Funding Creativity: Overcoming the Time-Money Challenge

The hardest part about producing creative outputs is…money and time. It takes a lot of time to be able to find grants and resources for funding projects. A lot of the time you encounter issues with eligibility, qualifications, and making sure that all the elements of your application are solid.

Early on in my studies at the University of Minnesota, I had applied for several scholarships, internship opportunities, and grants to help shoulder the costs of my education and overall existence. Throughout this process I learned the following things:
 

1. Do not take rejections personally. This is one of the most of the most difficult things about applying for external funding. This is not a reflection of who you are and your accomplishments. A lot of the time when organizations are looking at applications, they are trying to see who would be the best fit and benefit most from that experience in their organization.
2. Apply for funding that aligns with your goals. While it may be good to apply to as many things as possible, you want to be applying for grants that align with your goals. When I was applying for my Fulbright, I knew I had wanted to complete it in Portugal, which later opened opportunities to do complete my PhD in cultural studies as a FCT Scholar. If you are looking for something that is more geared towards project funding, there are funding options for that too. There is a great free resource by Creative Baggage that has a free database that includes funding opportunities for a variety of disciplines.
3. Make the time to apply. There have been times that I’ve rushed through grant applications with trying to apply to as many as possible. It is important to make sure that you do take the time to make sure there are no grammatical errors and that it does not appear to be rushed. That’s why it is important to read the instructions and that you have a clear objective of what you need to do. By giving yourself enough time for the application process, it will also afford you the time to double check your materials.​
4. Grants give artists opportunities to create without disruption. Sometimes having a full-time job to support your creative pursuits can be difficult. That’s why finding funding options are also extremely useful because it allows you time to create. The Banff Centre of the Arts has different residencies that allow artists from a variety of different disciplines to be able to have the time to work in ideal conditions by providing studio space to artists, rehearsal space for musicians, and lodging to be able to concentrate on creating. 

 
Applying for grants and additional resources for funding play an important role in being able to afford creatives the time to produce creative outputs, which can be in the form of an album, painting, book, the list goes on! Sometimes the difficult part is feeling whether you feel qualified for these grants, which can also be a setback for many people. The thing is…you never know, and it never hurts to try. If you want to learn more about funding creativity, schedule a free consultation with us today! 

KRISTINE DIZON

CEO & Founder
The Modern Artist Project