Guidelines

The majority of the Coby Foundation’s support goes to exhibitions and programs that combine excellent scholarship and effective interpretation. Projects may be in the arts or humanities, contemporary or historical, but all must have a public benefit. They may include research and documentation, conservation, publication and associated digital projects. The guidelines for Exhibition Implementation and Exhibition Planning can be accessed below.

The Coby Foundation occasionally supports peer-reviewed fashion-and textile-related monographs and collections of essays from non-profit presses in our region. Please note requirements under “for catalogues” in the Exhibition Implementation guidelines.

In all cases, the Foundation funds only the direct costs of projects.

The Coby Foundation offers grants for exhibition implementation and exhibition planning.

If you are considering submitting an application for exhibition planning, please note the following:

Planning grants are intended to allow institutions to secure consultant expertise for research, evaluation (including condition) and documentation, and for developing and refining art historical and humanities themes. Travel costs may be included. Museums may also use planning funds to commission essays for a catalogue. In making application, institutions must commit to an opening date for the exhibition itself, which should be within two-and-a-half years of the commencement of planning. Receipt of a planning grant does not assure funding for implementation.

Please follow these instructions for the formal application:

The Foundation requires one printed paper copy and one PDF copy, each with a cover sheet and organizational information from this website: https://philanthropynewyork.org/resources/nynj-area-common-application. Please note that applicants need to include an audited statement and IRS letter in only the printed copy of the application. Do not use, for the printed copy, a presentation binder or dividers. A binder clip is sufficient. Also, do not use a type size smaller than 12 points for the application narrative. The addresses, both physical and email, where the application should be sent are below.

Exhibition planning applications must include:

• a statement explaining the importance of theme or subject and the objects under consideration;
• an explanation of who will be contributing to the scholarly content and who the project manager will be (one-paragraph bios for all);
• the goals of the exhibition and the audience for whom the project is intended;
• ten color visuals and captions with each copy of the application;
• the dates (months and year(s)) of the proposed exhibition;
• description of the planned catalogue (will it be hard copy or digital?);
• if funding for conservation evaluation is being sought, description of the work and bio of the conservator. If conservation treatment is a part of the planning, a treatment proposal, estimate and illustration for each object and a bio of the contract conservator who will perform the work;
• project budget, including income and expenses;
• other organizational information as detailed in the application form above.

Prospective applicants for planning should submit a preliminary inquiry— a one- or two-page description plus budget with income and expenses by using the form here or by mail or e-mail to:

Ward L.E. Mintz, Executive Director
The Coby Foundation, Ltd.
511 Avenue of the Americas, #387
New York, NY 10011
e-mail: ward@cobyfoundation.org