sources of funding for individual artists: a primer
TRANSCRIPT
Seeds of Funding for Individual Artists
advice and ideas
Jane Kokernak April 25, 2014
Al Weiwei’s “Sunflower Seeds,” via Juxtapoz.com, 2012
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An orientation to arts funding for individuals 1. Motivations for artist and funder
2. Sources and kinds of funding support
3. Finding relevant funders
4. Presenting your work + a budget
5. Summary of outreach process
exercise 1: wish lists
Take a sheet of paper; make 3 columns.
Think of an in-‐progress or dream art project for a minute.
In le<-‐most column, at top write “$500,” in middle, write “$1,500,” and in right column, “$10,000.”
Listen for instrucFons.
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Reasons artists seek grants + fellowships
• Money to make art, learn more, develop career
“Alleviates pressure of having to work 40 hours a week so you can spend quality time in your studio.” (artist)
• Scope and completion of specific art works
“It's the difference between being able to go to Paris to view museum collections of the things you are writing about and sitting at home wondering what it was like.” (novelist)
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More reasons …
• Encouragement and validation
“I love getting grants, though I write many more than I receive. Receiving one carries a nice emotional boost as well as the financial help.” (artist)
• Valuable credentials in the art community
“Grants show the world that other professionals in your field appreciate your talent and are willing to support your growth.” (artist)
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Reasons funders support artists
• Belief that the arts are central to a functioning society
• Business strategy to show visible support for arts and artists
• Personal interest in the arts in general or a particular art form
• Personal association with artists
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Resources $$$
Connection Interests
What makes for a good source of funding?
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Sources of funding support
• Public (national, state, municipal)
• Private (non-governmental)
Foundation grants
Non-profit orgs (grants, artists in residence)
Corporate giving programs
Individual donors, esp. crowd-sourced platforms
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Kinds of support
• Direct support (direct to artist)
• Indirect support
Intermediary organizations
Fiscal sponsorships (e.g., Fractured Atlas)
• Restricted
• Unrestricted
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Specific types of support
• Cash grants
• Professional development (e.g., to attend conferences)
• Fellowships
• Monetary awards (like a prize)
• Commissions
• Apprenticeships (more formal)
• Internships
• Residencies (arts colony)
• Teaching residencies (placements in schools, theatres, etc., may require teaching, performance, exhibit)
• In-kind support (donated supplies)
exercise 2: I have a dream…
Take an index card; answer these questions.
1. In the near future, what is something you really, really want to do in art, if money were no object?
2. What kind of time and activities are involved?
3. What stage is this thing at?
4. How would it add to your portfolio or knowledge or artistic career?
5. Who would benefit from it?
6. What kind of support would you need to do it?
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On the index card, circle what you think are key words. Look for
• Nouns (person, place, thing)
• Verbs (action!)
• Numbers (time and money)
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Finding relevant funders
• Public (national, state, municipal)
National Endowment for the Arts http://arts.gov/
Americans for the Arts http://www.americansforthearts.org/
National Park Service Artist-in-Residence Program http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies http://www.nasaa-arts.org/
Go here for fellowship support for artists from a region or state.
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Finding relevant funders
• Private (foundations, nonprofits, corporations)
Back pages of art magazines, like Sculptor
Google “artist grants” and find articles like this: “20 Top Artist Grants and Fellowships,” ArtInfo, 2012: http://bit.ly/RQVKDw
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) “Opportunity Listings,” https://www.nyfa.org/Classifieds/Opportunities
CaFÉ -- Call for Entry: https://www.callforentry.org
The above resources are freely available. Another excellent resource is Foundation Center Online -- https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/ -- available for a fee, or at some libraries.
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Evaluating the fit between you + a funder
• Do more research once you know the name of potential funder. Foundation Directory Online: https://fdo.foundationcenter.org/
• Study funder guidelines (on funder website)
• Check limitations and exclusions
• Ask artist friends and mentors for knowledge of funder
Avoid the “scattershot” approach. Apply only for grants and other support that are a reasonable fit, a good match. It’s likely that you’ll apply for just one or two at time.
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Presenting your work + a budget
What goes into a typical funding application? • Cover letter (1 page)
• Project description (up to 2 pages)
• Budget sheet
• Supporting materials (may include portfolio, resume or artist statement, and other recent documentation of career)
Exercise 3: simple budget
Look at items from $1,500 wish list (exercise 1).
1. Group them into relevant categories of expenses:
Materials
Salary
Travel
2. Imagine other support for this work (in-‐kind or money) for contribu-ons or income.
3. Add both expenses and contribuFons. This is your total budget.
4. Determine your “ask” or request. 21
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Sample project budget
Remember: you can tinker with amounts and categories to make your request in line with funder guidelines.
How could we adjust down for a request limit of $1,500?
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Components of cover letter/email inquiry
• First paragraph: a thank you for the opportunity to apply, and a straightforward request with amount: “I am applying for an unrestricted artist’s grant of $750.”
• Body: a summary of project (a few sentences), and specific mention of one aspect of your project (think: motivation and funder interests)
• Closing: reasonable expression of interest and a one-sentence description of attachments or enclosures.
Exercise 4: motivation and funder interests
Look at notes from dream project (exercise 2).
Consider this RFP (Request for Proposals): A major, internaFonal ad agency has a new office in Boston. The firm wants to establish its presence in the creaFve community, and announces a project that “seeks art works from individual arFsts that recognize the diversity of ciFzens and arFsts in the Greater Boston area.” Awards are up to $1,500 in direct support.
Discuss with your neighbor your proposed project and how it might fit with the call for new work.
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Final words on process
• Do your research; know what’s out there.
• Evaluate potential funders for good fit with your work.
• Prepare budget and description that makes the case for your work.
• Seek feedback and help from friends and mentors.
• Revise budget and description.
• Emerging artists: start small, get feet wet.
• Persist.
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Additional resources
• Artist Grant Proposal Writing Handbook (online), First Peoples Cultural Council http://www.fpcc.ca/files/PDF/Arts/General/FPCC_Grant_Writing_Handbook.pdf
• Artist’s Guide to Grant Writing: How to Find Funds and Write Foolproof Proposals for the Visual, Literary, and Performing Artist (print, $16.99), by Gigi Rosenberg, 2010 http://gigirosenberg.com/book/
• Funding for Individual Artists (online), Grant Space, Foundation Center http://bit.ly/1ik91iL
• Grants for Individuals: Arts (online), MSU Libraries http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3arts.htm
• Proposal Writing (online), San Francisco Art Institute http://www.sfai.edu/proposal-writing
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Acknowledgements
Alexander Chee koreanish.com
Kathryn DeMarco kathryndemarco.com
Ted Harris openstudioproject.org
Ian Kennelly iankennelly.com
Tim Murdoch timmurdoch.com
Lowry Pei lowrypei.com Leslie Sills lesliesills.com
Madelyn Smoak madelynsmoak.com
“Both Hands Clapping,” via Brandulariy, 2012