VPA Maker Microgrant for Individual Students AY 24
VPA Maker Microgrants support the creation and presentation of short-term (10 weeks or less), low-intensity extracurricular visual arts projects taking place within the Stanford campus.
Maker Microgrants are prioritized for emerging artistic voices within the Stanford community. Frosh/soph, transfer students, and first-time applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome creative works that emphasize intrapersonal growth in a technical and/or artistic skill, with focused project timelines.
Awards range from $150-$300. Please review the eligibility guidelines for more information.
AY 24 Deadlines
- Cycle A: Monday, October 9, 2023 at 11:59PM Pacific (Week 3 Fall Quarter)
- Cycle B: Monday, November 6, 2023 at 11:59PM Pacific (Week 7 Fall Quarter)
- Cycle C: Monday, January 29, 2024 at 11:59PM Pacific (Week 4 Winter Quarter)
- Cycle D: Monday, March 4, 2023 at 11:59PM Pacific (Week 9 Winter Quarter)
- Short-term, low-intensity extracurricular visual arts projects
- Projects for emerging artistic voices within the Stanford communityto explore new mediums and techniques
- Proof-of-concept projects
- creative works emphasizing intrapersonal growth in a technical and/or artistic skill
- focused project timelines
Student Eligibility
- Currently enrolled undergraduate and co-term Stanford students. Students on Leave of Absences are not eligible. Frosh/soph, transfer students, and first-time applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Project is extracurricular (does not fulfill academic requirements, honors theses, or capstone projects).
- We encourage individual students of all forms and levels of artistic experience to apply. Maker Microgrants are prioritized for emerging artistic voices within the Stanford community.
- Project cannot receive funding from other University awards (e.g. Undergraduate Research grants, Community Engagement Grant, etc.) or VPA grants (e.g. Arts+Justice, IDA Fellowship, etc.)
Project Eligibility
Maker Microgrants support small, short-term extracurricular projects that meet the following criteria:
- Visual art or design project. Priority is given to projects that highlight the resources available in Roble Arts Gym.
- Project timeline is 10 weeks or less
- Project is created on the Stanford campus.
- Activity could be considered "low intensity" (e.g. doing the project to fulfill your own creative needs, part of your wellness plan, etc.) The project should ultimately fulfill your creative needs in a meaningful and healthy manner.
- Longer term projects should utilize Undergraduate Research small grants or other campus funding.
Examples of possible Microgrant projects include (but are not limited to): experimenting with a new visual art medium, sewing an avant-garde outfit, props for a small photo shoot, and more.
Grant recipients are asked participate in a group exhibition in Winter Quarter Week 9 or Spring Quarter Week 4 at Roble Arts Gym as culmination of their grantee experiences. Options for completing this requirement are discussed during the grantee onboarding process.
Grant Awards and Payments
Microgrant awards range from $150 - $300. Grants are paid as stipends to the lead applicant through Student Financial Services.
Stipend payments will normally be considered taxable income to the student, although no deductions will be withheld at the time the payment is made (withholding may be necessary for some international students). For further guidance related to taxes, the student should consult with Student Financial Services.
Applications are only accepted through SOLO and include the following:
- Project lead contact information
- Project summary
- Project timeline
- Project proposal
- Project budget (PDF upload)
- Work samples (optional; recommended to assist reviewers in reviewing your application. Work samples can range from concept sketches, mood boards, etc.)
Use of Grant Funds
Examples of approved project funds for visual arts materials are the following: acrylic and watercolor paint sets, modeling clay, screen printing materials, 35mm and medium format film photography processing fees, wood and related supplies for carving, zine printing costs.
Student Arts Grants for Individuals do not cover the following types of project costs:
- VSO- or residence-related event programming (see: VPA Student Arts Grant for VSOs)
- audio & visual equipment (alternatives: Equipment Lending Library, Lathrop Tech Desk)
- Software (alternative: The Hub)
- Sewing machine (alternative: Roble Arts Gym's equipment)
- Subscription services
- Ad fees
- Off-campus activities
- Fundraising activities
- Commercial activities
- Travel-related activities
- Course fees
- Expenses exceeding maximum grant allocation ($300)
- Payments to Stanford affiliates (e.g, students, staff, faculty, postdocs, etc.)
- Honoraria or fees to other individuals, organizations, and businesses
- Expenses related to a capstone project, thesis, or coursework.
If you have any questions about whether your proposed project materials can be covered by the grant please contact Erina Alejo (ealejo@stanford.edu)