Media Fund

En Foco Media Arts Fund: Work in Progress Initiative 2024

$2,000 Support Grant

Contact Email: [email protected]
Application Opens: Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 12:00am
DEADLINE: Saturday, January 27, 2024 , 11:59pm

Application Deadline:
Saturday, January 27, 2024, 11:59pm

How-To-Apply Session #1: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023 – 6-7pm | Via Zoom
Click Here To Register 

 

En Foco’s Media Arts Fund: Work in Progress (WIP) Initiative is a grant to support New York City based, early-career artists of color who engage with digital media technologies in their art-making processes. In collaboration with BronxNet, these $2,000 awards will focus on applicants needing support for the completion of a quality work in progress, as determined by a panel of professionals. The session will focus on the application process, and feature a Q&A Session with En Foco staff. First-time applicants are encouraged to attend.

DESCRIPTION
The Fourth Annual En Foco Media Arts Fund: Work in Progress (WIP) Initiative: $2,000 Support Grant in collaboration with BronxNet is designed to support New York City artists of color who engage with Digital Media technologies within their art-making processes. The award will focus solely on works that need support toward the completion of a current work in progress, which demonstrates the highest quality of work and potential as determined by a panel of peers, and industry professionals. All innovative interpretations of Digital Media will be considered, requiring a critical digital aspect in both the process and product. Proposed projects where the final products are photographic in nature are ineligible for funding.

How-To-Apply Session

ELIGIBILITY
Only Works In Progress submissions will be considered for the award. Completed projects are ineligible. Entries that are traditional Photography and that the final product results in still imagery will not be considered. However, projects with other mediums and media that include photo-based processes will be considered. For this opportunity, early-career artists are defined by a 2-9 year artistic working history. Artists who have also applied for the 2024 Photography Fellowship are only eligible to receive one award if selected for either opportunity.

Entries may include but are not limited to:

  • Film (Narrative, Non-linear, Genre Specific… etc.)
  • Video (Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Contemporary Approaches to the moving image… etc.)
  • Interactive/Non-Interactive Installation (Digital Painting, Digital Sculpture, site-specific Installation Works… etc.)
  • Multi or Mixed Media (Works using one or more medium, or processes)
  • Experimental and Immersive Processes (Augmented or Virtual Reality technology, Immersive sound, Biomechanical processes, Alternative Processes, Earth Art,,.. etc.)
  • Sound Art
  • Other (Any works using digital processes that do not rely solely on photography)

 WHO CAN APPLY

  • Artists of Latino, African, Asian American heritage, and Native Peoples of the Americas and the Pacific.
  • Must be a resident of New York City for the past year at the time of submission and must show proof of residency.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Collaborating artists are eligible to apply, BUT only one artist can submit the application.

WHO CAN NOT APPLY

  • Graduate or undergraduate students matriculated in a fine art and/or photography degree program at the time of application submission.
  • En Foco board members and staff are ineligible to apply.
  • BronxNet TV board members and staff are ineligible to apply.

 

SUPPORT MATERIAL GUIDELINES
Support Materials should best represent the scope of the proposed projects, including samples of past work & current works in progress.

  • Photos – 1-5 images, JPG only, describing the Work-In-Progress submission for funding consideration. File dimensions: No smaller than 3300 pixels on the longest side, File resolution: 300dpi.
  • Videos – Video submissions should be .mov or .mp4 file format not exceeding 3 minutes, along with a brief description. Links to stream submissions are also acceptable.
  • Sound – Audio submissions should be .mp3 file format not exceeding 3 minutes, along with a brief description. Links to stream submissions are also acceptable.
  • Other – All text or non-photo, video, or sound submissions must be submitted in .pdf file format, and include a brief description.

 

AWARD NOTIFICATION
The five grant recipients will be notified via email. The recipients will each receive a $2,000 support grant, to be used at the artist’s discretion towards the completion of the submitted project. Selected proposals will be exhibited online, on the En Foco Website, and featured at the 2024 En Foco Media Exhibition.

 

*Final Progress Interview
Recipients will be required to provide a brief statement and progress interview outlining the project’s development and what the support helped accomplish within the project – This will be due by October 2024. The recipients will each receive $1,500 upon notification of the award with the balance of $500 to be remitted at the completion of your progress interview in November 2024.

 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Create an account with Submittable.com.
  • A project proposal (500-1000 words). Describe specific aspects of your work such as subject matter, context, content, location, personal relevance, and the anticipated completion of the work you submitted.
  • Budget – outlining the total costs associated with the project, including which portion of the budget funding is requested.
  • A one-page resume & 150 – 200 word biography.
  • A 200-word artist statement.
  • Support Materials. *Please refer to guidelines*

The application form does not have to be completed in a single session; the system will save your draft application. We suggest that you save often as you fill out the form and that you save a copy of any narrative texts.

 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
For questions about the guidelines and application process, please contact: [email protected]

 

Past How-To-Apply Sessions

ABOUT EN FOCO
En Foco is a non-profit organization that nurtures and supports contemporary fine art and documentary photographers of diverse cultures, primarily U.S. residents of Latino, African and Asian Heritage, and Native Peoples of the Americas and the Pacific. Since it was founded in 1974, En Foco has been an outspoken leader and advocate for equitable support and access to resources for photographers of color. It has distinguished itself through its sustained commitment to providing its primary constituency and the communities they represent financial support, public programming, information services, and cultural advocacy initiatives.

ABOUT BRONXNET
BronxNet provides hands-on television production training, equipment access, and channels for Bronx residents. Award-winning BronxNet programs keep BronxNet in touch with the people, issues, neighborhoods, and activities that make the borough what it is today. The vision for BronxNet came from dedicated Bronx officials, who worked with residents to create a fully-equipped television station and media center that would be accessible to Bronx residents, students, community organizations, and leaders.

The En Foco Media Support Grant is supported with Special thanks to The Jerome Foundation for underwriting the Media Arts Works In Progress Fund, with additional funds from The Joy of Giving Something, Inc., The Ford Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and individual donors.