BUFFALO, NY.- The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art announced the third round of the Generator Fund, with $60,000 in grant funding available to support visual artists living and working in Erie and Niagara Counties. This regranting program supports public-facing, innovative visual arts projects, including exhibitions, installations, performances, publications, workshops, and experimental platforms.

Applications open August 1 and are due September 30, 2025.

This year, Generator Fund organizers are especially eager to reach artists based in Niagara County and to welcome applications from artists at all career stages, from emerging to well-established. The fund is designed to support visual artists in taking creative risks—offering time, trust, and resources to pursue ideas that might not fit inside traditional models.

“We’re not asking artists to fix the world,” says BICA Executive Director Emily Reynolds, “but we believe the act of making something new—especially now—is powerful. The Generator Fund creates space for that kind of bold, thoughtful work.”

This year’s biggest change is an increase in the Kinetic Grant award from $2,000 to $5,000, offering deeper support for short-term, public-facing projects. The fund will support approximately 6–8 Kinetic Grants and 2–3 Potential Grants:

• Kinetic Grants (up to $5,000) are for time-limited projects such as exhibitions, performances, publications, or installations.

• Potential Grants (up to $10,000) support long-term, collaborative platforms—like artist-run spaces, zines, lecture series, or other nontraditional initiatives that foster ongoing engagement.

To support applicants, BICA will host a virtual info session on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:00 PM, followed by a second in-person session at BICA on Saturday, September 20, at 2:00 PM, focused on application materials like budgets and CVs. Weekly office hours and group work sessions will also be offered throughout the application period to ensure artists feel prepared and supported.

“Whether you’re building a solo installation or dreaming up a new artist-run space, the Generator Fund is here to help make it real,” says wavy, Generator Fund Coordinator. “We designed this fund to meet artists where they are—whether they’re building a big idea or just starting to articulate one.”

Since its launch in 2023, the Generator Fund has awarded 40 grants to visual artists working across a wide range of approaches—including print studios, non-traditional residency programs, short films, installations, books, zines, and experimental galleries.

The Generator Fund is part of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts’ Regional Regranting Program and is administered by BICA.

Application guidelines, eligibility information, and a full preview of the application are now available at generatorfund.org. Applications will be submitted through Submittable beginning August 1.