About the Grant
The Nancy Hild Artist Grant is an annual award of $1,000 presented to a Woman Made Gallery member artist in recognition of artistic merit and demonstrated need. The grant is intended to remove a specific barrier standing between an artist and their next step. While modest in size, the grant is designed to provide timely support for a specific need that can unlock an important next step in an artist’s practice. Funds may be used for materials, equipment, framing, documentation, website development, marketing, studio expenses, professional development, exhibition costs, or other art-related needs.
This grant reflects Nancy’s own spirit: practical, generous, and focused on what artists actually need to keep making work.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Nancy Hild Artist Grant (NHAG), applicants must:
- Be a current Woman Made Gallery member at the time of application (local and international members are welcome)
- Identify as a woman or woman-aligned artist, including cisgender and transgender women
- Demonstrate a clear and specific need for the funds to support an art-related project, purchase, or expense
- Submit work that meets the artistic quality standards set by the selection committee
WMG membership is open to artists worldwide. If you are not yet a member, we encourage you to join. Membership keeps this community and programs alive. Learn more about becoming a WMG member.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a WMG selection committee and evaluated on the following criteria:
- Quality of Work: The artistic strength, originality, and craft of the submitted work samples.
- Clarity of Need: The NHAG seeks to support artists whose work demonstrates artistic excellence and for whom a modest financial investment would make a meaningful difference in advancing their practice. Both criteria matter — merit and need are considered together, not independently.
- Potential Impact: How the grant will meaningfully advance the applicant’s artistic practice or career.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following:
- A minimum of 5 and up to 10 images of recent work (JPEG or PNG, minimum 300 dpi), with titles, media, dimensions, and year
- A brief artist statement (250 words maximum)
- A need statement describing the specific use of grant funds and why they are important to your practice (300 words maximum)
- A proposed budget or itemized list of anticipated expenses showing how the $1,000 will be spent. Be as specific as possible: the committee wants to understand exactly what this investment will make possible. For example: “I need $450 for framing, $200 for postcards, and $350 to upgrade my website and social media so I can professionally propose an exhibition of my work.”
- Current WMG membership
Recognition of the Recipient
The Nancy Hild Artist Grant recipient will be recognized in the following ways:
- Featured on the Woman Made Gallery website
- Highlighted across WMG social media channels
- Recognized in WMG member communications and newsletters
- Invited to be acknowledged at an upcoming Woman Made Gallery opening or event
We celebrate each recipient as an embodiment of the values this grant represents: artistic commitment, community, and the belief that the right support at the right moment can make all the difference.
Nancy Hild Artist Grant 2026 Timeline:
- Applications Open: June 15 2026
- Application Due Date: August 31, 2026
- Grant Recipient Announced: September 30, 2026
For questions contact general@womanmade.org with the subject line Nancy Hild Artist Grant Application.
About Nancy Hild
Nancy Hild (1948–2017) was a Chicago-based painter, feminist, and champion of women’s art. After earning her B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Indiana University–Bloomington, she built a distinguished career exhibiting at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Women’s Museum of Art in Washington, D.C., and venues across the UK, South America, Africa, China, and Mexico.
In her final years, Nancy relocated to Oaxaca, where her work grew more vibrant and powerful, drawing on indigenous Zapoteca culture and symbolism. Her technically masterful paintings reflected a lifelong commitment to feminist values and to seeing the world through new eyes.
A devoted member of Woman Made Gallery, Nancy bequeathed $35,000 to WMG in her will. The Nancy Hild Artist Grant is created in her honor, supporting women artists with the same vision, tenacity, and belief in art’s power to change lives that defined her own. Find out more about Nancy Hild.
“Your gift will shine light on more artists and keep the candle glowing at WMG.”
“Please donate to the Nancy Hild Artist Fund. Your support helps us continue empowering women and non-binary artists to thrive in their creative careers.”
All proceeds benefit Woman Made Gallery, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization.