Cintas Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Cintas foundation prioritizes grantmaking for creative artists with Cuban citizenship or who have a Cuban parent or grandparent. Its funding areas include architecture and design, music composition, the visual arts, and writing.
IP TAKE: Cintas is a niche funder with very specific requirements for funding. Its fellowships are ideal for Cuban citizens or Cuban-American artists seeking funding for their project. Everyone else should look elsewhere for arts funding. To stand out, outline how your Cuban heritage impacts your lived experience, and also, how it shapes your artistic vision. Don’t hesitate to briefly mention specific influences from Cuban culture on your work.
PROFILE: Founded in 1957, the Cintas Foundation was created from the estate of Oscar B. Cintas, patron of the arts and former Cuban ambassador to the United States. The foundation seeks “to encourage artistic expression and appreciation by offering grants to artists, architects, composers and creative writers of Cuban descent, and by making their art available to the public.” It provides fellowships to artists with Cuban citizenship or of direct lineage, i.e., having a Cuban parent or grandparent.
Grants for Music
Cintas supports composers through its Music Composition Fellowship. Cintas fellowships award $20,000. In order to apply, grant seekers must submit three to five recordings which should be accompanied by scores. Cintas accepts applications written in either English or Spanish. In order to better understand which projects receive funding, new grant seekers should look over the list of past music grantees.
Grants for Creative Writing
Cintas supports writers through its Creative Writing Fellowship. Cintas fellowships are for $20,000. In order to apply, grant seekers must submit two narrative statements (a personal artist’s statement and a project statement), two confidential letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. Applications must be typewritten and submitted digitally on either CD, DVD or flash drive. Cintas accepts applications written in either English or Spanish. In order to better understand which projects receive funding, new grant seekers should look over the list of past creative writing grantees.
Grants for Visual Arts
Cintas supports visual artists through its Visual Arts Fellowship. Cintas fellowships are for $20,000. In order to apply, grant seekers may submit art in a variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture, video, and computer art. Artists may submit a maximum of ten visual images. Cintas accepts applications written in either English or Spanish. Grantseekers should explore the list of past visual arts grantees to get an idea of what the foundation funds.
Important Grant Details:
Qualified members from each artistic discipline review applications. Cintas’ board then awards fellowships based on the recommendations of the panels.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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