The most important prerequisite for finding grant money for creating art of any kind is to actually be a practicing or trained artist. An artist has the same task before him in seeking grant funding as an entrepreneur, a writer with a hot new novel or a producer with a movie script. He has to not only convince someone with money that he has a good idea for a work of art, novel, script or business, but also that he is the very one who can bring the project off successfully.
A seeker for arts funding must have enough training and experience that a potential funder will want to consider his idea for the painting, sculpture, film or photographic essay that he intends to produce--at least enough to be willing to pay for it. Even if you are a highly regarded artist, it's unlikely you'll receive a commission for an unnamed piece of work unless you have a personal patron who is willing to fund anything you do. Such situations are extremely rare, to say the least.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a government-run agency dedicated to "supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education." The United States Congress created the NEA in 1965 as an independent federal agency. The NEA is now the largest funder of arts-related activities in the country, serving rural communities, inner cities and military bases in all 50 states.
The NEA supports fine arts, traditional painting, sculpting and graphic arts as well as performing arts projects and arts education projects. The NEA supports artists-in-residence programs, recorded video, audio or live performances of books or poetry as well as educational productions related to more traditional fine arts. NEA does fund the creation of original work by both young "developing" artists as well as projects with experienced artists producing their own works.
To attract funding for a project, you should have a solid track record in your field, advanced education or be a member of a targeted group for whom NEA wants to sponsor projects in the arts. Take some time to search the NEA website. Sign up for their regular bulletins and newsletters. The more you know, the better your chances of success. The more closely your project fits into the goals for the NEA's latest initiatives, the more likely your project will be funded.
Visit Grants.gov. Sign up for their newsletter bulletin and you will receive announcements of requests for proposals for projects in areas in which you have an interest or expertise. Often seemingly unrelated departments issue grants that an artist could collaborate with a group to be a part of. Collaborative partnerships can be created between artists and schools, scientists, nonprofits and recreational facilities. A rural development grant, for instance, can help set up an arts project in a rural community or help you become an artist-in-residence in a small-town high school art program.
Writing a proposal and collecting the documentation requires a serious commitment of time and energy. Your chances rise dramatically if your proposal is a collaborative project that works with existing groups and local communities. It can take months to write a government grant and you will not be paid for writing the proposal, so don't quit your day job.
Requests for proposal (RFP) are issued for very specific purposes. Often RFPs are written with someone already in mind as the recipient, but sometimes a project pops up that matches your talents, skills and credentials. Work on your grant writing skills so you'll be ready.
Government funding is also available for some arts projects at the state and local levels. Most people don't know that funding for the arts can sometimes be written into state, county and city budgets as line item expenditures with your project as the named recipient. You don't even have to necessarily fill out a formal application for such funding; just get your state representative or senator to slip the item into the budget. Some regional quasigovernment agencies like Councils of Government and Workforce Boards or state Arts Councils or Education Departments also serve to channel government dollars.
The requirements made by private foundations, corporations and individuals who fund the arts are much the same as those made by government agencies. To find sources of private funding, visit your local library, the United Way or a regional nonprofit management center. These facilities have free resources and staff to help you find foundations whose missions match the goals of your arts project; they will help you familiarize yourself with various funders and may even help you write letters requesting applications.
The way to land an arts grant is to create a project that excites your community or an educational institution or a civic group--someone who can help influence funders to provide you with money you need. Letters of support, especially from politicians, famous people and prominent citizens, can also help.
You'll have to be willing to earn your wings as an artist or producer of art before you apply for a grant. It helps if you have an advanced degree in the subject, but even without it, if your art attracts attention and support from the community at large, you have a much better chance at winning a grant than if you are an unknown with no support.