As a resource to prospective applicants, we are providing tips on how to create successful grant applications based on experience as reviewers, grantwriters, and applicants. The first section has been provided by Creative Capital Development Consultant Nancy Scerbo , and the second is from Portland Institute of Contemporary Art's Kristy Edmunds , who evaluated Creative Capital proposals in 1999. We are also posting copies of first-round proposals from a few of last year's successful applicants.
Effective applications respond to the questions asked, in each artist's own voice.
As you prepare to write your own application, let us hear your voice and your passions for your project. And please follow the application format, answering all questions clearly and within the requested space limitations. Before submitting, ask a friend or colleague to review your application for clarity and completeness. If you truly need to use specialized or academic language to describe your project, provide definitions for unfamiliar terms.