Artist mothers in New York City with children under three are eligible to receive a $25,000 grant to cover childcare expenses from Artists and Mothers.

Applications for the grants, first publicized in June, opened October 23 and will close January 2. But thanks to a new influx of funding, Artists and Mothers has announced that it will be making grants to not just two artist mothers, as previously announced, but to three recipients.

The new organization, founded by arts professional Julia Trotta and artist Maria de Victoria, launched this September, naming artist Carissa Rodriguez as its inaugural recipient. But while Rodriguez was selected by nomination, Artists and Mothers has launched an open call for its 2025 grants.

The organization has longterm hopes of expanding its purview, but felt that it made sense to start with young children due to the total lack of publicly funded childcare in the city before the age of three.

Carissa Rodriguez. Photo courtesy of the artist.

“There’s virtually nothing until 3K, and it’s a very disorienting and intense time, especially when you’re a first time parent,” Trotta told me.

“A lot of artists who we know ended up having children right at the time when it was important push in their careers. People weren’t having children right out of art school, but maybe ten years later, getting close to mid career,” she added. “Knowing how pivotal that moment is for artists, to have to take a pause to raise children, to start a family, seemed like it could threaten the longterm sustainability of their careers.”

Carissa Rodriguez, Mother and Baby. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Anyone who identifies as a mother who has a child under three as of December 31, 2025, and lives in the five boroughs is eligible to apply. An anonymous jury of art world experts will select the recipients based on financial need, artistic merit, and diversity.

“We’re looking at need, but also trying to identify artists who are at a pivotal point in their careers,” Trotta said, noting that the grant is intended to last for the 2025–26 school year, but recipients are can use the funds at their discretion over the course of the year, as long as it is for childcare.

The first grant recipient, Rodriguez, had her first European institutional solo show this year, at the Kunstverein München in Munich. The exhibition, “Imitation of Life,”  showcased a video work documenting the first year of the life of her child, who turned a year old shortly before the May opening.

Carissa Rodriguez, Conscience. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The 2024 grant came thanks to the Niki Charitable Art Foundation, run by the estate of Niki de Saint Phalle. The James Family Foundation and arts philanthropist Sarah Arison were underwriting the first two 2025 grants, with the third now coming thanks to the Crossed Purposes Foundation.

Artists and Mothers has recruited an impressive board of art world professionals in gallerist Bridget Donahue, communications strategist Sarah Goulet, creative director and publisher Elizabeth Karp-Evans, and artists Camille Henrot and Maia Ruth Lee.

“We have been fundraising and have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our community,” Trotta added. “We’ve all been doing this essentially on a volunteer basis, and everybody’s been so generous with their time and ideas.
We’re just really excited to launch it.”