Book

Eligibility Requirements

Book grant applicants must

• have been writing professionally about contemporary visual art on a regular basis for at least three years; OR
• have previously published a book on contemporary visual art or a related subject; OR
• have completed a PhD dissertation on contemporary visual art or a related subject (Note: book project applications based on your PhD dissertation or MA thesis are not eligible).

Please refer to the guidelines for general eligibility requirements.

Writing Sample Submissions

The total of all three writing samples combined should not exceed 15,000 words.

Book FAQs

Can I apply to edit a collection? No. Applications will not be accepted for edited anthologies consisting of essays written by a number of different authors, or for previously published material by a single author.

What kind of books are funded? The Book category supports a broad range of books on contemporary visual art, from general-audience criticism to academic scholarship. Writers working on experimental or non-traditional arts writing are also invited to apply. Projects on work in adjacent fields—architecture, dance, film, media, music, performance, sound, etc.—will only be considered if they directly and significantly engage the discourses and concerns of contemporary visual art.

Can I apply for a book that I have already written and want to get published? No. The goal of the program is to support writing during the grant period, so books slated for completion early in the grant period are ineligible.

Can I include an unpublished chapter from my book project as a writing sample? Yes. You can submit an unpublished chapter or relevant section from your manuscript as a writing sample.

What do you mean by “writing professionally”? By “writing professionally,” we mean that you are writing for publications including but not limited to newspapers, magazines, catalogues, or books, in print or online. Social media posts do not count as professional writing.