As part of the “Ways To Make Money Selling Your Art” series, getting grants can be a great source of income for artists that also come with other perks to further your career. Art-based grants are awarded to artists from a variety of different organizations such as non-profits, museums, universities, and other entities that support arts and culture. Each grant is very specific and has its own application process and criteria for selection.
What Types Of Grants Are Available To Artists?
There are thousands of art grant opportunities available to support artists. They range from small to very large and may include cash grants or residencies that include a stipend that feels very much like a grant.
With every grant being different, there may be requirements that you must fulfill if you are the chosen artist. For example, you may need to exhibit your work within a specific timeframe and location, give an artist talk, or you may be asked to donate a piece for a fundraising event to support the grant organization.
What Are Cash Grants For Artists?
Cash grants are exactly what they sound like. It is money awarded to the artist.
The income provided by the art grant may be required to be spent in a very specific way. This may include being used only for equipment, supplies, professional development, or for a specific project you propose. While cash grants will allow you to use the money on anything you decide is best.
What Are Art Residencies?
Artist-in-residence programs are designed to allow artists to live and step outside of their usual art-making environment. Typically, residencies may run from a few days to a few months, and many provide a grant-like stipend and/or pay for your costs to be there making art. I'm including them in this conversation about grants becuase it’s worth emphasizing: some have grant-like stipends that can contribute to your income.
These residencies can be a time for you to immerse yourself in a different setting and shake things up in your art practice or go deeper into your current body of work.
Experiencing different people, equipment in a new art-making space, or living in another city can inspire your work in a fresh way. When you’re in a new environment, it can also allow you the time and space to focus on your art that may not be available in your regular daily art practice.
This is an excellent opportunity to stretch your creative muscles and be in conversation with new people, expanding your circle of humans who are introduced to your work.
Have You Heard Of Online Art Residencies?
I’m also starting to see the definition of a traditional residency expand with more online-based residency programs where you agree to a specific focus of your work along with others who are doing the same - so the residency becomes one of focus. So there are many to choose from.
For example, the Artist Residency In Motherhood is solely online. It’s “a self-directed, open-source artist residency to empower and inspire artists who are also mothers.” Family residencies are very rare; this is an example of reframing “parenthood as a valuable site for creative practice, rather than an obstruction to be overcome.” In this case, it’s more about having a structure to work within and changing the lens with which you look at your art practice and what you create.
Much like the above example, there are other places online where you can come together with artists to declare a specific focus for your work for a set amount of time. They can be free or sometimes you pay to participate. You often have a way to share what you’re working on with fellow artist residents and art appreciators.
Both of these are an extension of the more traditional in-person residency definition which, to me, feels more inclusive and I’m happy to see these kinds of opportunities happening.
Although online residencies are not paid, having dedicated focus time or themes to push your creativity, the art you make from this experience will help you build buzz and momentum for your work as you share it and make your creations available for sale. They can also be a helpful, influencing (social proof) element of your artist background that will help you to get future grants.
What Is An Art Grant Proposal And How Can An Artist Get One?
To win an art grant, you will typically need to fill out an application which is often called a proposal. It’s called that because the application sometimes asks you to create a specific proposal for what you will do with the money you receive if you get the grant. There are various application styles and types and they are all individualized so be sure to read the details to maximize your chance for success.
Available grants come and go so your best option is to do some research online and start creating a list of the ones that seem to be a fit for you. I recommend starting your search by looking for available grants in your state. For example, “California artist grants.”
The next step would be to read the application requirements and then fill them out. The key here is to follow the directions exactly as they’ve been laid out so your proposal is not scrapped from the selection process because you didn’t follow the rules or have missed something.
If you’re ready to start submitting applications for grants and proposals, download my Top 10 Ways You Can Give Your Proposal A Fighting Chance and Increase Your Odds of Being Chosen.
Is A Grant Or Residency For You?
As an artist, receiving an art grant is a form of social proof and is a credential that can be added to your resume or CV.
It’s also a great way to connect with a larger art community of curators, artists, gallerists, and collectors because a grant often requires you to have a piece in a show at the end or to give artist talks as part of your grant award. Grant recipients are often highlighted and featured as much as possible by the gifter, and they love you and want to share your art with the world.
Still not sure if grants should be one of your income streams? To help you decide, read my article Grants and Residencies: Are They Worth It?