{"id":19,"date":"2012-12-12T20:32:23","date_gmt":"2012-12-12T20:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aerialdancing.com\/blog\/?p=19"},"modified":"2013-08-29T03:13:32","modified_gmt":"2013-08-29T03:13:32","slug":"grant-writing-for-aerialists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/grant-writing-for-aerialists\/","title":{"rendered":"Grant Writing for Aerialists"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"grant<\/a><\/p>\n

The Next Super Power to Add to Your Aerial Arsenal: Grant Writing<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Teresa Kochis<\/p>\n

One of my favorite pastimes as an aerialist is learning about the amazing double lives other aerialists lead.\u00a0 Contrary to popular belief, we don’t all spend every waking moment in spandex and capes in the secret hideout of Cirque du Soleil\u00a9.\u00a0\u00a0 Many of us carry an unexpected second set of perhaps more practical, but no less impressive skills to balance our superhero lifestyles.\u00a0 Not every aerialist is ready to divulge their Clark Kent \/ Kristen Wells alternate identity, but occasionally you may catch a glimpse.\u00a0 Some of my personal favorites: pharmacist, mathematician, rigger, mother of three and the list goes on.<\/p>\n

My double life…\u00a0 Development Director for an arts-based non-profit.\u00a0 Now I know development may not connote a life of glamour and adventure, but it has offered me some perks.\u00a0 One of the best is the ability to write grants for my own aerial projects.\u00a0 Since people are usually more interested in my adventures 20+ feet above the ground than they are in the world of professional grant writing and deadlines, I was pleasantly surprised when AerialDancing.com asked me to share some of my knowledge about this field.\u00a0 The truth, of course, is that knowing how to write a grant is very valuable for anyone in the arts.\u00a0 So listen up, aerialists; throw your cape back, pull your TheraBall up to the computer (it’s not always kryptonite) and prepare for a good 101 on grant writing.<\/p>\n

Why Grant Writing is a Super Power<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are some real advantages to knowing how to write grants.\u00a0 The most obvious is the chance that you may actually receive funding!\u00a0 For all you aerialists who are feeling a little tired of “art for art’s sake” and are sick of running on inspiration and dwindling personal funds to make art, applying for grants may be part of the solution.\u00a0 Grant money can mean the ability to compensate yourself and cover critical expenses such as materials, space rental and artist fees.\u00a0 Grant writing is an important tool that can help you reach and sustain your creative aspirations.\u00a0 Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n

\u2022Grants are a great way to support new work.\u00a0 From putting your ideas down on paper to working toward a concrete goal such as a performance or new script, grants provide a step-by-step process that can help motivate you.<\/p>\n

\u2022Grants provide an alternative to the for-profit marketplace.\u00a0 On the one hand, you can think of grants as start-up capital to help get your artistic ideas off the ground with hopes that they may one day be commercially viable.\u00a0 If you’re the type who takes one look at reality TV and doubts you’ll be able to commodify your passion, or wonders why you’d ever even want to, grants may be a good way to support your artistic genius without selling your soul.<\/p>\n

\u2022Audition your ideas, for a change.\u00a0 In a field where youth and beauty are sometimes as important as technical skill and performance quality in determining whether one is cast for the part or hired for the gig, grants present a refreshing opportunity to pitch your ideas and perhaps even challenge societal norms.<\/p>\n

Myths to Debunk<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022Grant writing is not a sure shot.\u00a0 I’ve had conversations with people who think that grant writing is easy, as though there’s a magical world of generous benefactors just waiting to throw money at you.\u00a0 Sorry!\u00a0 That is not the case.\u00a0 The reality is that writing a grant is work.\u00a0 If you’re considering starting a non-profit, you should expect it to be equivalent to the amount of work it takes to run a for-profit business and you should research the process thoroughly.\u00a0 It’s also competitive, with sometimes tens or hundreds of people competing for the same grant opportunity.\u00a0 So be prepared to work for it, but don’t be overly intimidated either.\u00a0 The hardest part is getting started.\u00a0 Once you’ve written your first grant, chances are you’ve created a template of language and gathered support materials that you can build on for the next application.<\/p>\n

\u2022On many occasions, I have spoken with artists who are frustrated to learn that some grants seem to come with strings attached.\u00a0 There are some unrestricted grants like Artist Fellowships, which the artist can use for whatever purposes they choose.\u00a0 However, other grants such as Project Grants or Commissions often have specific requirements for the use of the funds.\u00a0 For instance, in order to compete successfully for some grants, you have to provide a benefit to the community.\u00a0 Maybe that means incorporating a free educational or performance component into your project.\u00a0 Many artists ask, “Why not just support good art?”\u00a0 Though grants may vary in how much freedom they allow, I personally believe it’s a valuable exercise to think about how your work can and probably already does give value to the community.\u00a0 Providing a community benefit shouldn’t require you to compromise your artistic integrity.\u00a0 Often, it can help you grow as an artist and community member, while helping you develop and expand the audience for your work.<\/p>\n

\u2022Remember, aerial circus is an art and you can get grants for it!\u00a0 In spite of the wild revitalization of circus in recent decades, I’m truly surprised when people question whether circus is an art form.\u00a0 I challenge this idea and encourage other aerial circus artists to do the same.\u00a0 While researching this article, I contacted arts administrators from well-known arts organizations and encountered no bias whatsoever against circus arts.<\/p>\n

Hold Onto Your Capes!\u00a0 Do’s and Do Not’s in the Exciting World of Grant Writing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If, by now, you can hardly keep your fingers from flying across the keyboard, here are some resources you can begin to explore for your first grant writing adventure.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of resources online that offer grant writing tips, online or in-person courses as well as funder databases and search engines.\u00a0 The New York Foundation for the Arts offers excellent resources including the NYFA Source national directory of awards, services, and publications for artists.\u00a0 In addition, look locally.\u00a0 Start with your state or local arts council.\u00a0 These groups often disburse grants for individual artists and can help connect you to other resources.\u00a0 There are also published books available such as the Artists Guide to Grant Writing by Gigi Rosenberg.<\/p>\n

To help launch you on your way, I’m including a few of my personal tips:<\/p>\n

\u2022This may be obvious, but read the grant guidelines and make sure you are eligible for all the requirements.\u00a0 Attend scheduled information sessions and ask questions.\u00a0 Review projects that have been funded in the past.\u00a0 Some grantors are willing to answer questions via email or phone as well.\u00a0 Usually this kind of info is stated on the grantor’s website.<\/p>\n

\u2022Start your application well in advance of the deadline and make sure you address all of the questions in the application completely and succinctly.\u00a0 Proofread and have your friends proofread to make sure your application reads well and is free of spelling, budget and other simple errors.\u00a0 Follow formatting rules for work samples and test any digital materials on several computers.\u00a0 Paying close attention to the details will help you avoid early elimination in a competitive grant review process.<\/p>\n

\u2022Know and stay focused on your mission and project goals; don’t “chase the money.”\u00a0 Make sure the grant is the right fit for the work you are already doing or are firmly committed to doing.\u00a0 If not, there are better ways to expend your energy and time than applying for a grant that you probably won’t be funded for or won’t successfully implement.<\/p>\n

\u2022Get to know your community.\u00a0 An important rule is that fundraising is about relationship building.\u00a0 Attend information sessions for the opportunity to meet grant officers, the individuals who will potentially review and hopefully recommend your projects.\u00a0 Speak to artists who have been successful in winning grants in the past.\u00a0 Attend cultural and other community events to meet other artists, possible project partners and potential supporters.<\/p>\n

\u2022If you’re funded, congrats!\u00a0 If not, don’t give up!\u00a0 Follow up with the grantor.\u00a0 Often, grantors are happy to provide feedback on your application.\u00a0 This will help you strengthen your next application and stand out to the grantor.\u00a0 Both of these factors may increase your odds of being funded in the next cycle.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, I believe my job here is done.\u00a0 Thank you to NYFA and the Massachusetts Cultural Council for answering my questions for this article and to Andy Anello and Denise Falbo for editing behind the scenes.\u00a0 And thank you to AerialDancing.com for the opportunity to share my superheroine expertise.\u00a0 To all of you aerialists, good luck on both your artistic and grant writing adventures!<\/p>\n

– The Flying Development Director<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Teresa Kochis has practiced aerial arts for the past fifteen years.\u00a0 She instructs and creates original work under the title of Overhead Arts.\u00a0 In her double life, she is also the Development Director for THE POINT Community Development Corporation based in the South Bronx, NYC.
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The Next Super Power to Add to Your Aerial Arsenal: Grant Writing By Teresa Kochis One of my favorite pastimes as an aerialist is learning about the amazing double lives other aerialists lead.\u00a0 Contrary to popular belief, we don’t all spend every waking moment in spandex and capes in the secret hideout of Cirque du … Continue reading “Grant Writing for Aerialists”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19\/revisions\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.aerialdancing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}