Complex sentence: Grants were given from 1919-1954 to painters, sculptors, decorators, engravers, writers, and musicians--and grants comprised a cash award of six thousand francs per year for two years.
Split into simpler sentences: Grants were given from 1919-1954 to painters, sculptors, decorators, engravers, writers, and musicians. Initially, grants comprised a cash award of six thousand francs per year for two years.