Anne Feeney Hellraiser Fund Offers New Grants for Activist Artists
Chris Garlock | Published on 7/1/2025
On the eve of what would have been her 74th birthday, the family and friends of
legendary labor singer Anne Feeney have announced a new round of rapid response grants supporting artists on the front lines of the fight for justice.
The Anne Feeney Hellraiser Memorial Fund, fiscally sponsored by the Labor Heritage Foundation, will award grants of up to $1,000 to emerging musicians, poets, painters, puppeteers, and other artists continuing Anne’s legacy of using art as a weapon for social change. “We’re launching the Anne Feeney Hellraiser Fund to continue the work that she did throughout her life,” said Evan Greer.
Applications are now open and must be submitted by August 18, with recipients announced on Labor Day, September 1. Past grantees include Neffy (who went on to win NPR's Tiny Desk Contest) and labor-rapper Mickey O’Brien.
Anne Feeney, once called “the best labor singer in North America” by Utah Phillips, was known for lifting up the voices of working-class, queer and trans, and BIPOC artists. The fund honors her lifelong commitment to mentoring and supporting artists who “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
Emerging activist artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Donations to support the fund are also welcome; those who wish to make a donation to the fund can do so here through the Labor Heritage Foundation, please note “Hellraiser Fund” when you donate.