The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded $820,000 to 35 small and mid-sized arts organizations through its New and Experimental Works (NEW) Program. The NEW Program provides grants of $5,000-$30,000 to enable Bay Area artists to produce visionary works that push the boundaries of dance and theater, advance their artistic practice and are timely and relevant to community.
Across the grantee cohort, projects reflect a commitment to social inquiry, community collaboration and a wide range of artistic forms, identities and perspectives. Bay Area artists continue to confront timely and relevant themes by using art as a tool for resistance, testimony and justice. Projects will engage a diverse spectrum of communities and voices that have long been underserved or silenced, including veterans, immigrants and those impacted by the carceral system.
From legacy artists and organizations advancing long-standing social practice to traditional dance organizations exploring cultural heritage and identity through historical and contemporary lenses, this year’s grantees demonstrate a breadth of artistic experimentation. NEW Program grantees also continue to present work in unconventional settings. From people’s homes and softball fields to balconies in the Tenderloin, the venues underscore the power of site-specific performance to expand access and engage a broad audience.
Explore the full list of 2026 NEW Program grant recipients.
This Year’s Artist Panel And Selection Process
A panel of four Bay Area artists reviewed 115 applications and made funding recommendations. Of the recipients, 43% are first-time NEW Program grantees, reflecting the Rainin Foundation’s commitment to supporting emerging artists and/or those who may have more limited access to funding opportunities. This year’s artist panel included:
- Elena Serrano, Co-Founder of EastSide Arts Alliance
- Melissa Lewis Wong, Dance and Drag Artist
- Leigh Rondon Davis, Performer, Dramaturg, Director and Producer
- Bhumi Patel, Movement Artist, Writer and Director of pateldanceworks
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.
