Have a burning question about your artistic path? The enlightened ones will show you the way…
Q: I am an artist; where are the best places to look for grants (local, state, national)?
Erin H., UW–Madison
Guru Karin:
Start by looking to the University of Wisconsin Library System.
If you are not a UW–Madison student or faculty or staff member, and you don't have a community library pass for the UW Libraries, you can get a day pass at the main desk of Memorial Library. In Madison, the government sources for grants are: the Madison Arts Commission, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission, Wisconsin Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, and local businesses and foundations.
Best wishes in your grant hunting!
Guru Karen:
After you've looked to local and national public support organizations, as Karin mentioned, check into private foundations such as (locally) Madison Community Foundation, Foundation for Madison's Public Schools, Terry Family Foundation, John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation. Of course, most private foundations have specific interests, goals and conditions that must be met). Other communities outside of Madison have comparable organizations.
Support Materials
- PowerPoint presentation from the session “Show Me The Money: Three Grantors Tell All”.
Featured examples of grants:
- Madison Arts Program’s Artworks and Project Grant Samples (PDFs)
- Contract (PDF)
- Evaluation Package (PDF)
- Marketing Material Sample (PDF)
- Dane County Cultural Arts Commission Project Grant Sample (PDF)
- Wisconsin Arts Board grant (PDF)
This Topic’s Arts Gurus: Karin Wolf, Madison Arts Program Adinistrator and Karen Crossley, Director, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission
Q: I am about to graduate from school and have no clue what the next step is. I'd like to enter the professional arts work force, maybe even move to a big city—help!
Megan P., UW–Madison
Guru Tony:
Make sure you can earn a living while you're trying to establish your artistic goals. Rent, bills, transportation, food and even a little money for fun will have to compete with the "other” real world needs for your art: resumes, pictures, audition clothes, coaches, sheet music, self-promotion, etc. And there're all those LOANS…
So, make sure you can LIVE where you want to try to establish your artistic path. New York City is a whole different animal than Chicago, and L.A. is yet another world all together. Decide which market is right for you and plan how to get there and support yourself. THEN TRUST YOUR TALENT.
Guru Ron:
Find a cheap place to live, preferably with people you like (friends, or friends of friends), find a job you can stand (or at least some temp work), and spend your free time researching arts organizations. Make an appointment to show up and introduce yourself to the staff of where you’d like to work. Volunteer there as well and then keep your ear to the rails for upcoming arts jobs. In short: connect and then re-connect with people who are doing the jobs you'd like to do. This takes time so get going!
This Topic’s Arts Gurus: Tony Simotes, Professor and Director of University Theater and Ron Kuka, Director, Creative Writing Program
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