Art encompasses a great number of mediums. Writing, painting, sculpting, as well as music and photography are just a sample of art types that could be covered in a grant. Some grants are specific to the type of art. For instance, the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund grants $500 to $1,500 to feminist writers.
Artistry can be a lonely journey. Residencies are a great opportunity for artists to receive critique and support. Many residencies also offer grants and scholarships. The Women's Studio Workshop in New York offers these types of grants. For instance, their Artists Book Residency offers $2,000 to $3,000 to cover the costs for artists to make a book. Also included in the grant are housing and travel costs for the six- to eight-week project. The studio also offers education grants and grants to New Jersey artists.
Many grants exist exclusively for the purpose of education, though not necessarily for art. If an artist is seeking to expand her education or gain new skills, these grants may be the place to look. For example, the Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund offers grants to low-income women over the age of 35 seeking a bachelor's degree or vocational certificate. Although it is not for art education specifically, it does not disqualify art students.
Many grants are particular to women artists working in individual locales. For instance, the Leeway Foundation offers $2,500 Art and Change Grants and $15,000 Transformation Awards to women artists in the Delaware Valley area of Pennsylvania.
Note that the fact there are grants specifically for women artists does not disqualify women from applying for general artist grants, like those offered by the National Endowment for the Arts.