Due to a loss of funding, day rate is paused until further notice.
We hope to resume direct artist support as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Between May 2021 and July 2023, the Day Rate program distributed $9,600 to 32 artists, all identified as women/femme and/or LGBTQ+.
16 identified as Black
6 identified as Native American
3 identified as both Black and Native American
What is Day Rate?
Day Rate is a $300 monthly artist grant for Black and Native American femme, queer, trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming filmmakers and creative storytellers, whose communities are owed reparations for ongoing state violence and systemic racism, stolen lives, and stolen lands.
Day Rate is awarded by lottery to one individual artist on the 1st of each month.
Why “DAY RATE”?
Creative professionals are often paid by the day, otherwise known as a “day rate”.
Capitalism and economic inequality make it so that marginalized artists often have to spend a great deal of time either producing work to get by, or convincing institutions that they deserve a seat at the table. But what if artists had time and space to think, to rest, and to be inspired without the pressure of deadlines and deliverables? Day Rate provides artists with funds to spend on whatever they want/need. No clients, no grant reports, no proposals, no experience required.
We know that monetary compensation is just the tip of the iceberg of what artists need to thrive, which is why we hope to both expand Day Rate (by increasing the grant amount and the number of artists we can fund) and the ways we support artists in divesting from cultural capitalism and building networks of community care.
Who can apply?
You are eligible for DAY RATE if you meet all of the following criteria:
Are a creative storyteller (filmmaker, photographer, writer, etc.) at any stage of your career.
Identify as Black and/or Native American
Identify as a woman, femme, non-binary, gender nonconforming and/or LGBTQI2A+ person
You live in the United States (no documentation necessary; we are unable to process international payments.)
You are over the age of 18
How It Works
Apply using the form below. You will be entered into a lottery selection process.
A new grant recipient is drawn on the 1st of each month. We will contact you using the information provided to arrange payment.
Where does the money come from?
DAY RATE is funded by the Mala Forever community and Trans Guy Supply.
To support the fund, please join us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Allied Media Projects.
Terms & Conditions
By submitting an application, you are agreeing to our terms & conditions.
