Franklin Furnace’s mission is to present, preserve, interpret, educate, and advocate on behalf of avant-garde art, especially forms that may be vulnerable due to institutional neglect, cultural bias, ephemerality, or politically unpopular content.
The organization provides physical and virtual venues for the presentation of time-based art, including artists’ books and periodicals, performance art, installation art, and unforeseen contemporary avant-garde artforms; and undertakes other activities related to these purposes.
Franklin Furnace is dedicated to serving early-career artists; to cultivating appreciation of avant-garde art for all, and to fostering artists’ zeal to circulate ideas.
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The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art awards grants annually to early career artists of all backgrounds to assist the production of new major performance art works. Artists from all areas of the world are encouraged to apply and selected artists must present their work in New York City.
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Franklin Furnace has no curator; each year a new panel of artists reviews all proposals. This peer panel system allows all kinds of artists from all over the world an equal shot at presenting their work. Every year the panel changes, and brings new perspectives of “early career artist" and "performance art." So if at first you don't succeed, please try again.
Application Launch: 01/01/2026 The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art awards grants annually to early career artists of all backgrounds to assist the production of new major performance art works. Artists from all areas of the world are encouraged to apply and selected artists must present their work in New York City. Artists from all areas of the world are encouraged to apply; however, artists selected by the panel are expected to present their work in New York City. Full-time students are ineligible. Artists may apply once per year as an individual, and once per year as part of a collaboration.
The Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art 2026-2027 has confirmed support from Jerome Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. If you have any technical problems with the online application form, please check Submittable’s Support Page. Please note that they are available Monday - Friday from 11am - 7pm Eastern Standard Time. For other questions, please contact proposals@franklinfurnace.org
Application Launch: 02/1/2026
Franklin Furnace is honored to present the second year of the Jacki Apple Award in Performance and Artist Projects, celebrating Jacki Apple’s enduring impact on the New York art scene. This annual award will be given over ten years and reflects Apple’s commitment to nurturing artistic talent—demonstrated through her multifaceted career as a writer, educator, radio host, and artist since the early 1980s.
Initiated by Jacki's sister, Marjorie Bank, along with Jeff McMahon, Deborah Oliver, Stuart Jackson-Hughes and Emily Waters, the Jacki Apple Fund is a tribute to Jacki's lifelong dedication to NY & LA’s avant-garde art communities. Franklin Furnace and sister organization LACE (Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions) each will distribute one $10,000 award per year for a total of 20 awards over the coming decade.
Award Overview:
- Recipient: One New York City-based artist working in performance art.
- Grant: $10,000 to fund projects in performance, media, exhibition, and/or publication.
- Requirement: Project must be completed within one year of receiving the award.
- Eligibility: A mid or advanced-career artist based in NYC, including past recipients of the Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art.
- The selection panel will meet in July, 2026 and the award recipient will be publicly announced in October, 2026.
Application Details:
- Application Deadline: May 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
- Franklin Furnace 2026-27 FUND info session: February 4, 2026, 7-8pm.
If you have any technical problems with the online application form, please check Submittable’s Support Page. Please note that they are available Monday - Friday from 11am - 7pm Eastern Standard Time. For other questions, please contact proposals@franklinfurnace.org