Strategies for Supporting Authentic and Fundable Grant Applications with Individual Artists

Members of the Folk Arts Partnership Professional Development Institute, a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and American Folklore Society, will facilitate a discussion that explores strategies for developing accessible funding programs and offering technical assistance to invite participation from a broad range of constituents. Session facilitators will share approaches from their own programs through which they have encouraged folk and traditional artists to submit compelling and fundable grant applications that are authentic to their practice, projects, and life stories. Examples include consulting with and offering workshops to artists, simplifying language in grant guidelines and applications, and addressing various barriers that prevent individual artists from submitting successful applications. 

How are folk and traditional arts administrators at state arts agencies, nonprofit organizations, and universities navigating current federal policy changes in face-to-face conversations with individual artists who are preparing grant materials? How do cultural administrators support folk and traditional artists as they apply for local, state, and federal funding? What kinds of adaptations are taking place in the public folklore realm that support ongoing funding for artists and the communities they serve and represent? 

Session facilitators, Ashanti McGee, Brad McMullen, and Elisha Oliver share how they have navigated these questions through their work as Folk Arts Managers this year. Tanisha Brown serves as discussant. Forum participants are encouraged to share their own practices and ask questions throughout the session. At the end of the session, facilitators will share a list of resources they use in their daily practice to support individual artist applications and invite session participants to add to the list. Lastly, a summary of session strategies will be provided to participants to take into their own work.