Fine Arts Venture Fund

First awarded in 2014, the PAFA Fine Arts Venture Fund engages current students in the grant-making process, many for the first time. Participants learn to develop a project proposal, craft a detailed budget, and, for semi-finalists, present a compelling case for support to a panel of business experts. PAFA has awarded students more than $310,000 through the Fine Arts Venture Fund.

How to Apply

Potential Venture Fund recipients submit proposals with a budget breakdown of their funding request, along with their resumes and images of their work, which is then reviewed by the Venture Fund board. 

Presenting to a panel of people who work in business and not the arts teaches students different communication skills.

Applications DeadlineTBD
Finalist PresentationsTBD

Applications may be submitted using this link:

Apply Online

For more information about the Fine Arts Venture Fund, contact Student Experience Coordinator, Kate McCammon at kmccammon@pafa.org.

Stories from the Fine Arts Venture Fund

Whether drawn to new techniques by the (un)availability of physical spaces or inspired by unexpected materials, these artists have transformed during the course of their study, creating their own opportunities as supported by the Find Arts Venture Fund.

2021 Venture Fund Recipient Stories

“It allowed me to bring many years of professional and personal interest to bear and lean into my oldest strengths and interests—to leverage nearly 20 years as a graphic designer and programmer and to redefine those capabilities as artistic tools.”

Cardin Moffett's Virtual Reality and Large Robotics-based Installations

"She started painting issues of The New York Times in November of 2017 and soon realized she wanted to dedicate an entire year to exploring her perception of current events."

Bethann Parker's "Old News"

“'I could never reconcile spending a bunch of money on experimental stuff because of the potential for it to fail...' ...She was able to buy a roll of Polytab and used the material to create work that she later presented in the Annual Student Exhibition. All of the work she showed in the ASE was purchased by attendees"

Sophie Brenneman's Polytab mural fabric


PAFA is licensed through the Pennsylvania State Board of Private Licensed Schools and is a nonprofit institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Program structure and details are subject to standard academic and accreditation review and may be updated accordingly.

 

 

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