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Babycastles-Academy

Lesson plans, notes from our Babycastles Academy public education programs

A Friendly Introduction to Writing Proposals and Grants

Description

This workshop is a broad and beginner-friendly introduction to writing grant proposals, exhibition proposals, artist-in-residency applications and other forms of professional proposals. In this introduction, we’ll look at a few applications, sources for finding opportunities, and tips on language and style. The goal is to demystify the grant-writing process and demonstrate a basic typical workflow to make writing grants and proposals approachable and easier to do.

The talk will be oriented to artists, game-makers and other creative practitioners.

Instructor: Lee Tusman

Link to slides

via GIPHY

Method

Today’s difficulty level: easier than Ikea instructions. Harder than playing a video game. (Except for Dwarf Fortress. Come back next week!)

Caveats: I am not evaluating your art. I take it for granted that your work is good and that people should see it! See our other workshops to learn varous art/music/game-making skills.

What are grants, proposals, call-for-artists, artist-in-residency applications?

Where to find them?

As you start to apply to more, make a spreadsheet or page where you save them, track them. Title, URL, deadline, topic, notes

Read the language of the grant.

Why? Grants/applications are formulas or recipes. This is NOT creative writing. It’s technical writing! Think of it like a packing checklist.

Now make sure you answer all of their questions succinctly and to the best of your knowledge.

Selecting Things to apply to

Questions to ask yourself:

(Optional): Find partners

Opportunities come from you finding them! Is there a Grant for Libraries to Make Games and you’re a game designer? Contact a library and see if they’re interested in teaming up!

Pros and Cons of collaborative teams for grants

Writing

As with all other writing: the hardest part is getting started. Here are some tips.

Editing: Cut the fat

DO NOT HAVE TYPOS. That’s a big GAME OVER.

Submit!

If appropriate, address your application to the right person or group

Keep in mind that there is a degree of chance/randomness and outright personal preferences when it comes to grant/proposal selection. It is up to the whims of deeply flawed humans working with limited time and understanding. In other words, there is lots of luck involved!

Miscellaneous

Support

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. And by Babycastles members. Thank you.