Chapter 4: Playing the Game
Grants are one of the few options we have in America for help with funding our art practice and we are competing with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of artists. Even with those dire numbers, 28% of artists that I recently polled had received grants.
As a grant writer who talks in depth with artists about their work and ambitions, I know that there is an abundance of skilled, thoughtful, innovative artists making work that is nuanced and significant for our time as well as those that are ahead of their time. The reason most artists don't receive the grants that they apply for is because there is not enough funding. Which I'm sure you know so I don't need to keep beating a dead horse.
But I am sharing it to give you a foundation for understanding where I am coming from when I tell you that I want you to keep applying for grants.
Yep. That's right. I want you to apply and apply again.
Aside from actually winning a grant, I want artists to benefit from the grant system. Even though it's falling short of meeting the needs of artists across America, there is more to be gained if the application process is leveraged by artist applicants.
With practice, we can all become better, more skilled, and adept, at explaining our work. We can dream big and ideate the next phases of our work. Through all our applications, we can learn how to pitch our ideas and see what lands. This comes from trial and error so regularly applying for opportunities (and being rejected) can advance an artist’s career—not only through the actual opportunities but through the practice.
And with all those insightful, innovative artists, perhaps we can come up with ideas of how to supplement artist grants and help the position of artists.
I'll get into this more in the final 2 chapters of my Grant Series.
Next Time: What could the world be like for artists?
Artists need funding and career boosting opportunities now more than ever.
I can help.