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Application is open!
Application is open!
Deadline:
Deadline:
Application closes: November 30, 2025; 11:59 PM CST
or when we have 25 applications. First-come, first-serve.
View sample application.
Application closes: November 30, 2025; 11:59 PM CST
or when we have 25 applications. First-come, first-serve.
View sample application.
Questions?
Questions?
Please direct them to info@sonnenzimmer.com before October 15, 2025.
We will do our best to field your questions in a timely manner.
Please direct them to info@sonnenzimmer.com before October 15, 2025.
We will do our best to field your questions in a timely manner.
Eligibility
Eligibility
To apply you must:
1. Be 21 years of age or older.
1. Be 21 years of age or older.
2. Be eligible to receive taxable income in the U.S. (residency in the U.S). You will need to provide a W9 to receive the funds. Also you will have to pay taxes on this.
2. Be eligible to receive taxable income in the U.S. (residency in the U.S). You will need to provide a W9 to receive the funds. Also you will have to pay taxes on this.
3. Identify as an artist who lives/shares stories of marginalized communities; who feels outside of traditional power dynamics.
3. Identify as an artist who lives/shares stories of marginalized communities; who feels outside of traditional power dynamics.
4. Collaboratives are not eligible at this time.
4. Collaboratives are not eligible at this time.
5. The work you submit must be of your own.
5. The work you submit must be of your own.
About the Grant
About the Grant
Ideas Beyond Formats is an experimental project grant and advisory program for publishing a work of art. This grant is geared towards supporting and amplifying artists with marginalized voices who are 21+ and reside in the United States (taxable residence). It includes a $2,000 honorarium and a $2,000 production budget, both to be managed by the artist. The grant also includes 20 hours of one-on-one-remote project consultation from Sonnenzimmer, Nick Butcher & Nadine Nakanishi.
Ideas Beyond Formats is an experimental project grant and advisory program for publishing a work of art. This grant is geared towards supporting and amplifying artists with marginalized voices who are 21+ and reside in the United States (taxable residence). It includes a $2,000 honorarium and a $2,000 production budget, both to be managed by the artist. The grant also includes 20 hours of one-on-one-remote project consultation from Sonnenzimmer, Nick Butcher & Nadine Nakanishi.
The recipient of this grant will self-govern the funds and the production of the work of art. We discourage recipients from using the entire $4000 budget for producing the work. However, it is up to them how to ultimately use this grant. As a recipient, you will be responsible and liable for all actions governing this money and this project. You will also have to declare this grant as income for your own tax purposes.
The recipient of this grant will self-govern the funds and the production of the work of art. We discourage recipients from using the entire $4000 budget for producing the work. However, it is up to them how to ultimately use this grant. As a recipient, you will be responsible and liable for all actions governing this money and this project. You will also have to declare this grant as income for your own tax purposes.
Important Overview
Important Overview
Application Review
Application Review
The applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis, with a limit of 25 applications accepted.
The applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis, with a limit of 25 applications accepted.
The first 25 applicants who submit a complete application will receive a $20 thank-you honorarium. We will email you a confirmation.
The first 25 applicants who submit a complete application will receive a $20 thank-you honorarium. We will email you a confirmation.
The application will be open until November 30, 2025.
The application will be open until November 30, 2025.
The applications will be reviewed by the IBF Reviewers: Ben Blount, Christi Chong, and Harper Sims. Sonnenzimmer abstains from any decision-making.
The applications will be reviewed by the IBF Reviewers: Ben Blount, Christi Chong, and Harper Sims. Sonnenzimmer abstains from any decision-making.
Grant Notification
Grant Notification
The finalist will be notified of the grant decision via email. If you didn’t receive the grant, we will let you know as well per email. Please note that we won’t have the capacity to provide feedback.
The finalist will be notified of the grant decision via email. If you didn’t receive the grant, we will let you know as well per email. Please note that we won’t have the capacity to provide feedback.
Issuing Funds
Issuing Funds
The full grant amount of $4,000 will be immediately transferred to the recipient upon acceptance of the Ideas Beyond Format, invoice, a completed W9 tax form, and acknowledgement that taxes are your responsibility. Upon reception, the money is yours, no strings attached. Please note that we cannot cover any transaction fees.
The full grant amount of $4,000 will be immediately transferred to the recipient upon acceptance of the Ideas Beyond Format, invoice, a completed W9 tax form, and acknowledgement that taxes are your responsibility. Upon reception, the money is yours, no strings attached. Please note that we cannot cover any transaction fees.
Project Kick-off and Duration
Project Kick-off and Duration
To initiate the project, we will conduct a virtual intake conversation with the recipient. From there, we commit to 20 hours of remote consultation, over the course of 4 months, to support the project. The recipient is responsible for determining the level of our involvement as project advisors. In our intake conversation, we can aid in developing a plan of action. Thereafter, we will propose a consultation framework for the recipient to sign off on. While the consultation is optional, but take use of it.
To initiate the project, we will conduct a virtual intake conversation with the recipient. From there, we commit to 20 hours of remote consultation, over the course of 4 months, to support the project. The recipient is responsible for determining the level of our involvement as project advisors. In our intake conversation, we can aid in developing a plan of action. Thereafter, we will propose a consultation framework for the recipient to sign off on. While the consultation is optional, but take use of it.
Expectations
Expectations
While we are trying to keep this as open and supportive as can be, we will be relying on your integrity and independence to come through on project matters. Please be honest in this process, truthful to your vision, and set the bar where you can come through. Bringing something into the world is not an easy task. What you see, we might not see. What you see, we might need time to see. What you see, we might totally also see. We won’t get everything right, but in times of disagreement, we promise to remember we are here for you, we are here to learn, and we are committed to supporting a journey of education, joy, and imagination. We ask for goodwill, patience, and energy to sort out any difficulties. We promise to be fair, transparent, personal, and available. We wish for all to remember, that this is from artists to artists, to come together, to make things happen.
While we are trying to keep this as open and supportive as can be, we will be relying on your integrity and independence to come through on project matters. Please be honest in this process, truthful to your vision, and set the bar where you can come through. Bringing something into the world is not an easy task. What you see, we might not see. What you see, we might need time to see. What you see, we might totally also see. We won’t get everything right, but in times of disagreement, we promise to remember we are here for you, we are here to learn, and we are committed to supporting a journey of education, joy, and imagination. We ask for goodwill, patience, and energy to sort out any difficulties. We promise to be fair, transparent, personal, and available. We wish for all to remember, that this is from artists to artists, to come together, to make things happen.
Credit, Promotion, and Follow-up
Credit, Promotion, and Follow-up
With the applicant’s approval (opt-in):
With the applicant’s approval (opt-in):
We would like to be credited as a supporter of the grant recipient’s project in some form, have the freedom to feature the project on our website (with full credit to the artist), as well as be able to mention the project through our communication channels. This would entail a photo of the recipient, a bio, and a project write-up (possible photo of the project).
We would like to be credited as a supporter of the grant recipient’s project in some form, have the freedom to feature the project on our website (with full credit to the artist), as well as be able to mention the project through our communication channels. This would entail a photo of the recipient, a bio, and a project write-up (possible photo of the project).
Additionally, we are able to offer promotional support to the recipient through our channels.
Additionally, we are able to offer promotional support to the recipient through our channels.
2,300+ email subscribers / average of 1,000 opens per campaign
9,500+ Instagram followers
500+ unique visitors to our website each month
2,300+ email subscribers / average of 1,000 opens per campaign
9,500+ Instagram followers
500+ unique visitors to our website each month
We would love to conduct a follow-up to touch base, reflect, exalt, laugh, and celebrate your journey together, in context with Ideas Beyond Formats.
We would love to conduct a follow-up to touch base, reflect, exalt, laugh, and celebrate your journey together, in context with Ideas Beyond Formats.
Why and How this Grant Exists
Why and How this Grant Exists
Ideas Beyond Formats is here to provide funding and motivated support to underrepresented voices and to foster artistic expression through publishing. Ideas Beyond Formats is currently funded by our shop sales, studio work, commissions, and part-time work, and some individual donations.
Ideas Beyond Formats is here to provide funding and motivated support to underrepresented voices and to foster artistic expression through publishing. Ideas Beyond Formats is currently funded by our shop sales, studio work, commissions, and part-time work, and some individual donations.
Who is behind this?
Who is behind this?
We are! Sonnenzimmer, a two person collaborative! Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi from Chicago. We've run a small art practice and print studio since 2006. To find out more about us, go to sonnenzimmer.com.
We are! Sonnenzimmer, a two person collaborative! Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi from Chicago. We've run a small art practice and print studio since 2006. To find out more about us, go to sonnenzimmer.com.
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