hint: do your homework.

Heart, 2004
Digital print on Kinwashi with rubber stamp
11″ x 14″
©2010NanciHersh



As artists, we are always putting ourselves out “there”; wearing our hearts on our sleeves, on paper, on canvas. We often find ourselves waiting for the sale, or acceptance letter to come through.
Our skins thicken, hopefully, as we feel more comfortable in who we are regardless of how our work is received. That’s all good to say, but how we feel can be another story.
I recently submitted a grant proposal to the Leeway Foundation for a project that involves social action in my community- a collaborative printmaking project with teen moms. My proposal was to partner with The Garage in Kennett Square who service teenagers in various after school programs that are free of charge.

So here’s the great news… the envelope arrived on Friday, a thick one. I was hopeful.

My heart still sank to my stomach when I took it out of the box.  Did I tear it open? No.  Did I open it first. No.  Did I have a little pep talk to myself. Yes.

The great news is that I did get the grant (yea!)… and I will tell you all more about it as it moves along.

But this I will share now. Lessons learned:

1. Start early. Leave yourself enough time to write and rewrite your proposals.
2.  If they offer free workshops – MAKE SURE YOU GO TO AT LEAST ONE.

By starting early, I was able to attend 2 which was helpful since in the first workshop I learned that my idea was good but that this Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grant has various specific goals and my proposal needed work aligning itself with their goals.  This brings me to #3….

3. Learn as much as you can about who is funding this grant and find out what their goals and mission are.

I am excited to be supported by this awesome foundation that supports women and transgender artists in the Philadelphia area and look forward to sharing this experience on my blog.

I’d love to hear about social action projects that you have been involved with or know about.

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