The Kenneth Rainin Foundation invites applications for our Open Spaces Program from May 13 through June 10, 2026. This program funds temporary public art projects led by artists that engage San Francisco and Oakland communities around relevant and timely issues. Projects must be visionary, expanding the boundaries of public art and helping artists advance their practice.
Pre-Application Webinar
Learn more about this funding opportunity from our Arts Program Staff.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 12 PM (PDT) | Reserve your spot
We will post a recording of the webinar on our website.
Four Criteria For Strong Project Alignment
Temporary public art can take any form that uses public space as its primary site with community engagement at its core. Our Open Spaces Program grantee list includes projects that embrace collaboration across a breadth of mediums and disciplines. The following are critical elements that make a project a good fit for this funding opportunity.
1. Public space is the defining condition.
The site isn’t just a venue or backdrop, it’s integral to the artistic concept. The work is made for a precise place. An Open Spaces Program application will answer the question, “What does this place make possible?” Strong applications will be able to share the unique impact that this combination of place, creativity and public engagement unlocks.
2. Community engagement is at its core.
A strong Open Spaces Program project is co-created with a specific community, engaging as a collaborator, not just an audience. The power of public art lies in who engages with it and how. We prioritize projects that invite communities to participate in meaningful and thoughtful ways.
3. Temporality is an asset.
Projects should be responsive to current social conditions and embrace a temporality that allows the work to be malleable, urgent and alive. The magic of temporary public art is that you can only experience it in this place, at this moment, for a limited time.
4. Strong partnerships make the work possible.
Creating public art requires managing permitting, artist compensation, community engagement processes and much more. Strong projects are led by artists working with trusted collaborators, such as nonprofit organizations, fiscal sponsors or artist collectives, each in well-defined roles. This structure allows artists to focus on their creative vision while relying on a team that makes it viable and sustainable.
As a funder committed to the transformative impact of the arts in civic life, the Rainin Foundation seeks to support artist-led projects that bring powerful, community-centered work to public spaces. Our hope is for these creative works to spark authentic connection between residents and our region’s unique cultural identities and practices. We look forward to the visionary ideas artists want to bring to the culturally rich communities and shared places of Oakland and San Francisco.
Curious About Public Art Projects That Have Received Funding?
- Since 2014, we have awarded more then $4.2 million in Open Spaces Program grants to 40 organizations. Explore past grant recipients.
- Discover the impact of Open Spaces Program supported projects in our videos and stories.
Support For Projects At Different Stages Of Development
Temporary public art requires time and resources for both planning and production. Applicants can choose from two tracks depending on their project’s stage of development.
- Development Support Grants will offer up to $20,000 in early-stage funding to support the iterative planning, relationship building and experimentation phases critical to the success of temporary public art projects.
- Production Support Grants of up to $175,000 will support the execution of a thoroughly conceptualized and well-planned large-scale, temporary public art project.
Two-Stage Grant Application Process
The Open Spaces Program application is a two-stage process:
- Stage One: Applications will be reviewed by Arts Program Staff.
- Stage Two: Selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, which will be reviewed by a panel of artists, past grant recipients and public art specialists.
Visit the Open Spaces Program page to review eligibility, priorities, requirements and frequently asked questions.
Ask Me Questions
To help you learn more about this grant opportunity, we’re hosting a pre-application webinar on May 5, 2026, at 12 PM (PDT). As Arts Program Officer, I will also be available to meet one-on-one to help answer your specific questions about the Open Spaces Program. Schedule a time during my office hours.
Key Grant Application Dates
- Stage One Application Period: May 13–June 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PDT)
- Stage Two Full Proposal Period (by invitation only): July 27–August 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PDT)
- Award Notification: December 2026
- Grant Period: January 1, 2027–December 31, 2028
About The Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Kenneth Rainin Foundation is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers in the Arts, Education and Health. We believe in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. We support visionary artists in the Bay Area, create opportunities for Oakland’s youngest learners and fund researchers on the forefront of scientific discoveries. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded over $68 million in funding to support individual artists and small to mid-size Bay Area arts organizations that are pushing the boundaries of creative expression. Explore the Rainin Foundation’s funding opportunities.
