New Interpretations

The Getty Foundation launched New Interpretations in 2026 with a pilot group of 10 international projects at museums of varying types and sizes to demonstrate the range of activities that will be eligible for support. Getty also funded the first ever state-of-the-field survey by the Association of Art Museum Interpretation that will be shared widely.

In 2027, we commence at least three years of annual funding cycles with grants awarded each summer. Support will be offered for public-facing, gallery-based work at various scales, including long-lead interpretive planning and implementation, visitor research, and evaluation. Funds will also be available to build skills and professional networks through training, convenings, and information sharing. Applications will be assessed by a review committee of museum professionals with expertise in interpretive practice, research, and evaluation.

Getty will convene grantees periodically to enhance knowledge sharing among participants and existing communities of practice. Grantees will be encouraged to share project results with the field and include dissemination activities as part of their project proposals.

New Interpretations grants are open to museums and exhibiting arts non-profits of all sizes and types, including non-collecting institutions. Applications are welcome from both national and international organizations. Projects must focus on visual artworks to be considered for support.

Funding is currently available in three different areas:

1. Project Completion: grants of up to $75,000 to support the implementation and evaluation phase of projects scheduled to finish within 15 months of the application date; can support temporary exhibitions or permanent collection projects that are “shovel-ready” and involve significant interpretation components
2. New Practices: grants of $75,000 to $200,000 to support experimental approaches and risk taking, with longer lead times to allow both formative research and summative evaluation; unlike Project Completion funding geared toward quick results, these grants can be up to three years in duration and can cover all stages from research and planning through implementation and evaluation
3. Professional Networks: grants of up to $150,000 to support training, gathering, professional development, and other kinds of network building

Eligible projects must focus on unguided interpretation in gallery settings. Structured gallery teaching, art education, formal curricula development, and learning programs designed for school-age audiences are beyond the scope of New Interpretations and will not be considered for funding.

Successful applications will demonstrate institutional commitment to visitor-centered interpretation. Preference will be given to projects that foster experimentation and interdepartmental collaboration, expand rigorous visitor-centered research at art museums with broad dissemination to the field, and/or build strong regional and national networks. We encourage projects that focus on pragmatic solutions to well-known challenges, including barriers to access, as well as new approaches that push the boundaries of museum practice.

Institutions interested in applying for a grant must first submit an inquiry form to the Foundation. Inquiry forms for each funding category will gather brief information about the applicant organization and proposed project and will be reviewed by Getty Foundation staff for eligibility and relevance to the selection criteria. Inquiry forms for the 2027 funding cycle will be open on this web page by mid-January 2027 and should be submitted by February 18, 2027.

Competitive proposals will be invited to submit an application that will be reviewed by an external advisory panel. We expect to send out grant awards notifications before the end of summer 2027.