Art Happens Here.
Founded by artists for artists in 1998, Locust Projects is Miami’s longest running nonprofit alternative art space. We produce, present, and nurture ambitious and experimental new art and the exchange of ideas through commissioned exhibitions and projects, artist residencies, summer art intensives for teens, and public programs on contemporary art and curatorial practice. As a leading incubator of new art and ideas, Locust Projects emphasizes boundary-pushing creative endeavors, risk-taking and experimentation by local, national and international artists. We invest in South Florida’s arts community by providing artists with project grants and empower creative careers by supporting the administrative work of being an artist through an onsite artist resource hub and access to pro bono legal services.
FOR PROJECTS STARTING AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2026.
Annual incubator grant opportunity for Miami-based artists to bring experimental new ideas to life across Miami neighborhoods. Applications open February 1 at midnight. DEADLINE is April 1, 2026 at 11:59pm - no exceptions.
About WaveMaker Grants
WaveMaker Grants at Locust Projects supports Miami’s visionary artists with incubator grants to research, kick off or re-energize innovative artist-driven projects that are shared with the public in unconventional spaces.
Since 2015, WaveMaker has awarded $690,000 in funding to 139 of Miami’s visionary artists.
Grantees receive up to $6,000 each in three categories: New Work/Projects | Long-Haul Projects, and | Research & Development + Implementation. In the spirit of Locust Projects’ artist-driven, experimental mission, WaveMakers experiment and take risks, creating innovative work that is shared in unconventional public spaces.
WaveMaker Grants are made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts' Regional Regranting Program, a network of 36 regranting partners across the country.
Please review all available info at www.wavemakergrants.org before submitting.
Deadlines
Deadline is April 1, 2026 at 11:59pm.
There is no application fee. Locust Projects is committed to making WaveMaker Grants accessible to all applicants. Should you need any accommodations or assistance to complete your application, please reach out to digital@locustprojects.org.
Join us for the first WaveMaker VIRTUAL INFO SESSION of the year on Friday, February 20, at 12pm EST via ZOOM. Learn about the next cycle of WaveMaker Grants for Miami-Dade artists and how you can apply for up to $6,000 in one of three categories: New Work / Projects | Long-Haul Projects | R&D + Implementation.
Eligibility
Visual artists, cultural organizers/creatives, collectives, collaborators who reside in Miami-Dade County are encouraged to apply.
If you have received a WaveMaker Grant in the past 5 years you are ineligible to apply in 2026 unless you are a current R+D recipient.
Film, performance, dance, music, and other projects that fall outside a strict definition of visual art are eligible. However, visual art must be the leading component and again, must be presented free to the public in a non-traditional venue - museums, galleries, other arts nonprofits are not acceptable as a nontraditional venue.
If applying as a group, the collaboration can be long-standing or initiated specifically for this project. Please identify one participant to serve as the lead contact. The lead contact and majority of participants must reside in Miami-Dade County.
Non-profit organizations and LLCs established for commercial enterprise are not eligible.
Selection Criteria
All projects must engage or be shared with the public at no cost in unconventional spaces in Miami-Dade County. This may include exhibitions, performances, events, workshops, screenings, programming at alternative or artist-run-spaces. Projects can NOT be presented at art museums or commercial galleries or other traditional arts venues or those venues requiring paid admission.
All proposals will be considered based on criteria including but not limited to:
- Overall idea, vision, and artistic innovation
- Relevance to the local social, cultural, and/or geographic context
- Accessibility of the project to the public for FREE outside of a museum or gallery, etc..
- In person gatherings in free, publicly accessible spaces are an essential requirement.
- Capacity of the applicant to realize the project on time and within budget
- Potential impact on the local community, the arts and culture landscape, and/or the artist’s growth
Grantees will be announced before the end of August 2026 and funded for projects starting after September 1, 2026.
Founded in 2015 by the former nonprofit Cannonball, WaveMaker Grants has been administered by Locust Projects, Miami’s longest running nonprofit alternative art space, since 2017.
WaveMaker is made possible by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts' Regional Regranting Program, a network of 36 regranting partners across the country.