Grants & Opportunities

Art in Public Places (AIPP)

AIPP funds public art projects with artistic-merit that last 10 or more years.

Eligibility:

• Madison neighborhood associations
• Nonprofit organizations
• City of Madison agencies

Individual artists or groups must partner with one of the above.

BLINK Temporary Public Art Commissions

BLINK supports temporary public art in Madison. MAC invites artists to propose temporary works in unsuspecting places in the community. Artists should propose ideas that are modest in cost, yet unique, bold and ambitious. We commission projects for up to $3,000. Projects must be accessible to the public.

Artists can apply for a BLINK commission at any time. MAC will review applications submitted February - April in May. MAC may consider proposals outside the city if the project would benefit the artist & the City.

Calls for Art

Open Continuously: Existing Art Call

• Open to artists of all mediums
• Submit up to 10 existing works each year
• As opportunities arise, works may be 
  • Purchased (City of Madison owns the work)
  • Loaned (City of Madison borrows the work)
  • Licensed (City of Madison uses a digital version of the work in a different medium - like vinyl on utility boxes)

Open Continuously: Social Practice Artist Call

• ​Open to social practice artists of various methods and mediums.
• Artists will be considered for opportunities as they arise. 

Closed: State Street Campus Garage Public Art Project

• MAC selected finalists in October 15, 2025: Area C Projects, Studio KCA, and Matthew Mazzotta.
• The finalists attended an in-person orientation and community meeting in November, 2025.
• Design proposals will be reviewed in early 2026.
• Review the Public Art - State Street Campus Garage RFQu and Addendum 1 in full before applying. 

Closed: Imagination Center at Reindahl Park Public Art Project

• MAC selected finalists September 17, 2025: Sujin Lim, Cooke-Sasseville, Nate Page and the team of Gabriela Marvan, Flor Molina, and Ryan Rothweiler.
• The finalists attended an in person orientation and community meeting in October, 2025.
• Design proposals will be reviewed in early 2026.
• Review the Imagination Center Public Art Site Details. 

Closed: Teejop Community History Public Art Project

• MAC selected finalists July 28, 2025: Christopher J. Sweet, Dakota Mace, Gene Delcourt, June Little Soldier Whitehorse, Maxwell Emcays (withdrew), Melanie Tallmadge Sainz, Tory Tepp
• MAC reviewed design proposals in November, 2025 and directed staff to fund projects in the order they were scored. We expect to fund at least 5 of the submissions. 
• Read the Teejop Community History Public Art Project Guidelines for full requirements. 

Closed: Bartillon Shelter Mosaic

• MAC selected Laurel True of True Mosaics at their July 28, 2025 meeting.
• Laurel will create a 5 panel, approximately 247 SF mural for the new purpose build shelter.

• Site specifications. 

Register for the Madison Arts Newsletter to learn about new opportunities.

Artists at Work 

The Artists at Work grant program began in 2023 when MAC awarded $450,000 to 22 arts organizations to reinstate or create arts jobs. The first year of the Artists at Work was funded by an American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Grants of $10,000, $15,000, or $25,000 were used for creative workforce development at arts organization in the City of Madison.

Due 11:59pm January 12, 2026: Artists at Work Grant 

Organizations are invited to apply for $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 grants to support creative workers that focus on branding, marketing, and promoting Madison's music and performing arts scene. Funds to continue support for AAW are coming from 2026 Room Tax and must comply with the ordinance regulating expenditures of Room Tax Revenue. Applications are due January 12th at 11:59pm and we anticipate asking MAC to review applications and make funding recommendations at their January 20th meeting.

Guidelines

Application