These Three Mistakes Could Cost You Your Grant | Our Top Tips for Artist Grant Applications.
Let’s talk grants…
The benefits of receiving an artist grant reach far beyond the financial component. They look amazing on a CV, and the practice you get from condensing a whole project into 300 or so words is absolutely helpful in many other situations. (And if you apply at artsnb, you are also guaranteed to receive valuable feedback on your application, whether you get a yes or a no!)
Still, the process can be daunting and sometimes mistakes get made. That’s why, with the help of Program Officer Sarah-Jonathan Parker from artsnb, we’ve compiled a list of the top 3 slip-ups that often sneak their way into applicants’ submissions, as well as share some tips on how you can avoid them!
(Bonus: read through to the end for other mistakes you might be making that didn’t quite make our list!)
Mistake #3: Sharing Background Info Too Soon.
We get it. Humans are storytellers, and we often make sense of our lives through narratives that unfold in chronological order. But when explaining your project to a jury, you’ve got to start with the here-and-now, YOUR PROJECT. If you do decide to include a backstory, it will mean more to your audience AFTER they know what it is you are proposing. Don’t leave them hanging as you wistfully recall childhood days of counting flower petals from the back of your grandpa’s ride-on lawn mower. Start with the project, and if it’s really relevant, you can return to your childhood later. Don’t worry, you’re going to have lots of opportunities to explain your artistic development in more detail, but grant applications are not the place for sharing your life story.
Mistake #2: Mixing Art with Business.
Don’t take up valuable space in your application talking about the business side of your art endeavour. We all have to make a living, yes, and your art may be your job, but business goals are not what most art grants are here to help you with. Applicants need to be able to compartmentalize their creative practice and keep it separate from their entrepreneurial aspirations. When preparing your application, keep your focus on the art and not on future sales. (P.S. This isn’t just about money, in the age of social media, including a desire for more followers in your proposal is also a no-no.)
Mistake #1: Not Explaining the Impact.
When it comes to awarding grants, it’s important to remember that it’s not all about determining if your art is “good enough.” The IMPACT of your proposed project is equally as important. While considering impact, many of us will jump straight to big societal issues—maybe preserving the environment or raising awareness about racial injustice—and while these are noble aspirations worth including, don’t forget to share the smaller-scale and more personal developments as well. The selection team wants to know how following through on this venture will impact yourself as an artist. How will it push you? What will you learn? It is also important to include the influence it will have on your discipline. Will it add something new? Or perhaps work to uphold longstanding traditions? Spend time reflecting on the impact you want to make, and craft your words carefully. Not only will it help you with grants, but it is also a very valuable exercise for refining your art practice.
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t panic. The amazing Sarah-Jonathan has been kind enough to provide us with a simple formula to keep in mind when it comes to grant applications.
Just remember: WHAT, HOW, WHY?
What are you proposing?
How will you make it happen?
Why will it push you forward?
If you can answer these 3 questions, you are one step closer to your perfect proposal.
Good Luck!
Bonus! (dis) Honourable Mentions:
✕ Don’t ask for too little! It can make you come across as not serious enough. Check out the sample budgets on ArtNB’s website to make sure you aren’t veering too far off course money-wise.
✕ Don’t forget to consider federal level grants. Our sweet province might be small, but that doesn’t mean we are sitting at the kids table when it comes to Canada-wide funding! Create an account at The Canada Council for the Arts and see what is available to you. It’s not as impossible as you may think!
✕ Make sure you are eligible. You don’t want to go through all the trouble of applying only to find out you don’t qualify! This also includes your expenses. Many grants won’t cover things like buying tools or promotional expenses, for example. If you aren’t sure, ask!
✕ Don’t miss the deadline. Circle that date in your planner and then give yourself some extra time. If you are interested in Arts NB grants, be sure to subscribe to their monthly newsletter for reminders on all their upcoming deadlines.
✕ Don’t think that you don’t have a shot. Listen, imposter syndrome runs wild in the art community, but don’t let it stop you from putting yourself out there. A “vague, ballpark range” for people receiving grants at artsnb is 1 in 3. The odds are not outstandingly against you! We believe in you, blossoming artist. If you meet the requirements, give it a go.
Thank you so much to Sarah-Jonathan Parker from artsnb for sitting down to talk about grants. If you have any questions about applications, please reach out to them in English or French at (506) 440-0037, or by email at prog@artsnb.ca. They are thrilled to help and want to see you succeed.
“There are no annoying questions.” -SJ Parker
7 Things Artists Need to Know About artsnb
If you’re not familiar yet with artsnb, their Program Officer SJ also shared the top ways that the organization supports artists in New Brunswick.