Infinite Expansion Grants

In keeping with our mission to further Mike Kelley’s philanthropic work and honor his life and practice, the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts (MKFA) supports arts organizations that foster critical thinking, risk-taking, and provocation in the arts through innovative programming and projects with artists.

The Infinite Expansion Grants (IEG) takes its name from Mike Kelley’s Infinite Expansion (1983), a large drawing depicting a tiny landscape in the center of the work from which radiate larger and larger psychedelic wood grain patterns. With this in mind, the aim of these grants is to emphasize the expansive impact that arts organizations and artists make in the world and the communities they build. The Foundation will accept Letters of Inquiry for our 2027 grant cycle June 15–August 14, 2026.

The IEG centers on the experimental and thought-provoking work of artists presented by arts nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations in LA County. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded based on the submission of an upcoming project with an artist or multiple artists. Award size will depend on the project budget, operating budget, and how much MKFA can offer in awards. While the grants will primarily support the culmination of an artist project, a portion of the funds is unrestricted and may be directed toward general operating support.

The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting work that has proven (or may prove) challenging to undertake or fund due to its content, experimental nature, complexity, or other factors. Grants may cover any or all project phases, from planning to implementation, but the project must culminate in a publicly presented work in Los Angeles County by December 2028.

To begin the application process for the 2027 Infinite Expansion Grants, a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) must be submitted by August 14, 2026, 11:59 PM PST through Submittable, our online grant application portal.

All artists involved in a proposed project must be confirmed participants and aware that their materials will be included in an organization's application. Projects by artists who are members of the organization's staff are not eligible.

Please read the Guidelines and FAQs to help complete your LOI. On Wednesday, July 8th at 11:00 AM PST the Foundation will hold a webinar to go over the LOI and answer questions. Click here to join the webinar.