Applications are considered annually from any permanent faculty member (tenure-track, tenured, or lecturer) of Brown University whose assigned responsibilities include promoting ideas through the arts. Brown adjunct professors, post-doctoral fellows and MFA or PhD students with teaching responsibilities are also eligible to apply, however, you must be teaching at Brown for the semester in which you apply and the semester in which your event is taking place. 

Grant recipients who received funding during the last academic year (spring 2023) must take a hiatus of one year before applying for additional support. 

Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded for an academic year period. 

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a Grants Committee that includes Brown arts faculty and staff members. Awards will be made based on the following:

• Intrinsic merit of the work
• Evidence of innovation and experimentation
• Integration with BAI philosophy and priorities
• Provision of a well considered and reasonable budget
• A feasible time frame for completion

Award funds may be applied to reasonable and necessary costs of conducting research and scholarship. These expenses may include: the hiring of a research assistant and/or the purchase of material, equipment and supplies, and reimbursements for travel and office expenditures. Any expenses incurred must adhere to Brown’s contract labor, purchasing and travel guidelines. Funds are available after July 1.

All applicants who plan to submit proposals must begin the application process by meeting with their department managers to review their proposed projects and budgets. This conversation is essential for departmental finances, scheduling and allotment of space. Please allow adequate time for this initial step. 

Proposals are submitted electronically via UFunds. A completed application includes a project budget (submitted using the provided budget template). If you encounter difficulty accessing the application, please contact artsinstitute@brown.edu for assistance. 

The FY2024 funding cycle is closed for the Spring 2024, with award notifications made in mid-Mar 2024. For FY25 awards, funds must be used by May 15, 2025. Requests for a one-time extension will be reviewed on an individual basis and must be made in writing to the BAI no later than May 1, 2025.

Within 30 days of the conclusion of the award period, grant recipients must complete the required final report form, which asks grant recipients to describe the work accomplished and reflect on both successful outcomes and challenges. In addition, final reports must include photo, video or other documentation for BAI promotional purposes and inclusion in the BAI archive. Provided images must conform to Brown’s Image Use Policy.