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NOW OPEN The Alexa Rose Foundation’s LIGHT OF DAY Award provides meaningful project support for Artists pushing their work onto regional and national platforms. This program invests in Artists whose projects push boundaries, make thoughtful contributions to contemporary art and the field at large, build deeper relationships across communities, and expand the range of voices and lived experiences represented through creative work.
LIGHT OF DAY supports Artists living and working in Idaho’s Ada and Canyon Counties, as well as individuals whose ancestral lands are rooted in the Boise Valley. Since launching in 2024, the program has supported Artists who demonstrate a strong trajectory of artistic growth, helping advance the forward momentum of new projects and productions—quite literally helping these works see the Light of Day.
The LIGHT OF DAY Award provides $15,000 in project support over two years between SUMMER 2026 -SUMMER 2028 for selected applicants, and is open to Artists working in the visual, performing, film, literary, or multimedia arts.
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OPEN MARCH 23 - MAY 25, 2026
ELIGIBILITY
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Artists Must:
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Be a resident of Ada or Canyon County for at least 36 months, or be an Indigenous Boise Valley tribal member who may reside elsewhere;
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Be 25 years of age or older at the time of receiving the award;
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Not be enrolled in a degree program at the time of acceptance;
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Have time and capacity to pursue your project to its fullest;
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Have not participated in an Alexa Rose Foundation program (such as Grants, Awards, Fellowships or Residencies) after July 1, 2025;
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Have not received the LIGHT OF DAY Award as the Lead Artist;
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If a previous Alexa Rose Foundation grant recipient, be in good standing, with all required reports submitted;
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Be eligible to receive taxable income in the United States.
WHAT WE FUND
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We understand that creative production takes many forms, and we support Artists whose practices embrace a wide range of methods of thinking and making. We prioritize individuals who engage in experimentation and unconventional approaches to creative work. Projects may include exhibitions, publishing, performances, and productions that connect meaningfully with audiences everywhere. ​
The Program prioritizes projects that:
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Are ambitious, timely, and relevant;
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Propel creative practices forward;
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Culminate in exhibitions, performances, screenings, publications, productions or other means with lasting impact; concepts with staying power that may be iterated on in the future;
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Are on track for completion within 24 months of receiving funding;
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Foster unexpected collaborations and equitable partnerships;
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Reflect diverse perspectives and communities;
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Provide fair compensation to all Artists, Performers, Collaborators, and Contractors involved in the work;
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Show resourcefulness and/or potential for additional funding sources.
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WHAT WE DO NOT FUND
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Organizations, agencies, or community groups (grants are intended for individual Artists only).
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General operating support;
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Projects not directly related to artistic production;
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Commercial or for-profit enterprises;
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Alexa Rose Foundation staff, board members, or their immediate family members;
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Previous Lead Artist recipients of this Award;
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Projects related to building acquisition, construction, or renovations; and
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Expenses incurred before or after the designated award period.
Performance with Doug Marsh for the LED Artist Haven Residency, 2026, photo by Ben Huynh.
“The past two years since receiving the Alexa Rose LIGHT OF DAY Award have been expansive in different ways for my creative practice. I've had the chance to turn vision into action in ways that I could only have imagined. I finished recording my album, planned and executed a Pacific Northwest tour, recorded music videos, put them out, and started a poetry series. All of these got to see the light of day. Every show, collaboration, and connection has pushed me even closer to my goals and my purpose. I would even say that over the past two years, I have come to understand my purpose better.”
-Mungo Ligoya, 2024-2026 Light of Day Awardee
*Mungo Ligoya photo by Robert Allen
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What assistance is available for my application?
This application is designed without “right” or “wrong” proposals in mind. There are no hidden expectations, just an opportunity to share your work in your words. We encourage Artists to seek proofreading and advice from mentors, peers, or past awardees. If an applicant has a technical issue with the Good Grants platform, they should simply email info@alexarosefoundation.net
Is this Award “all or nothing”?
The Foundation reserves the right to partially fund projects above and beyond those selected for funding at the $15,000 level. This Award is distributed in installments. Initial payment will be paid upon signing the artist agreement or project kickoff, with the final 10% distributed at the completion of the Project’s final report.
What reporting is required?
This is a trust-based Award in which Artists are expected to follow through on their project proposal as written. There will be a mid-point check-in between the Lead Artist and the Alexa Rose Foundation staff. Awardees are required to share insights, experiences and career growth they realize through their LIGHT OF DAY Award. The final report may be delivered in an unconventional or traditional format and will be shared with Foundation Trustees and other stakeholders.
Who reviews and selects grant recipients?
Applications are reviewed holistically by a qualified panel of jurists (some from outside the Boise Valley area) who bring critical perspective and expertise to the process. Submissions are evaluated based on the program priorities—relevance, artistic development, attainability, and public sharing—with final decisions made by the Alexa Rose Foundation.
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BUDGET
Can grant funds be used to hire other Artists?
Yes! We encourage applicants to use this funding to support collaborators and artistic partners when appropriate. When hiring Artists, we encourage applicants to follow W.A.G.E. standards whenever possible.
What should I include in my budget?
We suggest keeping your budget relatively simple for this application. The only required element is an Artist Fee of at least 30% for the Lead Artist. The Artist will have the opportunity to refine their budget post-award and resubmit to the Foundation.
ELIGIBILITY
Can a nonprofit apply for an artist-run project?
No, the LIGHT OF DAY Award supports individual Artists in their creative practice and career growth. While an Artist may choose to partner with organizations who are adding significant additional resources to the project, this award is not intended to advance the programming objectives of organizations.
Can emerging Artists apply?
Yes! Many emerging Artists demonstrate experience, strong relationships, resourcefulness, and the capacity to successfully execute. Proposals that show strong artistic quality, clear vision and momentum will be prioritized, and those proposals may come from Artists at any stage of their career.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
What is considered a “project”?
We are particularly interested in ambitious projects that advance an Artist’s practice and are developed to be shared to a broad audience beyond our funding area. Projects with the potential for repeatability and iteration over time and/or different geographies, as well as high impact projects with longevity and staying power may earn special consideration.
Would completing a manuscript, record album, exhibition, or performance count as a project?
Yes! We are interested in supporting 1) culminating projects that can be completed within the award amount, and 2) projects for which an artist has secured additional resources beyond the LIGHT OF DAY award amount. The key is that the project is adequately budgeted and positioned to reach regional and national audiences.
Must I collaborate with others?
Collaboration is not required. However, many ambitious projects involve working with others to help realize the full vision of the work—whether through production, installation, promotion, or public programming.
What happens if I am awarded the grant and fail to complete my project?
The Alexa Rose Foundation exists to encourage artists and see them succeed. Communication is very important; expertise and mentorship is available should a project go off schedule and/or events out of the Awardee’s control create obstacles to completion. However, it is imperative to remember that due to the competitive nature of the process, by one individual accepting the grant another deserving artist’s proposal did not go forward. The Foundation reserves the right to recover funding from any Awardee who does not uphold their Artist contract.