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Applying for the California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship grants
By Mike Woolson
Marketing and Communications Director for the KONO Community Benefit District and Oakland First Fridays
February 25, 2021
1. ABOUT ME
· I’m Mike Woolson, Marcom director for KONO and First Fridays.
· Full disclosure: I’m not a grant expert. I’ve written several for First Fridays, got a couple, and learned a few things. The reason we’re doing this tutorial is because of a CAC grant we secured last year for the Spark Oakland Artist Accelerator, and I put this together for that program and invited some others.
· I also sit on a grant panel, for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, our cycle just opened for grants of $1K or so, with a general focus on supporting small, off-the-radar projects that target LGBTQ and other marginalized communities. For more info visit https://www.thesisters.org/grants.
· This is also the first time I’ve run a Zoom, if you can believe that. So I’m going to ask everyone to keep themselves muted if you’re not already. If you have a question please put it in the chat and I’ll answer them as we go.
· There is no one right way to do this. This is the way that works for me, but find what works for you.
This outline I’m is posted at Koreatownnorthgate.org/cacgrants.
2. THE CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL GRANT PROGRAM
· Grants are funds given out by organizations including governments, foundations, corporations to support projects or causes. As long as the grant criteria specified in the application are met, they don’t have to be refunded.
· The California Arts Council is a state agency which promotes California art and artists, they release about six grant opportunities every year with specific goals (Local Impact, Artists in Communities, etc). In most cases you have to be a nonprofit, or have a nonprofit as your fiscal sponsor, to apply. For this grant you don’t, but you must be 18 years old and a California resident for at least two years.
· This is a storytelling grant. Talking about your art is a gift, and you could argue that a lot of mediocre artists hit the big time because of the buzz they generated rather than the work itself. Don’t be afraid to ask for help on your application and invite harsh criticism.
· The application deadline is 11:59:59pm on April 1, 2021.
· The application is reviewed and scored by the Grant Panel, they have a six-point scale (basically, 6 is good and 1 is lousy). It doesn’t say how they apply it but I’d treat each item in your grant as separately scored and aim only for a 6.
· The panelists are selected after responding to an open call. There’s an expectation of experience in the arts. They ask for a bio and to “describe your relationship to or understanding of working in historically underrepresented communities.” It’s like drawing a judge, they’ll have their own perspectives.
· If approved, CAC will send you a check. There are only going to be 130 grantees total so competition will be fierce.
· After the grant cycle you’ll be asked how you spent the money. Bear in mind it’s these stories that the CAC needs to continue to secure funding for their program. If you have nothing to show for the money you may be asked to pay it back.
· I worked for a marketing agency for years and accidentally learned a lot about marketing. My focus is always on the Key Differentiator, the thing that makes you different from everyone else, that you do better than anyone else. That’s just one of many valid approaches.
3. WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE
Technically this grant is open to any artist doing anything in any medium. But there’s a clear emphasis on racial equity and social justice. From the guidelines:
The Individual Artist Fellowships program intends to recognize, uplift, and celebrate California artists. Fellowships will support artists from a broad spectrum of artistic practices, backgrounds, geographies and communities, whose work addresses themes including but not limited to race, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. In doing so, the CAC will showcase the centrality of artists’ leadership in generating social impact and the evolution of our traditional and contemporary cultures.
That doesn’t mean your work has to be all about these issues, but the process of your work should suggest a positive outcome along those lines (like empowering people, celebrating diversity, eliminating barriers and making the world a better/more just place). Work that facilitates change is generally a better sell than work that makes people think about change.
A great example here in Oakland are the plywood murals that went up downtown after the unrest following George Floyd’s death. It was a classic case of art stepping up at a critical moment in public debate, taking the unfortunate fact of plywood protecting shop windows and turning downtown into a gallery of impactful art.
Also from the guidelines:
Although not factors in grant decisions, we strongly encourage applications from individuals representing systemically marginalized communities, including but not limited to: Arab, MENASA (Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian); Asian; Black, African American; California Native American, Indigenous, Tribal; Currently Experiencing Incarceration; Disabled; Elders, Seniors; Latinx, Chicanx; LGBTQIA+; Low Income; Neuro-Divergent; Pacific Islander; People of Color; Rural; Returned Residents, Formerly Incarcerated; Students of Color; Trans and/or Non-Binary People; Immigrants (Documented and/or Undocumented), Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants; Unhoused, Transient; Veterans; or Youth 18 years of age or older.
I’d argue that whether implicit or explicit, these are factors in grant decisions. When CAC gives its report on how they disbursed grants, people will look for representation. So to the degree any of these categories is you, or your work addresses issues relevant to that group, mention it.
Check their definitions and use their verbiage. This is politics so always use the most politically-appropriate descriptor (ie, “Unhoused Persons” v. “The Homeless”). At the same time, avoid politically-charged buzzwords (ie, “Cancel Culture”).
The CAC always has to push back against naysayers, and prove that art is relevant and worth funding. Put yourself and your work in the context of our current national conversation.
4. ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FELLOWSHIPS
·
Grant outlines and rules are available on the site. Read the definitions of terms and use them carefully.
· Activity window is Oct 1 ‘21 – Sept 30 ‘22, you’ll want to have something to show for the grant by the end of that time. You will own all your work, but they reserve the right to use it in their promotions. Which is fair, but also speaks to another agenda to have work they’ll want to show off.
· Notice that the Submit button is right next to the Save button. It won’t accept a submission if it’s incomplete, but once you press submit you are locked out of further revisions, so be careful.
This funding is available at three levels:
· CAC Emerging Artist Fellows - $5,000 (approximately 70 artists to be supported)
Artists with between two and four years of artistic practice.
· CAC Established Artist Fellows - $10,000 (approximately 50 artists to be supported) Artists with between four and 10 years of artistic practice.
· CAC Legacy Artist Fellows - $50,000 (approximately 10 artists to be supported)
Well-established artists with 10 or more years of artistic practice.
I’m assuming most of you are in the first or second tier. Don’t be too hung up on exact definitions. One issue I have here is that my practice goes back more than ten years, but I can’t see applying for a Legacy grant.
I’ve been doing various types of art my whole life, but I could mark the “start” around an event like my first show, or being engaged as a documentary photographer for a specific event, or my participation in a group project two years ago. You can define your career in your story, but make a good case for it.
Check the guidelines and FAQs for quick answers. You can email the Program Specialists (they administer the program but don’t advise the Grant Panel), or set up a phone appointment (these fill up well in advance so if you think you’ll have questions it might be good to schedule one ahead of time).
Staff Contact(s):
Emerging Artist Fellows
Roman Sanchez (he/him/his)
Arts Program Specialist
roman.sanchez@arts.ca.gov
916-322-7122
Established Artist Fellows
Josy Miller, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Arts Program Specialist
josy.miller@arts.ca.gov
916-322-6385
Legacy Artist Fellows
Jason Jong (he/him/his)
Arts Program Specialist
The Legacy artists will have more hoops to jump through.
5. REGISTERING YOUR ACCOUNT
Log on to the CAC site, and go to Grant Programs and Applications https://arts.ca.gov/grants/grant-programs/
Select Individual Artist Fellowships
https://arts.ca.gov/grant_program/individual-artists-fellowship/
Set up your CAC account (screenshots). You are applying as an individual.
https://calartscouncil.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp
Follow email prompts to set up your account so you can log into the system.
6. FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION
A step-by-step guide…
A. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Provide a brief Artist's Statement.
Provide one sentence indicating your public/pen/stage name, your artistic medium(s) or practice(s), and the central community with whom you work. This statement may be edited by CAC and used to summarize your proposal in public documents.(50 words)
· This is your elevator story. Write it in the third person. Strip it down. One sentence means one sentence. Include what they ask for.
·
If you’re accepted, this is the text they’ll work from to describe you.
· When they say they may edit, don’t panic, that’s probably just about style.
· Select your level of ask, and enter the corresponding figure.
B. ARTIST’S NARRATIVE
Describe how you came to be an artist, your traditions or artistic practices, challenges and accomplishments, and long-term aspirations for your work. (700 words)
It’s the centerpiece that everything else hangs on (700 words is a lot, the other essays are 300 words). Don’t feel obliged to hit the number but be sure to hit all your points. Find a way to fit what you do into these points, but be sincere about what you do. Imagine having to read 500 of them.
How you came to be an artist: Make the story relatable. Talk about how your artistic practice helped you overcome a personal obstacle or trauma, or opened a new world for you. Talk about positive differences it’s made.
For example, for me it’s been a fascination with visual communication that started before I could read, it drew me into cartooning and the ways you can express ideas you can’t in words or pictures alone.
Your traditions or artistic practices: Work that celebrates cultural traditions can be a plus…an emphasis there should be on celebrating unheard voices, compared to the things we’ve all heard for years. This could also be innovative/groundbreaking, esp. challenging traditional assumptions about _____.
A unique practice, or a unique approach to your practice, will help you stand out. If your medium is broad (ie painting, photography) then find your differentiator within that, place yourself in the context of the world.
Challenges and accomplishments: This is your TV movie story part. Try to find a way you have faced a challenge, whether it’s personal or practical, and overcome it. The challenge doesn’t have to be directly about your work if it’s something that informs your work. The subtext here is they want to hear you’re not a quitter, that you will do great things with your grant.
Accomplishments can be personal or professional. Had work shown? Published? Been asked to speak or teach? Take a good look at all you do…by doing this seminar I’m giving myself an accomplishment to tout. Think about them relative to the level of grant. If you’re an emerging artist, just having found your voice and had some shows/gotten recognition/anything is good. Established needs to have a track record and a forward plan. Legacy should have work that makes us want more of that. It doesn’t have to be big things: volunteering at a school can be as persuasive as being Grand Marshall at the Rose Bowl Parade.
Long-term aspirations: Positive outcomes. Be realistic, be humble. You don’t have to change the world but you have to make a positive difference. Great to quantify it if you can (ie, Spark trained 24 emerging artists and helped them set up online businesses). 24 isn’t a huge number but it’s a real and measurable impact (and we’re still tracking stats so we can make the story moving forward).
Work samples:
Applicants must include examples of their work over the time period relative to the requested funding tier (3 artistic work samples for Emerging; 6 artistic work samples for Established; 10 artistic work samples for Legacy artists).
Documents containing additional video links will not themselves count toward the maximum number of Artistic Work Samples.
CAC staff and panel will only review the requested number of work samples (including video links). Additional/Extra work samples will not be reviewed, therefore please do not include additional work samples.
Use file names that are brief but specific to the provided content and to your organization. Any uploaded materials exceeding the maximum permitted for each field will not be reviewed nor considered in the adjudication of your proposal. For video and audio, provide start and end times for the portion you would like the panel to review in the Work Sample Notes field.
File Types and Restrictions:
• Images, audio, and video (links) should be recent, relevant and related to your proposed project.
• Documents - (.docx and .PDF),
• Images - (.jpg and .png) – resolution: 300 dpi; size: 800X600 pixels,
• Audio - (.mp3 and/or links listed on PDF)
• Videos - Video files and/or url/links in the fields below.
Are you providing video links in support of your work? If applying in Emerging or Legacy tiers and submitting more than 3 video links, you may list these additional URLs within a single document, uploaded to the field, above.
· These samples are your work itself.
· Watch your image sizes! Optimize JPGs. 2000px wide is probably more than enough.
· Use links for videos.
· Make the file names simple, ie: “Woolson-CAC-Sample1-images.pdf”
· Definitely submit max number of items! Video is great if you have it.
· I recommend stacking this a little. For example, a PDF file with multiple images rather than a single image file.
· Make it appropriate to your medium.
Sidebar:
· Documenting your work is critical. Sometimes it’s easy but some media require special talents.
· Be sure to thank/credit/respect anyone who provides you with work…their images are their art.
· Set terms with the photographer/videographer authorizing use and ownership. If you want total control be willing to pay for the rights.
Support Materials:
Applicants must supply a resume or CV and up to two additional supporting documents such as press materials, flyers, brochures, programs, newsletters, and other marketing pieces generated within the past two years.
· Your resume should be specifically tooled to this, with an emphasis on your art. But, it can include professional work, especially if it’s relevant to your art (ie, my work as a designer shows I can meet expectations and deadlines)
· The letter needs a valid e-signature, or a scan of a signed doc (which you can create in Photoshop if necessary, and authorized). Avoid just taking a picture of a signed doc, those are harder to read on devices.
· A web portfolio (either top level or page link) is a good piece for here, or a PDF handout…try to show not just your work, but your ability to talk about your work (it’s like a free essay).
· Think about creating work specifically for this (show OakFF art pages and Spark video)
Work Sample Notes:
Provide brief descriptions of work samples and other support materials. For video or audio samples, provide specific start and end times for the portion you would like the panel to review.
200 words
Reference file names and provide a quick explanation for each (ie, File 1 is a supercut of individual promo videos made by artists in the Spark Oakland Artist Accelerator). Less is more, just explanations
Impact Questions:
The next three questions all ask about Impact: Personal, Community and Social. It might help to think of this as one 900-word essay. Take that same message and run it through each of the filters.
C. PERSONAL IMPACT
How will the CAC fellowship impact you personally, artistically, and professionally? (300 words)
· The remainder of the essays are 300 words, so be concise.
· Don’t navel gaze too much. You can speak to your experience and whatever personal growth you may see. But also think in terms of practical impacts viewed objectively: how will this advance you in your career as an artist, and what impact that will have on your community/society/etc. Some of this can go into the next questions.
· Speak to any challenges you might face in pursuing your art (especially as it impacts social justice/marginalized communities).
· You don’t have to change the world, but you should have an argument for how it will make a difference.
D. COMMUNITY IMPACT
What relationships and engagement do you have with local and/or regional organizations and initiatives? (300 words)
· Note that they don’t specify “through your art,” and there’s room for that in your previous and next answers. They’re asking about YOU, and how you’re involved in your community.
· I have cited things like work teaching cartooning to elementary students, being a documentary photographer for arts orgs, involvement in 5TC and the Sisters. By offering this tutorial, I’m helping empower artists in the community. Even if you were paid to do it, go for the social benefit.
· Make sure what you do is relevant and offers real help to those needing it.
· If you can tie these to your art, that’s bonus too.
Letter of Support or Testimonial:
· No word count but I’d keep it to a page or two.
· Pick your writer carefully. They don’t have to be famous but they should identify themselves and why they’re credible (ie, “as a gallery owner/art professor/community elder involved with ___ for X years”).
· This can be a scanned, signed document; or a Word or PDF with a signature dropped in. For your records you should have a physically signed copy.
· Be sure the person wants to do this, and make it easy for them. My spouse has gotten requests for letters of reference from former subordinates who didn’t make a big impression on her, and don’t offer any help or personal notes. You want someone enthusiastic about you.
E. SOCIAL IMPACT
Share how your artistic practice, processes, and activities generate positive social impact locally, regionally, and/or statewide, addressing themes that may include, but are not limited to, race, diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or accessibility. (300 words)
· This circles back to the earlier quotes from the Guidelines. They are careful to say this doesn’t HAVE to do any of this. But the fact is this is what they are looking for, because it aligns with the overall stated goals of the program, and the government.
· Art descriptions can get pretentious, and one of the tropes is art that makes people view things differently or think a new way. But action speaks louder than words. With First Fridays our grants aren’t so much about what we’ll create, as how we’ll empower others to create.
·
Creating an opportunity, offering a lesson, working with people all probably count for more right now. For example, Richard Felix and ArtIsMobilUs, allows multiple people to experience the creation of art. 5TC offers people a chance to learn fabricating skills while working on large scale projects.
·
Again, it’s about what they can tell people you did with their money.
F. CERTIFICATION AND RELEASE
Just click the button (and this will probably keep you from submitting accidentally).
7. PRO TIPS
· Don’t write your answers in the application form. Copy and paste the questions into one Word or Google doc so you can bounce between them and align them. They’re all pieces of a whole. Show them to people and see what they think. Then you can paste each into the spot on the application.
· You and your friends/families may think your art is great, but don’t assume that about the panel. I always start a project like this by assuming no one gives a damn what I have to say, and it’s on me to engage them. Be your own harshest audience, or find one.
· The CAC will have to report back to the state legislature and justify their program as a worthy use of government funds. So they’re going to be thinking about outcomes, about the story they can tell of how you used your grant.
· The person reading your app probably has a GIANT pile to go through. They might even be reviewing all this on their phone. It’s in your interest to make yours as interesting and exciting as possible.
· Some of these questions overlap. Be careful not to be redundant, but do try to emphasize key messages tailored to the question…eg, with First Fridays our consistent message is that we’re an inclusive community festival that lowers barriers to entry for artists, performers and entrepreneurs increasingly marginalized by Oakland’s gentrification.
· Make sure you answer the questions! I’m on a grant panel with the Sisters, and every cycle we have to toss applications because applicants responses don’t answer the question.
· Obey the word counts (the system won’t accept more, and may truncate). Don’t take them as a dare.
· Social media is a big plus, it’s good to have a following. But different platforms tell your story differently, sometimes we look at an artist’s Instagram and it’s not clear that it’s all their work. A website is the place that best lets you control how you’re presented. But a social media following means your work attracts attention so make sure you mention that if you have one.
· Get this done at least a day before the final deadline in case something trips up. Errors will be flagged but are sometimes hard to track down. Also a last-minute crush of applications can crash their servers, so avoid that rush.
8. GOOD LUCK!
If you have any questions you can’t get answered, ping me at marketing@oaklandfirstfridays.org and I’ll take my best shot.
Other Resources:
The KONO Community Benefit District
https://www.koreatownnorthgate.org
Oakland First Fridays
https://www.oaklandfirstfridays.org
Spark Oakland Artist Accelerator
https://www.oaklandfirstfridays.org/spark-oakland-2020
You can view individual artist clips on the site, here is the superclip made to secure more funding for the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bogCU2Rdne0&t=41s
Candid
(formerly the Foundation Center, this is a clearinghouse for grant opportunities)
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