The Bobby Anspach Studios Foundation Grant Program

Call for Proposals

Grants for Artists Creating Works that Foster Human Connection and Climate Consciousness

Application Deadline: January 5, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)Grant Awards: Two $50,000 grants | Three $8,000 grantsTotal Awards: 5 grants in inaugural year

About the Foundation

The Bobby Anspach Studios Foundation was created to carry forward the transformative vision of artist Bobby Anspach (1987–2022), whose work illuminated the ways art can bind people to one another and to the fragile ecologies we share.

Bobby’s practice was rooted in the conviction that art could change consciousness, that it could draw forth empathy, responsibility, and recognition of our interconnectedness at a time when both human relationships and world systems are under strain. He worked with everyday materials, transforming them through inventive processes into experiences that unsettled routine perception and offered a glimpse of transcendence.

At the center of his practice was “Place for Continuous Eye Contact”, a series of sculptural environments designed to create sustained moments of connection with oneself or between participants. These works embodied his belief that simple acts, meeting another’s gaze, sharing attention, entering a constructed space, could open profound pathways of healing, reflection, and solidarity. Though his career was brief, Bobby’s intensity was unmistakable. He lived his creative life as a form of devotion: committed, fearless, and unyielding in his search for art’s capacity to repair both individual and collective wounds.

As Taylor Baldwin, Professor of Sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design, reflected, “Bobby Anspach was a serenely implacable, deeply committed artist. He and his art had a special intensity reserved for true believers of a creative path, people willing to meet their talent with tireless effort, their vision with openness and fluidity, and their insecurity with a fearless willingness to venture far, far out to the edges of experience, perception, and consciousness and report back.”

The Foundation continues this legacy by supporting artists who share in that pursuit: those whose work invites us to pause, reflect, and imagine new ways of living with each other and the planet. We believe, as Bobby did, that creativity is not ornamental or a passing trend. Rather it’s essential, an active force for transformation, empathy, and renewal.

Contact and Information

Bobby Anspach Studios FoundationGrant ProgramEmail: info@bas-foundation.com 

Application link: www.bas-foundation.com/grantsFoundation Information: www.bas-foundation.com

For technical support or questions about eligibility, please review guidelines and contact: info@bas-foundation.org  

Social Media:Follow us on instagram @bobbyanspachstudiosfoundation for updates, grantee features, and Foundation programming announcements.