Power Plant Grants are run by Big Car Collaborative and funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

The goal is to energize the Indianapolis arts community and support visual artists by encouraging them to grow by taking chances, realizing untapped potential, trying experimental projects, collaborating with each other, and bringing work to unusual places – all without a lot of red tape.

About

Big Car Collaborative facilitates the Power Plant Grant program made possible by funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. 

Who’s eligible to apply for Power Plant Grants

The Power Plant Grant supports project grants for visual artists who live or work Indianapolis, Indiana.

Eligible applicants are visual and or multidisciplinary artists who create original work in painting, drawing, sculpture, book art, ceramics, fiber, printmaking, digital and media works, film, video, photography, performance art, sound art, social practice and or hybrid or interdisciplinary practice of any or all of the above.

Artists must be over 21 at the time of the application, and may not be full-time students.

Employees or board members (or immediate family members of employees or board members) of Big Car Collaborative are not eligible for this opportunity.

Teams and partnerships are eligible. Nonprofit organizations are not.

Eligible projects are ones that can be primarily supported by grant funds. Much larger projects that would require far more funding are not eligible.

Previous Power Plant Grant recipients awarded in the previous year are not eligible to apply for this current round.

How it works

2024-2025 Round 1 applications are closed. Round 2 applications will open via Submittable on Monday, May 5th. A panel of three judges, one out-of-state artist, and two Indiana-based artists, including one previous Power Plant Grant recipient, will award five artists or artist teams project grants of $12,000 — with a total of $60,000 granted per cycle.

Power Plant Grant 2024-2o25 Timeline:

Round 1 (2024):

2024-2025 Round 1 is complete. Find the awarded projects here.

Round 2 (2025):

  • Monday, May 5 – Application opens via Submittable

  • Monday, June 23, 7 - 8 p.m. – In-person information session (at Tube Factory artspace)

  • Friday, July 18 – Applications close online at 11:59 p.m. EST

  • Monday, Aug. 11 – All applicants notified if they will proceed to the final round

  • Saturday, Aug. 23 – Artists’ presentations at Selection Panel meeting in-person in Indianapolis

  • Monday, Aug. 25 – Award recipients notified

  • Friday, Sept. 19 – Public Announcement of the 2025 Round 2 Awards + Gathering & Celebration Dinner with all Power Plant Grant recipients

Find more details in the FAQ section.