An annual community-funded emerging artist grant based in Milwaukee, WI
By artists, for artists
2025 APPLICATIONS
ARE NOW CLOSED!
TIMELINE:
December 15, 2024: Applications open January 26, 2025: Applications due Week of February 10, 2025: Selected finalists notified March 15, 2025: Grilled Cheese Grant @ Vanguard Sculpture Services
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be at least 18 years of age
Must be a resident of Wisconsin in one of the following counties: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha (see highlighted area on map)
Full-time and part-time students ARE ELIGIBLE and encouraged to apply
Must be a professionally active visual artist* (no actors, musicians, or dancers) *
Professionally active is defined as having exhibited artwork at least once in the past year (this includes gallery exhibitions (solo or group), virtual exhibitions, cafes, vendor fairs, etc.)
Artists with gallery representation are not eligible to apply
Artists whose work is included in a museum’s collection are not eligible to apply
Artists who have had solo museum exhibition(s) are not eligible to apply
Artists who have been professionally active for more than five consecutive years (exhibiting work at museums and commercial galleries) are not eligible to apply
Artists that were previously selected as Grilled Cheese Grant finalists are not eligible to apply
Artists that have applied to Grilled Cheese Grant in the past but were not selected as a finalist ARE ELIGIBLE to apply
No formal education required, may be a self taught artist
If selected as a finalist, must be present at the event on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Vanguard Sculpture Services (3374 W Hopkins St, Milwaukee, WI 53216)
Visual artists working in media are encouraged to apply
Designers are encouraged to apply as long as their work fits within a fine art context
All applications should be treated as an artist/project grant
FAQ:
Q: I have applied to the Grilled Cheese Grant in the past, but was not selected as a finalist. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes! Previous applicants are eligible to apply as long as they were not selected as a GCG finalist.
Q: I was a Grilled Cheese Grant finalist in 2018. Am I eligible to apply?
A: No. Unfortunately, previous GCG finalists are not eligible to apply.
Q: I exhibited work at a museum as part of a group exhibition in the past. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes! Only artists who have had solo exhibitions at a museum or those whose work has been acquired/purchsed by a museum are not eligible to apply.
Q: I am a current undergraduate student in my junior year. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes! Artists with a proposed project who are at least 18 years of age are considered eligible to apply.
Q: I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Am I eligible to apply?
A: No. Applications are open to artists living and working in a 14-county area in Wisconsin.
Q: I am 30 years old and have been exhibiting my artwork regularly at museums and commercial galleries since I graduated college. Am I eligible to apply?
A: No. Artists that have shown work consistently for more than 5 consecutive years at commercial galleries and museums are not eligible to apply even if they self-identify as an emerging artist.