection. Artists apply with a proposal for a new work, and selected projects are developed over a defined production period.
Opportunity Snapshot – Franklin Furnace FUND
What: Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art
Who: Early-career generative non-student performance artists
Where: New York City, USA
Award / Support: $2,000 to $10,000 grants
Application Opens: January 1, 2026
Deadline: April 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Official Link: https://franklinfurnace.org/grants-and-funding/the-fund/
About the Opportunity – Franklin Furnace FUND
The FUND supports artists proposing new performance works that they author and generate. The focus is on original practice, with applicants responsible for developing and producing the project during the grant period.
Selection is made by a rotating peer panel each year. This structure distributes decision-making across artists and practitioners in the field, shaping the program through collective evaluation rather than institutional curation. Funded projects are realized within a set timeline and presented in New York City.
What Is Offered
Selected artists receive:
- $2,000 to $10,000 in grant funding
- Support toward the production of a new performance work
- Presentation of the work in New York City
- A defined project timeline from September 2026 through August 2027
- Payment distributed in phases tied to project development and completion
Who Should Apply To The Franklin Furnace FUND
Applicants must meet the criteria for early-career generative artists. This includes:
- Artists with at least 2 years and no more than 10 years of experience generating new work outside of degree programs
- Artists who are not enrolled in any degree-granting program during the grant period
- Artists who originate and author their own work
- Artists in the early stages of their development who have not yet been substantially recognized within the field
The program does not support mid- or late-career artists, students, or applicants whose work is not generative.
All members of a collective must meet the eligibility requirements.
Franklin Furnace FUND Timeline
Application Opens: January 1, 2026
Information Session: February 4, 2026
Deadline: April 1, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Project timeline:
- Panel review: June to July 2026
- Notification: August 2026
- Public announcement: September 1, 2026
- Project period: September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027
Why This Opportunity Matters
The Franklin Furnace FUND is one of the few grant programs dedicated specifically to performance art as a primary medium. Its peer panel structure and emphasis on new work create a framework that supports artists developing original performance practices.
For artists working in contemporary performance and interdisciplinary forms, it offers direct production funding tied to a clear timeline and a public presentation context in New York City.
Apply
Application details and submission:
https://franklinfurnace.org/grants-and-funding/the-fund/
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