Why Write a Grant
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- Last Updated: Thursday, 19 June 2014 19:43
Grants for Visual Art Education: Why, Where and How
A Three Part Series by Linda W. Kieling, Art Educator
Rosemont Ridge Middle School, Oregon
NAEA Middle Level Director-Elect
Why write a grant? The obvious reason is for money of course!
A big challenge for art educators is finding monies to support their programs and provide for student needs. In my situation I have 16 sections of art and the potential for close to 500 students. My school budget is $800, which amounts to $1.60 per student. Surely that is more than some and less than others, but not much to work with none the less. Tapping into the resources of available grants is one solution to this dilemma.
Grants are monies given to applicants from public and private agencies and are project based. Funding from grantors is available because they want to help you try something that is new and different. The project that you want to finance must have a sound impact on the learning environment and the students involved. Additionally, it needs to include measurable objectives based on the identified needs, not simply on wants and desires.
If you are thinking about this opportunity, you already know that you need money and are looking for creative solutions. You probably already have a possible project in mind. If not, consider developing a specific project that brings students and community members together in a meaningful way. Glazed ceramic sculptures or a tile mural that includes personal symbols, the history of the area or other real world connections could be developed for grant funding.
Certainly the process does take some time, but it can be well worth the effort. One approach is to hone in on a particular idea or project that you have developed for students and then investigate appropriate sources of funding. On the other hand, you can look into funding sources first and determine if any of your projects would fit their criteria or could be modified so that it does. Probably the best approach is a combination of these two methods. You do need to know that no matter which route you use, your project along with its goals must match what the agency actually wants to fund.
Finding monies to support visual art programs and provide for student needs continues to be a growing necessity. It is becoming increasingly important for art educators to take advantage of grant opportunities as one solution to this problem.