About Microboost

Small grants, plain language, and a bar low enough to actually step over.

Microboost aims to lower the barriers from an intimidating grant process and emphasize multi-artist collaboration across mediums. We focus on up-and-coming artists working in non-traditional arts.

What it is

A community-funded micro-grant

For Memphis artists — especially the up-and-coming and the experimental. Most arts money flows to established institutions and polished fine art. We’re doing the opposite.

Why it matters

The community decides

Every dollar in the pot comes from the community, and the community helps decide where it goes. Every member gets one equal vote, no matter the tier.

The research · Memphis Creative Index

What 64 Memphis creatives told us.

The Index is research: a free, public record of who’s making things in Memphis and an honest look at what they need. In its first days, 64 creatives named the truth about their work. Two needs rose above the rest — income and visibility.

90%
Never grant-funded

Have never been successfully funded by a grant — most never even applied, because the traditional grant world wasn’t built for them. That’s the whole reason for Microboost.

98%
Want a community fund

Are interested in a community art fund — a near-unanimous yes to a different, community-decided way of funding the work.

62%
Not yet full-time

Don’t yet make a full-time living from their art — not for lack of talent, but for lack of income and visibility.

Time
The #1 barrier

Named alongside reaching an audience as the hardest part. But those short on time asked for people — collaborators, community, paid gigs. “No time” really means isolation and income.

Reaching an audience
The other top barrier

Audience and marketing reach ranked with time as the biggest thing standing in the way. Being good isn’t enough if no one sees the work — so we tell your stories, loudly.

Paid gigs
Helps most

The support that would move their work forward most. Microboost funds collaborations; the Index sends hiring straight to artists.

Exposure
The other most-wanted

Right behind paid gigs. It’s why winning a Boost isn’t just a check — the prize is a photoshoot, a feature, video, and a launch that puts your name in front of the whole city.

64
20 disciplines · 15 neighborhoods

Creatives counted so far, and growing — musicians, designers, writers, photographers, muralists, makers. 100% available to hire or book.

Early findings from a growing dataset — the numbers keep evolving as more creatives join the Index.

Join the Index
The Boost · The Winner’s Package

Win more than money.

When your collaboration wins a Microboost round, you don’t just get funded — you get launched. Microboost invests in the whole artist: the work, the story, and the moment.

The grant

$500 to bring your project to life. No strings, no jargon.

The story

A professional photoshoot, a featured interview, and original video content — so the whole city sees who you are and what you made.

The space

Free studio and meeting space at Curio Commons to build the work and gather your collaborators.

The moment

A launch party, show, or performance at Curio Commons, where you debut your work to a real crowd.

Most grants write a check and walk away. We put you, your work, and your name in front of everyone.

See the current round
Round 01 · Now open

Bring your idea and your favorite collaborator.

If you've ever closed a grant application because it felt like it wasn't built for you — this one is.

Apply for the Boost Round