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Artivism Student Action Program (ASAP)

The Division of the Arts believes the arts are a vital resource. They are a means to express outrage against social and political injustices; to imagine and build more inclusive futures through community practice. The arts promote understanding, joy, and appreciation for the plural identities present in our communities. They are functional tools for artists and audiences to address issues of inequity and articulate the need for social change.

UW–Madison students have the talent, creativity, and ability to imagine timely responses to significant community challenges, especially through the arts. Students can use the arts to create change through action. That’s why the Division of the Arts is pleased to offer the Artivism Student Action Program (ASAP)! The grant facilitates student-led endeavors demonstrating strong intersections of art and activism. In turn, our communities will move closer to the vision for equity and inclusivity that we hold as a campus.

ASAP will increase the financial capacity for students and student organizations to implement important events focused on:

  • the intersections of art and activism;
  • cultural-enhancement; and
  • programming.

Projects should feature, center, benefit, and/or be led by people marginalized due to their racial, sexual, religious, cultural, and gender identities, physical abilities, socioeconomic status, or any other form of identity-based oppression not listed here.

Fall 2023 Application

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Who is eligible to apply for ASAP?

Any UW–Madison student is welcome to apply. Preference is given to proposals led by a Registered Student Organization (RSO). Individual students not associated with an RSO are encouraged to partner with a faculty or staff member, an RSO, and/or a campus or community organization to help support and promote your event.

What will ASAP pay for?

ASAP will provide funding to support you or your student organization. Funding can range from a direct payment to an honorarium, or be used to procure a variety of goods or services to ensure the success of your project, including but not limited to venue rental, equipment, or food for public performances, events, art exhibitions, or film screenings by guest artists or students as long as they follow university guidelines.

A budget is one of the requirements in the application where you can further elaborate on your project’s costs. Feel free to use this budget template (.xslx).

How much will ASAP fund?

An individual applicant is eligible for funding up to $750. Registered Student Organizations, proposals with defined collaborations between two or more students, faculty, staff, and/or community organizations may apply for up to $1,500. Applicants are encouraged to use the budget template (.xlsx) while developing proposals.

No match is required. Campus and community partnerships are encouraged to leverage “in-kind” support whenever possible. The funding may impact your financial aid package, but we will work with you to look at options to reduce that impact.

A total of $15,000 is available for the 2023-24 academic year. Awarded applicants are asked to wait one semester before applying again.

When is the application deadline?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the 2023-2024 academic year based on available funding. They are evaluated on a biweekly basis, and applicants will receive decision notifications within one month of receipt. Please note that applications will not be reviewed during the winter break (December 22, 2023 – January 20, 2024) or spring recess (March 23-31, 2024). The review process will take longer if applications are shared during campus break periods.

How will ASAP proposals be evaluated?

A twenty-five point scale will be used by our committee to evaluate proposals. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the evaluation guidelines (PDF) while developing proposals. It is recommended to write the major components of your application in a separate document to refer back to later and copy and paste into the application fields.

Receiving Payment

Once the acceptance form is completed, individual students are typically paid by scholarship through the Bursar’s Office. Registered Student Organizations can be paid via ShopUW+ or through their RSO funding string.

Recognition Requirements

Applicants who receive approval will be expected to include the ASAP logo on any promotional materials for their project, if applicable. For guidelines, please review our recipient media kit.

You are encouraged to display Arts on Campus notebooks or Arts for Everyone, Everywhere tote bags, which the Division of the Arts will supply, if applicable.

Reporting Requirements

For successful applicants, a short final report will be required to complete and send in within 30 days of completion of your ASAP-funded project.

Contact asap@arts.wisc.edu with questions.