REJECTED
BY DESIGN

MANY ARTISTS' APPLICATIONS LOOK LIKE MESSAGES IN A BOTTLE TOSSED INTO THE OCEAN.

By Loukia Richards

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Before you apply for a grant, other funding, participation in a show, or a residency make sure that you really want your application to be successful. Most artists closely examine their portfolio to see if it meets the criteria, but few pay the same attention to how hard they are willing to work on increasing their chances of success.

SMCK Magazine compiled this insider's guide to why many artists' applications look like messages in a bottle tossed into the ocean – plus additional tips on how not to waste your energy and time applying for grants or award that you will not be awarded.

1. Is there an age limit – either stated or implied? Are you applying for a grant or residency that addresses, for example, established artists while you are still mid-career and you still have a lot of work ahead to reach stylistic maturity?

2. How prestigious is the grant or prize to which you are applying and who are the jurors? It is almost impossible for a juror to thoroughly review the applications of hundreds or thousands of artists applying for a prize or grant in the short period (sometimes just a few days) at their disposal to make a decision. Having a mentor to support the application makes jurors feel secure about their choice as they need to back their decision with arguments.

3. Local politics also play a role in the selection. Institutions, conservative by definition, often support artists who are locals and have already interacted with them and the local community rather than 'newcomers' or 'outsiders'. Include and highlight those connections in your application.

4. The more complex the application procedure, the less competition an artist faces for the specific grant or award other than their own performance. Specific requirements such as letters of recommendation from industry VIPs, press reviews, or other documentation of an artist's achievements discourage artists who submit the same standard portfolio to hundreds of juries. Application procedures that are connected to a lot of original work or involve hard tests or personal interviews by a committee are usually submitted by artists determined to receive the grant or award.

5. Submitting a generic application to multiple galleries or institutions is the biggest mistake an artist can make. Not only will they not be awarded the grant or prize, but they will also become known as an artist who does not go the extra mile to achieve their goal.

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Homepage: www.loukiarichards.net
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