How to Write Individual Art Grants
Grants are available to individuals across a variety of disciplines, with each one often containing multiple subsections. Arts grants in particular can be broken down into film, photography, poetry, music, painting, fiction writing and more.
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Instructions
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Write a well-defined artist statement. This will help focus your search for grants, which you can then adjust later (i.e. for length) according to grant guidelines. Use clear and concise language so that the review committee can understand it upon first glance.
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Read guidelines carefully. Grant and fellowship guidelines specify who is and who is not qualified to apply (i.e. this fellowship is open to full time undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program in Minnesota). Applying to grants where you do not meet the qualifications will likely result in non-consideration of your materials.
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Gather a portfolio of your best work. If you are a poet, put together your best poems. If you are a painter, get high-resolution shots of your work. You should be confident that each item in the portfolio can stand on its own. Review boards often have to sort through many applications, and it's not guaranteed how thoroughly any one portfolio will be reviewed. Therefore, make sure each part of your submission is indeed the work you feel confident in.
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Write a grant proposal. Successfully executing a well-written grant proposal is a big part of the application process. The proposal, in essence, is what explains why the applicant should get the grant. A general outline structure consists of a summary, a brief general presentation of the business/work, the problem, how the grant will solve the problem, and a budget. The more specific the budget (i.e. using exact figures as opposed to round numbers), the better.
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Finish early and proofread your application. Deadlines are usually final and inflexible. Make sure you examine the guidelines thoroughly and have an outside eye (preferably a professional proofreader, a teacher/professor or non-profit administrator) look over your materials prior to submission.
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