Research Grant in the Arts

The Research Grant in the Arts (RGA) provides seed funds for creative or scholarly projects designed to have an impact beyond Wake Forest University.

RGAs support faculty across all ranks at the University in areas across the arts including Theatre, Dance, Art, Art History, Music, Film, Documentary Film, and Creative Writing.

Faculty in these disciplines are encouraged to apply if they have a new creative work or arts scholarship for which they need but do not have funding.

In all cases, the goal is to provide necessary funding to complete the project, increase project impact and outreach, and potentially position a project for additional external funding.  

Funds up to $6,000 can be requested for supplies, travel, or administrative or technical personnel. Applicants must demonstrate that travel, if budgeted, is essential to the project, and a departmental matching contribution or cost sharing to cover some of the travel costs is encouraged. Requests for travel funds will only be considered if the applicant demonstrates that departmental and College and University-wide sources for travel funds have been depleted. Defrayal of professional society dues is not allowed.

All PRG-As are subject to Terms and Conditions.  The project period is one year, with the possibility of a one-year, no-cost extension. Any balance unexpended at the grant’s expiration will be returned, unless an extension (without additional funds) is requested in writing 30 days prior to the grant’s end date.

Projects submitted by the December 18, 2026 deadline will be reviewed by a panel of external reviewers from peer institutions, and the outcome conveyed by March 1, 2027. New awards will start once the outcome is conveyed. For a more detailed rubric of how your proposal will be evaluated, click here.