FAQ

How much funding can I request for my project?
Is it a better strategy to apply for all or part of the $5,000?
How many grants do you give out?
Do you need to have a special bank account to receive this grant?
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
How should we determine who the lead organizer is on our application?
I don't have a venue secured yet for my project. What should I do?
Can an Alternative Exposure grant provide general operating support?
What kinds of projects do you typically fund?
Can I apply for a grant to purchase equipment?
I don't have any visual materials that are representative of my proposed project.
Can I submit applications for multiple projects?
As a former grantee, may I reapply for another grant?

How much funding can I request for my project?
Beginning with Round 6 in 2012, SoEx increased the maximum request for funds from $3,500 to $5,000 per grant. You may now request any amount between $500 and $5,000.

Is it a better strategy to apply for all or part of the $5,000?
Try to fill out the budget form as accurately as possible and request the amount that would best allow you to achieve your stated goal(s). The monetary amount you request has no effect on whether or not you are awarded a grant. For questions about budgeting for your application, please consider attending an Information Session or contact us at 415-863-2141.

How many grants do you give out?
We give out a different number of grants each round. In past years, anywhere from 13 to 19 projects were funded depending on the size of each award.

Do you need to have a special bank account to receive this grant?
No. Money will be disbursed to the lead organizer with the check made out in his/her name. That applicant will be responsible for any taxes on the award. Please note that Southern Exposure cannot provide tax advice regarding Alternative Exposure grants.

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to apply?
No, but the lead organizer must have a social security number to receive payment of the award. Additional collaborators and/or participants do not need to be U.S. citizens or have social security numbers.

Multiple individuals organize our project collectively. How should we determine who the lead organizer is on our application?
If you are a part of a collective or team, consider the following when selecting your lead organizer. The lead organizer is the one who will be the primary contact and the main administrator for the grant application and follow-through if awarded a grant. The lead organizer will also be the one receiving the check and responsible for any income taxes owed as a result of receiving the grant.

I don't have a venue secured yet for my project. Can I propose that my project take place at Southern Exposure or at another non-profit organization?
If you do not have a venue secured for your proposed project yet, please provide as much information as you can outlining the types of places you intend to present your project and any research or planning you've done towards securing specific venues. Projects funded by Alternative Exposure grants cannot be presented at Southern Exposure. If you are looking to propose a project for Southern Exposure, please refer to the guidelines for Open Submissions for Artists. Rental of space from 501c3 non-profit organizations other than SoEx is permitted, however projects may not take place at a 501c3 non-profit organization as a part of their primary programming.

Can I apply for an Alternative Exposure grant to provide general operating support for a new or existing art space?
Yes. Alternative Exposure grants may fund general operating costs associated with the launch of new arts spaces and projects as well as provide general operating support for ongoing programs and arts venues who are not 501c3's in the San Francisco Bay Area. Examples include: rent, utilities, transportation costs, artist and designer fees, administrative fees, supplies, equipment, etc.

What kinds of projects does the Alternative Exposure grant program typically fund?
Alternative Exposure grants fund a wide range of projects and activities led by self-organized artists and small groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Previously funded projects have included a new exhibition or exhibition series, the ongoing work of an arts venue or collective, a public art project, a one-time event or performance, publications directly related to the visual arts, an online project, an artist residency, a series of film screenings, and more. In general, Alternative Exposure seeks to foster the development and presentation of artist-led projects that provide opportunities for San Francisco Bay Area artists and include programs that are accessible and open to the public. For questions about eligibility, please consider attending an Information Session or contact us at [email protected] or 415-863-2141.

Can I apply for a grant to purchase equipment?
The purchase or rental of equipment may be included in your grant proposal budget as an expense related to a larger project. However, you may not apply for an Alternative Exposure grant with the sole purpose of purchasing equipment.

I don't have any visual materials that are representative of my proposed project. Should I submit examples of previous work?
Please submit a combination of work samples that represent your plans for the project and your ability to realize the proposed project. This could include past work of artists who you will be presenting, plans and renderings for a site-specific project contextualized within the site, or documentation of past projects that are similar. Be sure to utilize the Annotated List of Visual Support Materials to best communicate the context of your work samples to the jurors.

Can I submit applications for multiple projects during the same round of Alternative Exposure?
Applicants may be a lead organizer on more than one application during the same round of Alternative Exposure, however, in these cases only one of their projects may be selected for funding. Applicants may be listed as an additional collaborator on multiple project proposals for the same round of Alternative Exposure without affecting the eligibility of funding for the individual projects.

I received an Alternative Exposure grant during one of the past rounds. May I reapply for another grant?
Beginning with Round 8 (2014), former grantees are now eligible to reapply for new projects (not related to projects previously funded by Alternative Exposure).

For Round 13 (2019):
If you received an Alternative Exposure grant from Rounds 1-9 (2007-2015), you are eligible to apply again as a lead organizer if 1) you are applying for a completely new, unrelated project, and 2) the first project was successfully completed and the final report was submitted to Southern Exposure. Grantees from Rounds 10, 11 or 12 (2016-2018) are NOT eligible to apply again as lead organizers in Round 13. However, former grantees (both lead organizers and additional collaborators) from ALL previous rounds may participate in Round 13 applications for new, completely unrelated projects as collaborators.

More questions?
Please consider attending an Information Session or contact us at [email protected] or 415-863-2141.