New & Experimental Works Program

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation's New & Experimental Works (NEW) Program supports small and mid-sized dance, theater, and multidisciplinary arts organizations with grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. The program aims to provide unrestricted and artist fee support to enable Bay Area artists to create visionary projects that are relevant to the communities they serve. Since its inception in 2015, the program has awarded over $4 million to 149 arts organizations. The foundation prioritizes projects that encourage artistic experimentation, unique collaborations, and productions in non-traditional venues, particularly in San Francisco and Oakland. To be eligible, applicants must be nonprofit organizations or have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor with a written agreement. Organizations must be based in or demonstrate a history of operating in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, or Santa Clara counties. Additionally, artists supported through the grant should have a track record of producing and working in these counties, though residency in the Bay Area is not required. Eligible organizations must have an annual budget of at least $10,000, either in their most recent fiscal year or within the last three years. Organizations that received a NEW Program grant in 2024 are not eligible for the 2025 cycle, but those awarded in 2023 may apply if they have completed their projects and submitted final grant reports. The application process for the 2025 cycle runs from March 3 to March 24, with a pre-application workshop scheduled for February 25, 2025. Grant awards will be announced in August 2025, and funded projects must take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027. Projects are required to allocate at least 50% of grant funds to artist fees and direct project expenses, while the remaining portion is unrestricted for the applicant organization. The program prioritizes projects that compensate artists at a significant level. All grant applications must be submitted through the Kenneth Rainin Foundation’s online system, GivingData, which aligns with The Common Application for the Arts but includes some program-specific questions. Applications are reviewed by a panel of Bay Area dance and theater artists who evaluate submissions based on four main criteria: experimentation, relevance and timeliness, community connection, and organizational capacity. Each application is scored on a scale from 1 to 10, with final funding decisions considering both scoring and broader programmatic goals. Panelists assess whether projects push artistic boundaries, address timely and compelling issues, foster meaningful connections with communities, and have a sound plan and budget for execution. Applicants are required to submit project budgets and work samples, though financial statements such as profit and loss statements will only be requested from those recommended for funding. While the DataArts funder report is not required for the application, awarded grantees must submit this report as part of their post-award documentation. The requirement is waived for organizations with annual budgets under $50,000 and for first-time fiscally sponsored applicants without an existing DataArts profile. For questions, applicants are encouraged to review the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the foundation’s website. Additional assistance is available through office hours with Arts Program Officer Sarah Williams. The NEW Program aims to support innovative, artist-driven projects that engage communities and push creative boundaries in the Bay Area’s arts landscape.