Below are detailed guidelines for prospective applicants in the 2022 cycle of LAB. Please read this information carefully before beginning your application.
To be eligible to apply for LAB, you:
The Boston Foundation welcomes LAB applications from groups of artists and collaborators. A “collaborator” is a co-owner of a project and provides creative input.
Groups and collaborators should apply jointly and submit a single application. It is NOT required that all collaborators or group members meet the eligibility requirements listed above for artists; however, the primary applicant must meet ALL eligibility requirements for Individuals.
Note: Unless funds are directed to a fiscal sponsor, one collaborator or group member will ultimately need to serve as the “primary applicant” and, if the project is funded, will be the person who directly receives payment and is responsible for any applicable taxes.
To be eligible to apply for LAB, organizational applicants must:
Groups or collaborations that do not meet one or more of these criteria are welcome to apply but should apply as groups of artists (per above), and not as organizations.
The LAB team has prepared a quiz to help potential applicants determine whether their project is eligible for a Live Arts Boston grant. Click here to take the eligibility quiz.
As in prior years, we expect a highly competitive pool of applicants. In 2020, we received 343 applications and awarded 60 grants; in 2021, we received 308 applications and awarded 65 grants.
All applications are reviewed by national and regional artists and arts administrators with expertise in a variety of performing arts fields. After the first review, all applicants are notified of their status and those invited to continue to Round Two prepare their expanded materials and submit them for consideration to a second group of reviewers. This second group is comprised primarily of representatives of the local performing arts community, including prior LAB grantees and other artists. Boston Foundation staff work to ensure that both groups of reviewers reflect the diversity of Greater Boston, particularly the racial and ethnic diversity, and include people with familiarity in a wide range of performing arts disciplines.
We are happy to address any questions about program guidelines, eligibility, and the application form that are not addressed above or in one of our informational videos. However, we are unable to provide specific guidance about the content of individual Round One applications.You can reach the LAB team by email at LAB@tbf.org. Please allow up to 2 business days for a response.