Apply to the ZAO Fund for Emerging Culture

We back independent musicians, visual artists, technologists, and community organizers creating collaborative cultural experiences - work that bridges digital coordination and real-world activation. We back projects that use emerging tech not as a gimmick, but as infrastructure for shared ownership, fair pay, and vibrant community.

Who qualifies

-Be creator-owned and independently operated
-Integrate emerging tech (blockchain, AI, decentralized tools, immersive media) in a meaningful way
-Demonstrate active collaboration or meaningful community participation
-Build in public - share process, progress, or outcomes openly
-Operate within a non-extractive, fair-compensation framework
-Culminate in a public-facing, real-world activation (performance, installation, gathering, exhibition, release, or showcase)

Projects mainly seeking funding for personal expenses without a shared, public-facing outcome will not be approved. Community participation and real-world activation are strongly encouraged.

How it works

STEP 1
Submit your project
Create your project on Artizen and submit it to the ZAO Fund for Emerging Culture.
STEP 2
Get curated in
The ZAO community votes projects in during the curation phase (the vote runs in our Discord). Strong community fit + a clear public outcome win.
STEP 3
Mint your Artifact
Publish a $10 open-edition Artifact - square, video/GIF, no text overlay performs best. 0% fees, 100% to you.
STEP 4
Rally + sell
Every $1 a fan spends unlocks match from the ZAO Fund and the Artizen Endowment, at that week's Match Multiple (and stacks across any other fund backing you). Your rank is the money you raise, so the more people who buy, the higher you climb.

Submit your project See the fund