An artist's grant can be a huge boost for your work and your career as an artist. Getting an art grant isn't easy, but the money will keep you in supplies, help you out with the cost of a studio, pay for framing or other art-related expenditures. Some grants provide money so you can travel or work in residencies; others even pay for household and other day-to-day costs, leaving you more time to create. The competition can be high, but you can improve your odds on any grant.
Documentation
Take superlative photos of your work. This is the most important part of any application. Your work will be seen, and be competing, with images of the work of other artists who will be taking good care to prepare excellent pictures. Use a good camera in adequate light. If you can't do it yourself, find a professional or a photography student to do this.
Resume
Prepare a resume. The resume should list your education, art-related and otherwise. Omit employment and focus on exhibitions. List the exhibitions beginning with the year. Add to that the gallery or locale and city or town. If you are a beginning artists, list everything. If you are more experienced, you can edit, choosing the more prestigious shows.
Statement
An artist's statement is a brief outline of your work. It can be helpful to give the reviewers who administer the grant an idea of what your work is about. Some artists balk at writing these, but for administrators in a hurry, who are reviewing perhaps hundreds of applications, the statement can help. It also gives you a chance to contextualize your work on your terms. Keep it brief. One paragraph is usually enough, and don't exceed two. Write simply and directly. Have a colleague look it over for clarity.
Other concerns
In all areas of the application, make sure your prose is to the point. Use 12-point or larger type fonts. Follow the directives on formats for submissions precisely. And don't miss the deadline; many grants are rejected due to confusion over whether a listed deadline referred to a postmark date or a date of reception at the grant office. Double-check this point to be sure.
