Whether you paint, sculpt, dance or perform, arts grants can help you fund projects.
Artists and arts organizations can access many sources of grant money designed to help offset costs associated with creating new work, presenting work to the public or raising awareness about art. Potential funders range from large endowments and government organizations to nonprofits and universities. They may even include private donors and capital firms. While each arts grant proposal will be slightly different, depending on the organization, the key components needed to write a successful proposal remain consistent.
Instructions
1. Identify matches between potential funders and the arts project you are seeking to fund. Make sure that your proposed project fits into their general grant eligibility parameters in terms of medium, size and duration.
2. Request information about each potential grant from the funder, and review the requirements carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked for in the proposal and what the funding source offers. For example, determine if the funder requires you to have matching donations or in-kind donations of materials and labor, if it reimburses you funds or awards the funds outright or if the grant has a follow-up or public presentation requirement.
3. Follow the grant proposal instructions regarding the format of submission, the deadlines and the documentation or narratives. Assemble any needed documentation and scan or make copies as needed.
4. Compose your narrative or the proposal, if necessary. The narrative usually includes a statement of need, in which you state the purpose, goals or objectives of the art project you are proposing; a timeline for completion of the project; a synopsis of the art project; the desired outcomes, such as a presentation, lecture or showing and a personal biography that includes your credentials, interest and qualifications for carrying out the proposed project.
5. Develop your budget. Many arts grant proposal applications provide a worksheet that gives you the format in which the funder wishes to see your costs, budget and analyses. Be as detailed as you can about where and how you plan to use the funders' monies and how you will pay for any shortfall. Also describe any other financial support or in-kind donations you have already secured.
6. Have a colleague proofread your proposal to look for spelling and grammatical errors and to give you feedback about areas of the proposal that are unclear. More than likely, your funding source will not be familiar with your work, so the project you are proposing must be clear and well described.
