United States Artists is a national organization based in Chicago, IL. Founded in 2006 by the Ford, Rockefeller, Rasmuson, and Prudential Foundations, USA was created to address the lack of unrestricted funding available to artists. USA Fellowships are $50,000 unrestricted awards for individual artists across the United States and its territories, awarded in the following disciplines: Architecture & Design, Craft, Dance, Film, Media, Music, Theater & Performance, Traditional Arts, Visual Art, and Writing.

With these unrestricted cash awards, artists can decide how the funding will support their lives—from making new work to paying rent, buying new equipment, or purchasing health insurance, for example. They are awarded to artists at any career stage—early career, mid-career, and established. To date, we have awarded over 1000 individuals with over $49 million of direct support across the flagship USA Fellowship program and special Initiatives to artists in every state including Puerto Rico and Guam.