Latley I’ve been attempting to write grant proposals and refine my artist statment to help fund my lofty ideas of creating a large body of work. I find it incredibly anxiety inducing trying to write a letter boasting my ability and goals!
Often as artists it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing yourself as just another cog in the creative wheel. Especially on the internet where content is driven by peoples creativity it can be hard to stand out and still keep the machine moving.
I often fall into a way of thinking that there is nothing new under the sun. People have been painting for centuries, and even our own dna is just carbon copys of our ancestors so even original referance art isnt ‘original’ but that critical art brain leads to apathy. Today I’m ditching the insecure artist cliche’ and focusing on my strengths. You should too because people want OC (original content) and only creatives can provide that.
Thankfully, there are a lot of organizations that offer art grants and fellowships that support artists in creating work, and free us up to concentrate on creating.
Applying for Art Grants
Grant folks will want to see your work, so make sure that online art portfolio is in great shape. And refine your artist bio, statement and online presence.
Make sure your artist statement is as clear and concise as possible, and up-to-date with all the information about your work. Here is a list I’ve compiled from several websites for referance, of some grants that might be right for you and me but hopefully me ( wink)
General Art Grants
These art grants are open to most artists, meaning there are few restrictions on geography, art discipline, or subject matter.
A Blade of Grass Fellowship for Socially Engaged Art
Amount: $20,000
Applicants must be 25 or older
Anything Art Grant
Amount: $1,000
Special notes: $35 entry fee to submit up to three works
Awesome Foundation Grants
Amount: $1,000
Special notes: Has 90 chapters that each give out a $1,000 art grant monthly
Burning Man Global Art Grants
Amount: Up to $10,000
Special notes: Focuses on interactive and community-driven artworks
Creative Capital Grants
Amount: Up to $50,000 and career development services
Special notes: Focuses on large-scale, long-term projects
FCA Grants to Artists
Amount: $40,000
Special notes: Grants are given to support artists, not specific projects
The Gottlieb Foundation Individual Support Grant
Amount: $25,000
Special notes: Only open to “mature” artists
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowships
Special notes: No restrictions on how grants are used
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants
Amount: Up to $10,000
Special notes: Artists must have been working for a significant amount of time and be in financial need
Radcliffe Fellowship Program
Amount: Up to a $70,000 stipend and $5,000 to cover project expenses
Special notes: Involves living at Harvard University for a year
Sustainable Arts Foundation Awards
Amount: Up to $5,000
Special notes: Only artists with children are eligible
This foundation aims to support artists with families by providing financial awards to parents that are pursuing creative work. Parents often put aside their creative impulses to meet the demands of raising a family, so the foundation’s goal is to encourage parents to continue with their creative passions.
Artadia Awards
Amount: Up to $20,000
The Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Awards
Amount: $1,500
Grants for Emerging Artists
These art grants are given to help young or unrecognized artists take their careers to the next level.
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant
Amount: $15,000
Special notes: Applications are accepted throughout the year with no deadline
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation gives grants for emerging artists to develop their skills in artistic expression. Applicants must be 18 or older, in an early or developmental stage of their work, and be able to show a commitment to making art their lifetime career.
Harpo Foundation Grants for Visual Artists
Amount: Up to $10,000
Special notes: $15 application fee
Puffin Foundation Artist Grants
Amount: Up to $2,500
Grants for Female Artists
These artist grants aim to recognize exceptional women in a variety of art fields.
The Bennett Prize
Art discipline: Figurative realist painting
Amount: $50,000
Special notes: Involves creating a traveling exhibition of paintings
Money for Women
Art discipline: Visual arts and literature
Amount: Up to $1,500
Special notes: Artists should have substantial work done on their project before applying
NLAPW Art Grant for Mature Women
Amount: $1,000
Special notes: Entry fee of $35
WSW Studio Residency Grant
Art discipline: Papermaking, screen-printing, photography, intaglio, letterpress, or ceramics
Amount: Up to an eight-week residency with a $350 per week stipend, and money for materials and travel
Special notes: Open to artists in any stage of their career
Emergency Grants for Artists
When there’s not enough time to go through a lengthy grant application process, these emergency grants can help out artists who are in urgent need of funding.
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program
Art discipline: Painters, sculptors, and printmakers
Amount: Up to $15,000
FCA Artist Emergency Grants
Art discipline: Any visual or performing arts
Amount: Up to $2,500
Special notes: Grants to help artists to meet a project deadline
GOVERNEMENT GRANTShttps://www.arts.gov/grants
A place to find more grants!
More more grant opportunities
Hopefully this list will help some of us find some footing in the creative world. I’m looking forward to seeing what you create, and hopefully someone will pay you to do it.
If you want to pay me check out my donate page in the drop down menu at the top of the page or visit my Patreon
Kill your Apathy (and mine if you can find the time.)
-Kagan