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The Grilled
Cheese Grant
An annual community-funded emerging artist grant based in Milwaukee, WIBy artists, for artists
WHAT IS GCG?
The Grilled Cheese Grant (GCG) is an annual community fundraising event and visual artist grant that provides financial support for undergraduate seniors and emerging artists in Wisconsin by making grilled cheese sandwiches. The Grilled Cheese Grant was created in 2016 as a secondary platform for graduating seniors from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) to receive financial support for their senior exhibition projects outside of their institution. In 2024, GCG expanded by opening applications to include all emerging visual artists working within Southern Wisconsin.
At the Grilled Cheese Grant, attendees donate $10 or more to receive a grilled cheese sandwich made with cheese and bread provided by local community organizations. In addition to grilled cheese, all attendees receive a ballot to cast their vote for one of five selected finalists, chosen through an application process by a jury of creative professionals. Each selected finalist exhibits work as part of the one-day event.
The funds raised prior to and during the Grilled Cheese Grant are totaled and awarded to the selected finalists in the form of an artist/project grant to support their proposed projects. The grant amounts are determined by the money raised during the event. Selected finalists receive the largest portion of funds and a percentage is retained by GCG organizers, collaborators, and partners for future programming support. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds go towards our MICRO reGrant program, started in 2024. The goal of that program is to support the presence of artist-run spaces and organizations that are integral to the health and success of the arts ecosystem in Milwaukee, WI.
The winners and results of the The Grilled Cheese Grant are announced at the event and on the GCG website & social media after all votes are tallied and all funds are totaled. The selected finalists are ranked first through fifth place based on collected votes. As the grant has grown so has how we distribute the funds raised. In the past award totals were based on the proposed budgets of the finalists, with the goal being to fully fund the first place winners project. In 2023 and 2024 we were able to fully fund all 5 finalists projects! Going forward we are removing the budgets as a way to determine funding, since we know we can count on our community to show up, and instead distributing funds as follows:
1st: 40%
2nd: 25%
3rd: 16%
4th: 11%
5th: 8%
In addition, Grilled Cheese Grant finalists may receive professional development opportunities facilitated by members of the GCG team.