Art funding in South America: a guide for artists
As an artist, securing funding for your projects and endeavors can often be a daunting task. However, there are a plethora of organizations in South America that are dedicated to supporting artists just like you. From government programs to private foundations, these organizations offer a wide range of funding opportunities for artists of all disciplines and at all career levels. We will explore some of the most notable organizations that offer funding for artists in South America. Whether you're a painter, musician, or performer, there's an organization out there that can help take your career to the next level.
Key Resources
When selected, Arquetopia, a Mexican artist in residence network, also provides help with funding opportunities for artists worldwide.
The Videobrasil Residency Program is tailored around the prizes awarded by the biennal Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil and by Videobrasil in Context, sponsoring connections and exchange between artists, organizations and communities in Brazil and the world over. By awarding scholarships and commissioning artworks, Videobrasil intends to help usher in a new artistic and cultural cartography with artists from the global south.
Regional Funds
Check the eligibility criteria carefully (can be the entire continent or only part of it)
Iberescena is a program created for the support, exchange and integration of Latin American performing arts activities. The fund aims to promote the creation of an integrated space for performing arts in its member states, through funding and financial support. It offers financial aid for Ibero-American performing arts creation process residencies. Members states are listed here.
Eligiblity: performing artists from the member states.
Based on the principle that culture is a basic need, the Prince Claus Fund’s mission is to actively seek cultural collaborations founded on equality and trust, with partner of excellence, in spaces where resources and opportunities for cultural expression, creative production and research are limited and cultural heritage is threatened. Check the website for open calls for proposals.
Eligibility: dependent on the call.
Bi- and Multilateral
More than one nationality is eligible, but sometimes only one departure and/or host country.
Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo
The Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AMEXCID) grants the Merit Awards for Special Programs for International Students. By means of this grant, the Mexican government intends to contribute to the construction of permanent bridges of dialogue and to enrich academia and Mexican culture in the long term. It attempts to do so by inviting and supporting international researchers, academics, experts and artists, who have worked in field topics related to Mexico with the goal to further deepen academia in the country. The project should take place in Mexico and the applicant should collaborate with a Mexican resident or institution for the project concerned.
Eligibility: international individual artists who work on a project together with a Mexican resident or institution.
Per Country
Only one nationality is eligible.
El Fondo Nacional de las Artes grants scholarships aimed at Argentinian artists and writers to support and promote creation programs, research and development.
Eligibility: national artists and writers.
