Art & Money – Part 3: The Grant Game

Art & Money – Part 3: The Grant Game

For many artists, grants are seen as a lifeline — a way to keep creating when commercial sales or residencies don’t pay the bills. On paper, it sounds fair: governments and councils distribute public money to support culture and creativity.

But in reality, the grant system is often complicated, competitive, and discouraging. Applications take weeks to prepare, success rates are low, and biases toward established names mean emerging or marginalized artists are left behind.

The Application Grind

• Dozens of pages of proposals, budgets, and support letters are often required.
• Artists end up spending precious time writing about their art instead of making it.
• For those without strong English or administrative skills, the system itself becomes a barrier.

Who Gets Funded?

Research has shown that larger organizations, established artists, and those with insider connections have a higher chance of being funded. Meanwhile, grassroots creators and communities often struggle to break through.

This creates a vicious cycle: those who already have support continue to get it, while others are left chasing scraps or giving up altogether.

The Emotional Toll

Rejection is part of the process, but constant rejection can be crushing. Many artists describe grant writing as a demoralizing game that forces them to package their creativity into rigid boxes just to fit the funding model.

Possible Solutions

• Simplify application processes with shorter forms or video submissions.
• Set aside funding streams specifically for emerging and local artists.
• Introduce random selection models for smaller grants to reduce bias.

Questions to Reflect On

• Have you ever applied for a grant? What was your experience?
• Should grant programs be judged by panels, or would random lotteries be fairer?
• How can funding bodies ensure equity and accessibility in their processes?

This is Part 3 of our Art & Money series. Next time, we’ll explore Exposure vs Exploitation — the myth that working for free can launch an artist’s career.