Hartford-Based Arts Group Launches Major Grant Program For CT Visual Artists

Real Art Ways will award six $10,000 grants to Connecticut visual artists through the new Provision Fund. Applications close Sept. 20.

By Michael Lemanski, Patch Staff

Jul 29, 2026 10:03 AM EDT

Hartford-based Real Art Ways has launched a new grant program that will provide financial support to Connecticut artists creating new public-facing visual arts projects. (Brian Hanna/Patch)

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford-based Real Art Ways has launched a new grant program that will provide financial support to Connecticut artists creating new public-facing visual arts projects.

The Hartford-based contemporary arts organization announced the Provision Fund, an annual grant program made possible through funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Real Art Ways will manage and administer the program.

In its inaugural year, the Provision Fund will award six $10,000 project grants to Connecticut-based artists through an open-call, juried application process.

"Artists and community are at the center of Real Art Ways' mission. We are delighted that the Provision Fund will support artists in our state of Connecticut," Real Art Ways Executive Director Will K. Wilkins said in a statement.

The 2026 jury includes artist Saya Woolfalk, author and curator Seph Rodney, and arts professional Kelsey Halliday Johnson.

The Provision Fund website launched July 20, marking the opening of the application period.

Applications are due by Sunday, Sept. 20, and there is no fee to apply. Grant recipients will be announced in December 2026.

Eligible projects must be rooted in the visual arts and intended for public audiences. While the projects will not take place at Real Art Ways, individual artists, collaborative teams, and informal collectives based in Connecticut are all encouraged to apply.

Real Art Ways, based in Hartford, presents visual arts exhibitions, performing arts, film and educational programming. The organization is also undertaking a major expansion during the 2026-27 season that will add four cinemas, a performing arts venue, 5,000 square feet of exhibition space and a café with seating for more than 60 people. According to the organization, it has worked with 48 MacArthur Fellowship recipients, more than any other arts organization in the country.

More information about the program and application process is available at www.provisionfund.org.