GRANT WRITING FOR ARTISTS: 38 MIN

Writing grants can be a daunting task for many artists, but with the right approach and mindset, it can become a powerful tool to support your artistic practice. Recently, a group of artists gathered to discuss strategies for effective grant writing, and their insights offer valuable guidance for navigating this often complex process.

THE SHORT OF IT

Research the Grant Thoroughly: Understand the grant's goals and tailor your application to align with them.
Craft a Clear Narrative: Focus on a concise, engaging story that connects emotionally with the reviewers.
Align Work Samples with Your Proposal: Ensure your work samples complement your written narrative and reflect the essence of your project.
Include a Stipend in Your Budget: Accurately reflect the true cost of your project, including compensation for your time.
Utilize Available Resources: Reach out to grant coordinators, attend workshops, and connect with past grantees for valuable insights.
Seek Feedback and Revise: After submission, get feedback to improve future applications.
Be Patient and Persistent: Approach each grant application as a learning opportunity, and stay committed to refining your process.

PREPARATION IS KEY

Research the grant thoroughly. Understand who the grant is intended for, what the grant foundation values, and ask if your work aligns with their goals. This preparation is crucial in crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with the reviewers and making sure you don’t waste your time!

TYPES OF GRANTS

Project Grants: For specific projects like exhibitions, residencies, or public art installations.
Emergency Grants: For urgent, unforeseen financial needs.
Fellowships: For general support over a longer period, often including a stipend.
Research Grants: For exploratory or academic research-based projects.
Residency Grants: Support for time and space to focus on creative work, often in a specific location.
Professional Development Grants: For workshops, conferences, or other opportunities that enhance an artist's skills or career.
Community Arts Grants: For projects that engage or benefit a specific community.
Travel Grants: For travel related to artistic projects or research.

CLEAR AND COMPELLING GRANT NARRATIVES

When it comes to writing the grant, clarity is king. Avoid the temptation to include too many ideas or to get lost in overly conceptual language. Grand readers are overwhelmed from reading so many applications. Focus on a clear, concise narrative that highlights your project and puts it in an emotional light. Start with a strong hook—perhaps a statistic or a personal story that illustrates the importance of your work. This not only captures the reader’s attention but also sets the stage for the rest of your application.

A classic narrative format is: Something happened and the protagonist reaction by doing something. Think about that in terms of your artwork. Example: My small town flooded due to climate change so I started making floating flowerbeds.

Remember, your narrative should connect emotionally with the reviewers, be specific and write with detail. Good writing often describes things with the different senses (sight, touch, feeling, etc). Whether you’re addressing a social cause or emphasizing the material and aesthetic qualities of your work, your writing should engage while being educating your audience.

GOOD WORK SAMPLES MUST ALIGN WITH YOUR PROPOSAL

Your work samples are just as important as your written proposal, maybe MORE IMPORTANT. Make sure your images align with the story you’re telling in your narrative. So many artists put in extra work that arent a part of the proposal. This can confuse a grant committee. High-quality images both reflect the essence of your project and show that you are a professional.

BONUS: have peers review your work samples alongside your written content to ensure they complement each other effectively.

BUDGETING: AND DONT FORGET TO PAY YOURSLEF

A well-thought-out budget is key to most grant application. It’s essential to be realistic in your estimates and to include a stipend for your own time. This not only reflects the true cost of your project but also demonstrates to the reviewers that you value your work and time.

TIP: Some grants like to see that others have a vested interest in your project. It might raise your application by a few points to show that other organizations are giving you money or “in kind donations” (like a non-profit who waives their normal space rental fee to put on your show).

NOTE: Adding a small buffer to your budget can account for unforeseen expenses, making your proposal more robust. Some say you should add 10 - 20% to any budget proposal numbers.

DOWNLOAD OUR ARTIST GRANT BUDGET TEMPLATE HERE

MORE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

It always helps to reach out to the grant coordinator or attend informational workshops offered by the granting organization. These resources can provide valuable insights into what the reviewers are looking for and help you refine your application.

Additionally, connecting with past grantees can offer a glimpse into successful strategies and help you avoid common pitfalls.

FOLLOW UP AND FEEDBACK

After submitting your grant, it’s beneficial to seek feedback, whether or not you receive the funding. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your application can guide you in future submissions. Some artists find it helpful to write a thank you email to the grant organization or any public facing jury members. This can help you stand out the next time you apply.

CONCLUSION
PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE

Grant writing is not simple or easy. It’s about securing funding AND refining your ability to communicate your art to a specific audience. It requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to learn from each experience. By preparing thoroughly, crafting a clear narrative, and aligning your work samples with your proposal, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, every grant application is an opportunity to work on articulating the value of your work and to connect with others who believe in your vision.

Whether you’re applying for a small project grant or a prestigious award like the Guggenheim, the principles of clear communication, strategic planning, and thoughtful presentation will serve you well. Keep refining your approach, seek out feedback, and stay committed to your artistic journey.

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS:

Start Small: Many bigger grants want you to prove that you will spend their money responsibly. Think about applying to small local grants first. They will be easier to attain and then you can tell the bigger grants that you have experience executing your projects responsibly.
Be Direct in Your Applications: Avoid overly complex language and focus on clear, straightforward communication. Not all grant reviewers will be artists. Have a non-art person give you feedback too. Reviewers appreciate concise, focused proposals.
Leverage Personal Connections for Recommendations: Ask peers, colleagues, and mentors who know your work well to write recommendation letters, even if they aren’t prominent figures in the art world. Recommendors will appreciate you giving them insight into what to write, you dont have to write the whole letter for them, but giving them bullet points will help. Most recommendation letters work on the format of “in what capacity you know the person, what you think of their work, any specific body of work the grant proposal will address, knowing that their career will benefit from the grant”.
Engage with Grant Coordinators Early: Contact grant coordinators to clarify any uncertainties, gain insights into the review process, and ensure your application is a good fit.
FOLLOW THE RULES! Many applications get thrown out simply because they dont follow the rules. This is the most important part of writing a winning application.
Consider Diverse Recommenders: Depending on your project, it might be beneficial to ask for recommendations from individuals outside the art world who are relevant to the theme of your work.
This Grant Matters: Grantors want to know that their money will make a difference. They often ask “will this project move forward without our help”. Highlight how the funding will directly impact your ability to complete the project, making it clear that the grant is crucial to your success.
Emphasize the Community Impact: If applicable, tie your project to community engagement or social impact, as this can be a strong point in many grant applications.
Don't Hesitate to Ask for Assistance: Utilize tools like ChatGPT for drafting budgets or organizing thoughts, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from others in your network.
CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLE ON AI GRANT WRITING
Understand the Grant’s Scoring Criteria: If available, learn the scoring rubric or criteria to better tailor your application to what reviewers are looking for.
CHECK OUT OUR “COMMON GRANT SCORING RUBRIC”