MAP Fund | About Us

MAP Fund Goals

The MAP Fund is a program of Creative Capital supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Our aim is to assist artists who are exploring the dynamics of live-performance within our changing society, thus reflecting our culture's innovation and growing diversity. MAP seeks especially to support work that brings insight to the issue of cultural difference, be that in class, gender, generation, ethnicity, or tradition.

History

The MAP Fund was established by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1988. Since that time MAP has supported nearly 700 projects with more than $17 million in funding.

MAP guidelines place a special emphasis on innovation, cross-cultural collaboration, and art that springs from cultural critique. Past grantees include playwrights Nilo Cruz and Suzan-Lori Parks, choreographers Donna Uchizono, Rennie Harris, and Bill T. Jones, directors Reza Abdoh and Ibrahim Quarishi, and composers Steve Reich and DJ Spooky, among many others. For more information on past grantees go to Grantees.

In 2001 the Creative Capital Foundation began administering the MAP Fund on behalf of the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2004, Creative Capital assumed all administrative and management responsibilities for the grant, including the management and disbursement of funds.

Our Supporters

The MAP Fund is generously supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Application Process

Every year, up to 42 performance-based works are supported with awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Proposals are accepted once-a-year via an online application. The deadline is mid-February (see the current grant calendar for specific dates). The application is open to any arts organization that meets the fundamental eligibility requirements:

Federal nonprofit tax status
2-year history of professional activity for both the organization and the artists involved in a project
Seeking support for a new live-performance project

See the current grant calendar on the Apply for a Grant page for specific dates.

Application Review Process

The MAP Fund competition is adjudicated by artists and arts professionals from across the country who aid the Foundation as evaluators and panelists. Nominate an evaluator or a panelist.

Award Notification

Formal notification of awards or declination is made at the end of the annual cycle, usually mid to late summer via email. Applicants may check their proposals’ status at any time during the grant cycle by accessing their application online.

No feedback on application status will be provided until the end of the grant cycle in late summer.

In 2003, MAP Fund supported Axis Dance Theater in the creation of a dance work by choreographer Victoria Marks set to a composition by Eve Beglarian. Photo by Andy Mogg. [more]