ALASKA ART FUND (AAF)

The Alaska Art Fund (AAF)—previously known as the Art Acquisition Fund—was established in 2002 and began in 2003. The grant program was created by Rasmuson Foundation and is managed by Museums Alaska along with the Collections Management Fund.

The purpose of the AAF is to encourage museums in Alaska to collect the work of accomplished Alaska artists for their collections, and support living, practicing Alaska artists through these acquisitions. In 2022, the program was expanded to allow organizations to commission public art as well as make more traditional art purchases for their collections. Applicants are required to be 501(c)(3) nonprofit, government, tribal entities or equivalent organizations that hold collections in the public trust, such as a museum or cultural center.

Small, rural-based organizations are encouraged to apply. The AAF has not only made possible the enrichment of the state’s museum and cultural center collections, but the funds also have gone directly to Alaska artists encouraging them to continue their work in Alaska.

Institutional membership in Museums Alaska is encouraged but not required. If your institution is not a member, click here to join and help us continue to develop programs that benefit the Alaska museum community and the cultural sector.

2023 Dates:

1st Cycle

• Open - February 1, 2023
  
• Draft Review Deadline: March 1, 2023
  
• Close - March 17, 2023

2nd Cycle

• Open - September 1, 2023
  
• Draft Review Deadline: September 29, 2023
  
• Close - October 13, 2023
  

Please contact us if you have any questions about the program.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS & LINKS:

• Application Guidelines 2023
• 2023 Application Questions
• Image Use Authorization Form for Museums and Cultural Centers (for final report)
• Grant Help (and example applications)
• Cultural Appropriation Flow Chart (Source: Alutiiq Museum)
• Spring 2022 Awardees & Fall 2022 Awardees
• Museums Alaska Code of Conduct
  
• Browse supported artists on Rasmuson Foundation’s online gallery
• Check out the Living Alaska exhibit guide, provided by the Anchorage Museum and funded by Rasmuson Foundation.
• If you wish to use Museums Alaska's brand to promote your grant award, please see our brand usage guidelines.
• Final Reporting: Final reporting from past AAF grant awards must be submitted before an institution may apply for a subsequent grant. To submit your final report, please follow the instructions sent to you by the program administrator. If you have questions, please contact us.

APPLICATION

To apply, click the button below to go to our grant application website. Grant application deadlines can be found in the Application Guidelines document linked above.

We have an optional grant review for those who would like help strengthening their application. To submit your application for optional grant review, fill out your application on the grant application website and choose the appropriate submit button at the end.

Note: This is an external website (museumsalaska.gosmart.org), where you will be required to create a user login (this is separate from any member login you may have at museumsalaska.org).

Grant Application Website