Joyce Juan Manalo

Grant Guidelines

ABOUT THE JOYCE JUAN MANALO LEGACY FUND

Joyce Juan Manalo was a Manila-born artist and American theater producer and designer. She and her husband Allan Samson Manalo took over the operations of Bindlestiff Studio in 1998. They established the first Filipino American black box theater in the United States and the longest-running black box theater in San Francisco. In July 2023, Joyce lost her battle with cancer. Allan created this fund in memory of Joyce’s love of arts, heritage, and pride for the Pinay creative spirit.

What
$5,000 grant for Pinay Artists in the fields of dance, music, theater, film, literary arts, visual arts, and traditional arts. The funding will go towards your artistic practice and/or artistic production. This grant is designed to support artists whose work is deeply connected to Filipino cultural expression and community impact. 

Where
San Francisco Bay Area* Pinay Artists 2025, 2027, 2029
Metro Manila Pinay Artists 2026, 2028

When
March 19, 2025 Grant window opens
April 20, 2025 Grant submission due
April 21 - May 18, 2025 Panel Evaluation
May 24, 2025 Grant award recipient announcement

Eligibility
• 18+
• Individual
• Open to all with a focus on Filipina artists
• Practicing artist- actively creating and producing work
• Resident of San Francisco Bay Area*, USA (For the purpose of this grant, the San Francisco Bay Area consists of the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.)
• Be able to complete a grant contract within 18 months of award. The $5,000 grant is taxable income, and the recipient will receive a 1099 form. It is the recipient’s responsibility to consult with a tax professional to understand the tax implications and plan accordingly. The recipient must submit a completed W-9 form to receive the grant.

Eligible activities
• Art project expenses to produce exhibitions and/or performances.
• Art project-related supplies and materials.

Ineligible activities
• Activities unrelated to expenses towards art project(s)
• Car purchase
• Auto insurance fees
• Equipment purchases unrelated to art project(s)
• Pass through funds (ie. scholarships, grants)
• Fundraising activities and or events
• Advocacy for political and/or religious activities.

Deliverables
Project base within 18 months of award.

Reporting
• 50% upfront funds
• 40% mid-project check-in
• 10% Final report

APPLICATION Questions

Name:
Mailing Address:
Phone:
Email:

Do you identify as Filipina* and/or have cultural ties to the Filipino community?
*Self-identify as a Filipina woman or as a member of the Filipino community, including but not limited to non-binary and transgender individuals.

What is your is your discipline?
Literary Arts
Film and Media Arts
Music
Performing Arts (Theatre/Dance)
Visual Arts/Design
Traditional Arts

Tell us who you are as an artist, artistic history, and discipline. Up to 400 words

What will you do with this grant? Include a description and timeline and budget of your project. How will the grant impact your career in the arts? Up to 600 words

Tell us how your leadership/mentorship has supported and engaged with the Filipino community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why is the Filipino community better because of your artistic contribution(s)? Up to 500 words

Work Samples: Please submit 1-3 samples of your most recent work (PDF, Video Link, Website link, jpegs, mp3). If media, no more than 3 minutes long, for documents 5-8 pages.

What is your favorite Eraserheads song and why? Up to 100 words

. . .

Copyright and Originality of Work
By submitting their work, the artist affirms that the work is original and does not infringe upon the copyright or intellectual property rights of any third party. The artist retains full copyright of their work but gives the granting organization the right to use images of the work for promotional purposes.

Evaluation Applications will be reviewed by a community of artists and cultural leaders, arts educators, arts administrators, and other experts based on the following criteria:

• Artistic Merit. The applicant demonstrates a history of work relative to the current stage of the applicant’s career.

• Quality of proposed project or arts activities shows impact and growth as an artist. Reviewers will examine the originality and feasibility of the proposed project or arts activities.  Project or Arts activity is clear, compelling, and feasible.

• Community Impact: Through sustained dedication, they have participated in or made contributions to the cultural and artistic landscape in the San Francisco Bay Area which may include providing mentorship, fostering collaboration, and actively supporting the growth of other artists. Their work and community engagement reflect a deep, ongoing commitment to advancing Filipino American heritage and culture.

• Body of work:  The artist demonstrates a track record of creating work that highlights, celebrates, and contributes to the understanding of Filipino American heritage and culture. The evaluation process will consider the quality and care of the work, with recognition of the artist's stage in their artistic practice—whether emerging or seasoned—acknowledging the growth and development of their creative journey.

• This artist has shared at least one example of an Eraserheads song and why they like this song.

Much gratitude and love to everyone who donated to the Joyce Juan Manalo Legacy Fund.