Student Arts Grants

Student Arts Grants

Apply for a grant to support your student group's next arts project

For more than a decade, the Arts Initiative has supported the extraordinary creativity of student groups at Columbia through Student Arts Grants. Grants support performances and publications from recognized student groups that are non-curricular, with a priority given to undergraduate art making.

Two Types of Student Arts Grants:

Performance Grant

Apply for a grant to support performances, with a focus on theater, dance, music, and cultural showcases.


Performance Grants range from $400–$1,000

Publication Grant

Apply for a grant to support printing costs for literary, visual art, and other printed arts publications.

 

Publication Grants range from $200–$500

Spring 2024 Submission Period Closed

The fall submission period will open in late September—stay tuned for details.

Eligibility
  • To be eligible to receive a Student Arts Grant, your group must be a recognized Columbia University or Barnard College student organization.

  • The primary purpose of the project must be student art-making, with priority given to undergraduates.
  • The project must be non-curricular. No student involved in the project can receive academic credit from any institution or department for the project. Senior theses and other required academic projects are not eligible.

  •  Projects must involve a majority of Columbia student creators.

  • The final event/project must be open and accessible to Columbians

  • The project must take place entirely during the current academic semester, concluding by the last day of classes

  • We review one application per group, per semesterGroups with multiple events during a semester should submit these on one combined application.

  • Types of projects not eligible for Student Arts Grants include launch parties, film projects, panel discussions, exhibitions,  fashion showcases, performances/presentation from contracted outside performers, and fundraisers/charity benefits.

 
Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Performance Grants may be used towards:

  • Venue rental (on-campus venues only)
  • Equipment rental (sound, lighting, tents, risers, chairs, instruments)
  • Printed materials (posters, flyers, postcards, programs)
  • Rights, royalties, sheet music

Performance Expenses not supported by Student Arts Grants include:

  • Venue rental fee – off-campus
  • Honoraria / artist fees (including director, photographer, videographer, choreographer)
  • Equipment purchase (microphones, cameras)
  • Props, set materials
  • Software subscriptions / web hosting
  • Ticketing fees
  • Costumes / t-shirts
  • Food / catering
  • Gifts / flowers
  • Transportation

Publications Grants may be used towards:

  • Publication printing
  • Printed promotional materials (posters, flyers, postcards)

Publication expenses not eligible for Publications Grants include software subscriptions, web hosting, honoraria / artist fees (including photographer), food / catering.

 
Reporting Requirements

Student Arts Grants are awarded on a reimbursement basis, with award funds transferred into your account after your project has been completed and you have documented final expenses with receipts.

 

Please contact us at artsinitiative@columbia.edu with any questions.

Images: Diary in the Time of Cardiovacuumia performance by Blue Glaze Theatre Group; Assorted publications created by student organizations / photo by Taylor Crichton