Art grants are available to all artists who are seeking financial support for their work. Grants can either be issued through the government, such as the NEA, or they can be issued through private foundations. Regardless, artists seeking grants are required to write proposals which will be judged by committees to determine whether they are eligible to receive the grant award. While there are businesses and individuals that offer grant-writing services, it is still important to know what is expected in a grant proposal.
Instructions
1. Determine what type of grant you're applying for. Is it a public or a private grant? Does it provide a large grant award or a small one? Will the grant be awarded for a particular project or for an internship? This information will affect how the proposal will be written.
2. Define the project. Determine what the project will be about, how long the project will take to complete, and a general budgetary plan to complete the project. Any information regarding budget should be relevant only to the project and not outside projects or other extracurricular activities.
3. Determine what materials will be used in the completion of the project. These can include studio space to artistic materials. Include these materials in working on the project's budget.
4. List ways in which the project will benefit society or the community in general. This is particularly important when applying to a public grant, such as a local government arts grant. Provide any information on volunteer work or community organizations in which the project will be showcased or the ways in which certain organizations will benefit from the project.
5. Create a mission statement. This is the proposal's statement of purpose. Determine what the project will achieve as a piece of work. If applying to a local public arts grant, include information on how the project will be relevant to the local area or community. If the grant has specific concerns and requirements, such as grants awarded to women artists or to social or political activism, tailor the mission statement to highlight how the project will reflect those concerns.
6. Write the grant proposal to include any and all information concerning the project. This will include the mission statement, budget, credentials such past and previous awards or works published or showcased in galleries, etc. Organize the proposal so that each topic will be addressed separately.
7. Include any personal information that is relevant to the grant. For instance, if the grant specifically is designed to provide support for multicultural works of art, then include any relevant information, such as a personal background that will be reflected in the project or any previous work or involvement in organizations geared toward subject.
8. Follow all submission guidelines correctly. Double-check the proposal so that it meets guidelines, eligibility, budgetary goals, correct contact information, etc.
