The Rubys Artist Grants are project-based funding of up to $10,000 for Baltimore-area artists to support innovative work with significant impact. Established in 2013 with the vision and funding of the Foundation, the Rubys supports artists of all disciplines and values experimentation, risk-taking, and unfettered creativity in artistic projects.


Latest Rubys News

9/13/2018: RUBYS ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE IN 2019! The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) announce the transition of the Rubys Artist Grants Program from GBCA to the Deutsch Foundation. The planned transition of the program includes the promotion of Sonja Cendak from Program Manager at GBCA to Program Director at the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Read more here.

—> Thank you to all the artists who applied for a 2018 visual arts and literary arts grants for your patience. The review process is in its final stages and all applicants will be notified by the first week of October.

—>The next grant cycle will be the 2019 grants in performing arts and media arts. More information, including dates for winter season grant information sessions, will post on this site by December 1, 2018. The application link will open on January 1, 2019 and the deadline to apply will be February 28, 2019.


The Rubys began making grants in 2014 and, from 2014 through 2018, has been administered by the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.  The Rubys offers grants of up to $10,000 to regional artists in all disciplines (literary, media, performing, and visual arts) to support projects that will have impact for the artist and/or the community. To date, the Rubys have granted over $620,000 to 82 artists.

"The Rubys grant was the first form of concrete support that I received on this film project. Before anyone saw a cut, before it was accepted into any festival, the Rubys had my back. The award allowed me to dedicate the necessary time to bring this project to fruition, and to make sure that I could sustainably do so by allowing myself a living wage during those crucial months of post-production. Without the Rubys Artist Project Grant, RAT FILM would simply not have been made." - Theo Anthony, 2016 Rubys grantee in media arts

"What an honor it has been to be able to say I am a Rubys Artist Grant recipient. I don’t write easy, breezy stuff and to have my city stand behind my decision to explore what I explore—the killing of Black people by police and rape culture and homophobia—all those important, terrible, and controversial issues… It means something to me. A big something." - Andria Nacina Cole, 2016 Rubys grantee in literary arts  

Go here to learn about previous Rubys grantees.

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