Championing sustainability for individual artists in the field of contemporary art
The Greene Fellowship’s mission is to support visionary artists in the United States in creating meaningful and boundary-pushing work, and to carve spaces for them to share this work within their communities, inspiring creativity and cultural discourse.
Founded in 2022, The Greene Fellowship awards emerging contemporary artists unrestricted grants of $50,000 to support their practice and develop their business. The funding is disbursed in 4 quarterly payments of $12,500, and includes one-on-one mentoring sessions, as well as professional development resources. We seek artists who can demonstrate a high level of technical skill, a strong dedication to their creative practice, and a unique voice that advances the conversation of contemporary art in a meaningful way.
Mission & Values
Why Contemporary Artists?
Historically undervalued and underfunded, more than half of contemporary visual artists today make less than $30,000 per year. They leave art schools and apprenticeships with exceptional artistic skill and passion, but without practical strategies for building financial independence.
When artists thrive, our communities prosper.
The arts and culture sector contributes 4.6% to overall GDP and is growing at a rate double the national average. Cities with healthy art communities often see less crime, more resilience, better health, and more social engagement.
Contemporary art plays an essential role in society by offering a unique perspective on the world around us, challenging our beliefs and perceptions. It serves as a mirror to current social, cultural, and political issues, reflecting the complexities of our rapidly changing, diverse, and globalized world.
Why Individual Artists?
Investing in individual artists is a cost-effective civic investment. Money to artists multiplies into communities. When artists have basic financial stability, they spend more locally, offer more community-based projects, and participate more fully in civic life, amplifying cultural vibrancy and neighborhood resilience.
Supporting an artist is not only an act of cultural stewardship, it’s an impact investment with measurable social and economic returns.
Artists are the engine rooms of creativity, jobs, and local spending. In 2022 the nonprofit arts and culture sector and its audiences generated $151.7 billion in economic activity, supported 2.6 million jobs, and produced $29.1 billion in tax revenue — showing that investments in artists and arts activity directly fuel local economies.
Authenticity
We value sincerity over superfluity and conviction over conformity. The most powerful ideas are ones that reflect a genuine curiosity about the world and ourselves.
Risk-taking
We value honest self-evaluation and courage in the face of fear. Everything worth doing is going to be difficult.
Dedication
Commitment is the foundation of success. Grit and perseverance in the face of internal and external challenges yield great strength, purpose, and impact.
Generosity
Going against the stream, we look at how we can give rather than how much we can get. Generosity is the cornerstone of abundance and well-being, a catalyst for greater connection, higher self-esteem, and a culture of reciprocity.
Open-mindedness
"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." -Albert Einstein. We value flexibility, openness, and a sincere desire to learn, for it is by keeping an open mind that we are able to grow and evolve.
Why Unrestricted?
Trust-based support
We believe that artists are best served by an unrestricted, trust-based model of support. The funds we disperse to artists are therefore available to be used in whatever way the recipient sees fit, giving them the autonomy to make decisions based on their needs at the time.
We have found that this trust-based model empowers artists to make significant contributions to their larger communities by creating meaningful work and establishing themselves as important members of the larger economy.
"The fellowship really allowed me to take risks, say yes to everything offered, and connect me to my practice."
-Chelsea Kaiah