Get Ready Grants

Examples of eligible activities include:

Studio Safeguards

• Safety equipment
• Upgrading studio and/or equipment to improve studio health and safety
• Contractor consulting
• Purchasing safer materials and supplies
• Purchasing a stronger tent, display wall, or weights for participating in outdoor fairs

Emergency/Disaster Readiness

• Emergency tools, supplies and equipment
• Upgrading studio to reduce disaster risk
• Contractor consulting
• Theft protection measures

Business Protection & Support

• Documentation and archiving
• Inventory software
• Business planning for continuity and contingencies
• Creating secure business record-keeping systems
• Tutorials or training in e-commerce
• Professional photography of their craft portfolio
• Employing the services of website designers
• Short-term support for childcare to allow studio work time

Career Protection

• Legacy or estate planning
• Financial planning services
• Documentation or digitization of artwork and/or related records
• Legal counsel
• Enrolling in a professional development course or workshop to enhance career protection

Ineligible Activities

Art making projects are not eligible for Get Ready Grants. Only projects for safeguarding studios, protecting studios, implementing other safety measures, or business or career protection will be considered eligible.

• Be an artist working in a craft discipline
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Have been residing and working in the U.S. or U.S. Territories for the last two years
• Not have received a Get Ready Grant in 2025

CERF+ broadly defines eligible artists to include those who create work using historically recognized craft materials such as clay, glass, textiles, wood, metal; as well as those whose work expands on these historical definitions through the incorporation of non-traditional materials, new technologies and experimental approaches.

CERF+ is equally committed to the preservation of folk and traditional arts, as rooted in, and reflective of, the cultural life of a community. We recognize and support the ways that information is often passed on from one generation to the next and celebrate practices rooted within a common ethnic heritage, geographic region, religious affiliation or occupation.

CERF+ serves artists at all stages of their practices and seeks to support people from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds. Eligibility is not determined solely by the amount of money an artist generates from their work and we recognize that many individuals have practices that rely on multiple streams of income and financial support.
Craft objects may be functional or nonfunctional, but both types derive part of their meaning from their association with traditional functional forms such as chairs, vessels, garments or implements, and/or their association with cultural tradition. Qualities that contribute to the success of a craft object include the skill of the maker, the use of the material, the refinement of the design, the originality of expression, its cultural significance – or all of these.

We do not support art practices that include hate speech or hate symbols.

To apply for a Get Ready Grant, select the “Apply Now” button on this page and follow the directions to complete the online application and upload the required supporting documentation.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. The CERF+ staff is available to answer questions. Please contact [email protected] or (802) 229-2306.

1. A written narrative (400 word maximum) or short video that includes:
   • A description of the proposed project
   • An explanation of how this project will support you in safeguarding your studio, preparing for emergencies, or protecting your business and practice
   • An explanation of how the readiness activity will be continued after the grant funds have been expended, if applicable
   • Select how you will actively share with others what you have learned about safeguarding your studio, protecting your practice or preparing for emergencies by completing your project. Examples include social media and blog posts, photographs, videos, teaching guides or educational activities.
   • Videos can be included as a YouTube or Vimeo video link in the application form. Maximum of 3 minutes.
2. Documentation of craft artwork and recent engagement or participation in the community:
   • 5 high resolution images of your artwork created within the past three years (.gif, .jpeg, or .tiff format)
   • A photograph of yourself making craft art in your studio, at your booth at a show, teaching, or otherwise engaged in your artistic practice. If you are wearing a mask in your best portrait, please include a second image where we can see your face.
   • A resume or narrative detailing your accomplishments as an artist working in a craft discipline. If applicable, the resume should list exhibitions and shows; publications featuring your work; awards; education; teaching experiences; and/or any other accomplishments that will help us evaluate your practice as a professional artist working in a craft discipline.
3. A list of estimated expenses to complete the project, specifying which expenses the grant will fund and the sources of funds for any other expenses.

Grant selection will be made through a lottery.

Applications will be evaluated to determine whether the applicant:

• has proposed an eligible and feasible project
• has included a budget that accounts for any additional costs
• has included a plan for sharing their project

Priority will be given to applications from people who identify in the global majority or as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)* and folk and traditional artists.

CERF+ verifies artists' identification through a third party system called ID Pal to ensure that an individual is
who they claim to be by confirming their information against independent, trusted data sources.
This process is crucial for preventing fraud, meeting regulatory compliance, and building trust in
digital transactions.
Any application submitted is not considered complete until the third party verification process has been completed.