The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation 2026 Grant for Writing on Sculpture
In this grant program, the Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation’s goal is to encourage and support sculptors as well as writers on sculpture, both emerging and established.
The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation encourages submissions from sculptors and writers of all backgrounds. It does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, education, or disability.
Deadline and announcement dates
Deadline and Announcement Dates
The 2026 Sculpture Grant Application deadline is May 31 (11:59 PM EST), 2026.
July 1, 2026 – All applicants will be notified by email regarding their advancement to Round 2.
December 2026 – Notification of award
It is strongly recommended that you submit your application several days before the deadline to avoid technical or submission issues.
Applications may only be submitted once. You will receive confirmation of a successful submission within 24 hours.
Questions or concerns regarding the application can be directed to info@jonathanandbarbarasilverfoundation.org.
Eligibility Requirements – 2026 Grant for Writing on Sculpture
You are eligible to apply for the sculpture grant if you meet the following requirements:
You are an individual.
You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or you hold an O-1 Visa.
At least one example of your writing has been published within the last five years (between January 1, 2021, and the present).
You are not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program.
You are not an employee, consultant, or board member of the Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation, or an immediate family member of such a person.
Grant Application Process – 2026 Grant for Writing on Sculpture
The selection process for the JBSF Grant for Sculpture includes two rounds of panel review.
Round 1: Applicants will submit a Project Proposal, CV, and writing samples, and will answer a series of questions.
Round 2: Applicants selected to advance will be required to submit a project timeline, itemized budget, proof of eligibility, and two letters of recommendation (details below).
The jury panel will consist of three people chosen by the JBSF. Panel reviews will take place in closed sessions.
Evaluation is based on the vitality of the proposal, the potential of the project to contribute to the applicant’s artistic development and to the field of sculpture, the responsiveness of the project to the Foundation’s mission, and confidence in the applicant’s ability to complete the project within a year.
Application and Project Proposal Guidelines
ROUND 1: Preliminary Proposal, Work Samples, and Answers to Questions
Applicants will submit a proposal for a writing project that will be completed in 2027. The proposal will include a short project description (up to 50 words), a longer project description (up to 300 words), a CV, a bio (optional), and links to their website (if applicable).
Types of writing that are supported for the project include art criticism, art history, memoir, psychoanalytical study, philosophical meditation and literary study.
Applicants will submit up to three published writings from magazines, literary journals, or other publications (including online). Research or manuscripts currently in process or nearing completion, with a pending publication date, are also acceptable.
Writing samples can originate from the same publication (although submitting samples from more than one publication is encouraged).
The applicant should note if they plan to feature the proposed project in an upcoming scheduled publication.
Each sample/excerpt should be a maximum of 2,500 words in length. The samples should demonstrate your strength as a writer and their relevance to your project proposal. Do not include writing samples longer than 2,500 words.
The following types of work are not eligible: work that has appeared in a publication for which you are the publisher or editor; collaborative writing; news reporting; letters to the editor; social media posts; essays on one’s own art or writing practice; student publications (including dissertations-theses).
Applicants are required to answer the following questions (250 words each):
How does your proposal relate to other writing on your project subject?
What is the significance of the project proposal to your writing practice?
Which ideas in the realm of sculpture are you currently exploring?
If the project centers on one or multiple artists, explain your motivations for choosing these artists.
ROUND 2: Budget, timeline, proof of eligibility, and references (July 2026)
Applicants who advance to Round 2 will receive instructions on where to submit required materials.
Budget: Applicants will attach a budget, in paragraph form (max 250 words) that itemizes the expenses necessary to complete the proposed project. Briefly describe the categories of expenses and the amounts for each category that the grant will cover.
Eligible expenses:
-Materials, equipment and supplies
-Research
-Writer’s compensation fee
-Travel (airfare, car rental, ground transportation, lodging, meals, per diem)
-Living expenses (including childcare)
-Expenses relating to the following are NOT eligible and your application will be rejected if your budget proposes to use the grant funds for any of these: loans or other debts; reimbursement of payments already incurred; purchase of land or building; tuition expenses; fees paid to third parties for promotion, marketing, or sale of work; health-related expenses (exceptions will be made for medical emergencies).
If the applicant has received funds from other sources for the project and/or has other possible sources of income for the project (for example, resulting from other applications), they must list them alongside the budget.
Timeline: Applicants will submit a 1-page project timeline as a PDF. Be sure to indicate in the timeline the state of the project, including which, if any, benchmarks have already been completed (with dates), and your projected dates for completing the project.
Proof of Eligibility: Artists selected to advance to Round 2 must submit one of the following documents as proof of eligibility:
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Birth Certificate
- Tribal I.D. Card
- U.S. Naturalization Certificate
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card
- Non-resident O-1 Visa
Two letters of reference are required. Applicants must submit the names and contact information of the references.
How to Apply
Application Form for the JBSF 2026 Grant for Writing on Sculpture
The application for the JBSF 2027 Grant for Sculpture will be available in February 2027.
An outline of the previous 2025 Grant for Sculpture application questions can be accessed here for reference.
All written responses must be in English.
*IMPORTANT: Your application will be automatically rejected without panel review if:
One or more required forms or attachments are missing.
Your written responses are not in English.
Incorrect or insufficient information is provided.
You have already received a grant from the JBSF during the last 5 years.
You are not a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or O-1 Visa-holder.
Your application is not responsive to the mission of the Foundation.
Questions or concerns regarding the Application Form can be directed to info@jonathanandbarbarasilverfoundation.org.
Award Notification
Announcement of the recipient will be made in December 2026.
Award documents, such as the progress reporting requirements, will be provided to the recipient within a week of the award announcement.
Award Acceptance: Recipient Responsibilities
The project is expected to be completed within 1 year of receiving the award.
The Foundation expects a progress report on the project 6 months after receiving the award, as well as a final report after the full year. If the work has not been completed, the final report can summarize the Awardee’s progress.
Progress Report: the one-page report should include a description of activities supported by the grant, as well as grant-supported activities planned for the remainder of the grant period (i.e. research or travel).
Final Project Report: The grant recipient’s completed work will be considered their final report. Plans for exhibition or publication are recommended but not required.
Required documents:
– An outline of expenditures.
– A one-page report on the Awardee’s experience with the grant.
Conversation with the Director: A conversation about the project with the Artistic Director of the Foundation will be livestreamed, recorded, and posted to the JBSF website.
Grant recipients assume legal, financial, and administrative responsibility for complying with the terms included in the grant award documents.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in suspension or termination of the award and the Foundation’s recovery of funds.
Copyright and Cataloging Information
The Awardee may copyright any material that is subject to copyright and that was developed under the JBSF award during the grant period.
We reserve the indefinite right to reproduce, publish, or make available for research the project supported by the JBSF grant.
Accessibility
Individuals who do not use conventional print or electronic media may access the information in the Grant Application Form by contacting the JBSF at info@jonathanandbarbarasilverfoundation.org for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am a sculptor and also a writer. For the writing grant, can I submit material in which my own artwork (sculpture) is the subject matter?
A: No, we cannot accept applications for the writing grant in which your own artwork is the subject of your writing.
Q: If I submit a sample from my manuscript-in-progress, do I need to have a publisher and tentative publication date?
A: No.
Q: Is autofiction an acceptable form for my project proposal?
A: Yes.
Q: For the sculpture grant, do I need to be a currently exhibiting artist?
A: No.
Q: If I previously applied for a JBSF grant, but was not selected, can I reapply for the grant in two years?
A: Yes, you may reapply for the grant. However, you must submit at least one work sample that has not previously been submitted.
Q: For the sculpture grant, do you prefer figurative work?
A: No.
Q: Does my project need to be in dialogue with Jonathan Silver’s work?
A: We expect that applicants will consider the mission statement of the Foundation.
Q: Do you offer feedback on applications?
A: Due to the volume of submissions, unfortunately we do not offer feedback on applications.