WFF Housing Stability Grant for Artists

About the Open Call

The Woodman Family Foundation Housing Stability Grant for Artists (WFF HSG) provides grants of $30,000, distributed over three years, to NYC-based visual artists in need who are seeking support for stable housing. In its second cycle, the WFF HSG will award grants to five artists. The program aims to improve artists’ housing stability, allowing them to focus on their creative practice and build more sustainable careers in New York City. These grants provide supplemental support towards long-term housing budgets rather than immediate emergency funding. Recipients also gain access to guidance for affordable housing through a partnership with the Entertainment Community Fund (ECF).

What is Offered

$30,000 distributed over three years: $12,000 in Year 1, $10,000 in Year 2, and $8,000 in Year 3. Funds can be used for security deposits, rent, and utilities.

Requirements

Must be 21+ years old; NYC resident (all 5 boroughs) for at least 5 consecutive years; maximum adjusted gross income of $80,000 (individual) or $160,000 (joint) averaged over two years; household assets no greater than $90,720 ($129,600 for joint); cannot own a primary or secondary residence; cannot be currently receiving rental assistance (Section 8, Public Housing, etc.); cannot be a student in a degree-seeking program; must be a visual artist (Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Drawing, Book Arts, or Sculpture) with a 7-year proven track record (2019-present); must be experiencing or anticipating housing instability (e.g., rent >40% of income, no lease, or unsafe conditions).

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via Submittable. Applicants must complete a housing status checklist, provide narrative answers (describing housing instability and creative practice), list projected housing expenses and income for 2026, upload copies of the two most recent federal tax filings (1040s), provide a list of total household assets, and submit a resume/CV showing sustained artistic practice since 2019.