Create & (Re)Connect

No, applicants do not need to identify as artists or community organizers to be eligible. However, proposals must incorporate elements of art or creativity. At The Laundromat Project, we define art as visual, media, literary, and performing arts as well as curation, scholarship, education, healing, gardening, community organizing, activism, and other cultural traditions, productions, and practices. 

No, you do not have to currently live in Bed-Stuy to apply. Since the (Re)Connect Fund is designed to support LP alumni engaged in new or ongoing community art projects, there is no restriction on geography for the artist, community of impact, or activation site. 

Proposals will be evaluated based on the clarity of the application and the potential of the project idea to make a positive impact on the community of your choice.  

Yes, any group, organization, or individual within our alumni network is eligible to apply, however priority will be given to informal groups and collectives with less access to funding sources.

Yes, any group, organization, or individual within our alumni network is eligible to apply, however eligible proposals must be free for participants. We are looking for new iterations of past projects, new creative projects, or ongoing/long-term initiatives that positively impacts and engages a group, audience, or community of your choice.

Funds cannot be used for commercial purposes. 

Yes. 

We welcome all past LP Program participants, including previous Create & (Re)Connect recipients, to apply for Create & (Re)Connect to complete a new project or new iteration of a past project. However, if you were awarded a grant for the past two years in a row, you are not eligible to receive an award this cycle. You will be eligible to apply again next year.

Yes! Appointments can be made using this online scheduling tool or by emailing [email protected] with “Create & (Re)Connect 2026 Support Appointment Request” in the subject line. Appointments are limited and first-come first-serve. Each appointment slot is 20-minutes.

These meetings are designed to provide support on whatever might be most useful to you as you complete your application. The LP team can act as a thought partner or sounding board as you form your project idea and can review your application responses for clarity. We encourage you to request an appointment if you want to know if your idea is eligible, what part of your proposal to emphasize, if your response to an application question is clear, or if you have questions about parts of the application or the application process.

These are virtual 20-minute 1:1 meetings with LP Programs staff, and, to make the most of your time, you should first review all guidelines and FAQs online and then bring specific questions about your project or application. In-person meetings at our storefront are also welcome upon request.

No. Anyone who is available is welcome. 

Applications will be accepted from April 1, 2026 until 11:59 PM ET on May 1, 2026. 

Applications submitted after midnight (aka May 2nd and onwards) will not be reviewed. All applications submitted prior to the deadline will be read and reviewed in the order they are received. Because we can only fund up to 20 proposals, we highly encourage applicants to submit their proposals well ahead of the deadline to ensure thoughtful consideration as we often receive more applications than we can fund.

Applicants may submit only one application per project idea. If you have more than one proposal, please choose the one you feel is the strongest.

Applicants for collaborative works or applicants applying on behalf of a group or organized body should select one member to submit an application for review.

If you are the project lead applying on behalf of a group, you may also apply with another, unrelated project idea as an individual.

Yes. Please be aware that communications regarding the status of the application will be sent to the email address associated with the Submittable account. Please make sure to create a Submittable account for the individual you are assisting.

A grant-writer can assist with the application process in collaboration with the organization they are working for, but the contact information (including email and phone number) listed on the application and the Submittable account associated with the application must belong to the organization representative that will be carrying out the proposal and/or serving as the fiscal representative, if the project is funded.

The application opens April 1 and closes May 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT.

You will receive an automated email response from Submittable confirming your application was received.

Yes, but we encourage you to save it often in case of any internet or technical difficulties. You can also draft your responses on a separate document and copy and paste them onto Submittable when you are ready to submit.

You will be notified via the email you provided in your application. 

We will send notifications indicating if proposals were accepted or declined no later than the end of July 2026. At that time, recipients will then receive a grant agreement outlining reporting requirements and the option to accept funds by signing a contract and moving forward with payment steps.

Projects will be evaluated by their alignment with the goals of the fund, which is to make sustained investments in our growing artist network by supporting their artmaking, leadership, and professional growth. Projects and activities must be able to be developed, installed/performed by the applicant independently without production support from The Laundromat Project. 

Award amounts are disbursed via bill.com after the contract has been signed and received.

Funds can take up to 2 months to be received following notification that you have been selected and depend upon the timely return of any requested forms or contracts. Please take this timeline into consideration as you plan your project.

The funds can be used for any aspect of the proposal necessary for the execution of an eligible project––including but not limited to supplies, venue rentals, or compensation fees for the project lead (applicant) and additional artists/collaborators/laborers. See above for notes on eligible and ineligible projects.

Yes. This is considered taxable income, please consult with a tax professional if you need guidance through this process.