Empowering Women Artists - The 2025 Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants by NYFA

In 2025, the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), in partnership with Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW), awarded over $521,000 in grants to 29 environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists across the United States and its territories. These grants underscore the critical role that art can play in addressing urgent environmental challenges while fostering community engagement and cultural dialogue.

The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG) program provides one-time project funding of up to $20,000 to support women-identifying artists working creatively on environmental issues. This initiative emerges at a pivotal moment in history, reflecting an art world increasingly attuned to climate change, social justice, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Susan Unterberg, founder of Anonymous Was A Woman, emphasized the imperative role of artists in times of crisis, stating, “We must not be overwhelmed or paralyzed. Environmental action is more urgently needed than ever before, and artists have a powerful role to play in helping us see, feel, and respond to the crises around us.” The 2025 grant recipients exemplify this spirit by innovating projects that explore resilience, justice, and collective care.

Notable in this year’s awards is the diversity of project locations, stretching from California and New York to Hawai’i and internationally to places like Nigeria and Senegal. Such geographic breadth highlights the global interconnectedness of ecological issues and the diversity of cultural approaches that shape environmental art.

The rigorous selection process involved multiple rounds of evaluation by panels of experts, including artists, curators, and academics like Rehema C. Barber (curator), Clar Mac Low (executive director of Culture Push), and Dakota Mace (Diné artist). Their assessments prioritized the potential environmental impact, artistic merit, and community engagement embedded within each proposal.

The collaborative nature of many projects reflects a shift toward holistic ecological thinking, incorporating Indigenous and ancestral practices alongside contemporary art forms. The program’s emphasis on ethical engagement challenges artists to move beyond problem-spotting to envisioning sustainable futures.

Those interested in applying to future cycles can learn more from the Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants guidelines and take part in information sessions designed to clarify eligibility and submission requirements.


Discover more about the Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants and their role in supporting women-identifying artists. Explore how environmental art inspires social change. Learn about NYFA’s commitment to artist empowerment and the significance of community-focused art projects.


Suggested Image Sources

  • Portraits and works from 2025 AWAW Environmental Art Grant recipients (Provided by NYFA).

  • Artistic documentation of environmental installations and public engagement events (Artist submissions, museum archives).

  • Panels and judging sessions featuring curators like Rehema C. Barber and Dakota Mace (NYFA press materials).

  • Environmental art exhibitions utilizing Indigenous knowledge systems (Cultural institutions and Indigenous organizations).


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Who is eligible for the Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants?
A1: Women-identifying artists aged 18 or older residing in the United States or U.S. territories, leading environmental art projects.

Q2: What types of projects are supported by AWAW EAG?
A2: Projects must address environmental issues with a focus on ethical engagement, community impact, and innovative practices including Indigenous and ancestral approaches.

Q3: How much funding can recipients receive?
A3: Grants provide up to $20,000 in one-time funding per project.

Q4: How are recipients selected?
A4: Through a multi-stage review process involving expert panels that evaluate environmental impact, artistic merit, and community engagement.

Q5: When is the application deadline for the 2025 grant cycle?
A5: The deadline was Tuesday, April 15, 2025; notifications and funding occurred in August 2025.


This program highlights the critical importance of empowering women-identifying artists as vital voices in environmental advocacy and cultural innovation, laying pathways toward resilience and justice through creative practice.

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