“Behind the Scenes of a Grant Panel,” presented by NYFA and Torpedo Factory Art Center, will take place on Instagram live. Tune in on IG Live @nyfacurrent or @torpedofactory to watch! An opportunity for Q & A will be provided.

Event Description:
What do panelists look for when deciding who gets an award or grant? And what actually happens behind the scenes of a grant panel? Drawing upon the expertise of Judy Cai, former NYFA Grants Director and current Grants Manager at the Matisse Foundation, this conversation will address key “do’s” and “don’ts” of submitting an arts grant.

In conversation with NYFA Learning Program Officer, Career Advice and Training Kelly Olshan, the pair will unpack some myths and misconceptions around grantmaking, including:

-Who is actually making the funding decisions
-What the process looks like from the panelists’ perspective
-Common mistakes and how to avoid them
-Why you don’t need to be intimidated by the budget!
-When it’s appropriate to reach out to the Grant Officer

The discussion will feature art expert insights and will from run for 30 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of live Q&A. No RSVP necessary!

Guest Speaker:
Judy Cai is the Grants Manager of The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation. Her work focuses on managing the foundations’ grantmaking portfolio, analyzing grant-related data, and monitoring program budgets to better support organizations providing arts education in New York City.

Prior to this position, she was the Director of Grants at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). In her role, Judy oversaw awards and grants programs that delivered over $4 Million in funding directly to artists across the U.S. each year. She also worked at NYFA Learning as the Senior Program Officer, and facilitated various professional development programs for artists and arts professionals nationwide, such as the Immigrant Artists Mentoring Program (IAP) and the Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color.

Originally from China, Judy holds a M.A. degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University, a B.S. degree in Culture and Arts Management, and a Bachelor of Law degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Judy was the fellow of the 2021 Coro New York’s Immigrant Civic Leadership Program.