Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established creative, rejection hurts and can shake your confidence. However, it may help to remember that you’re far from alone. Arts funding is extremely competitive. For example, Creative Australia’s grant programs typically fund only about 15-20% of applications, meaning the majority of artists will miss out. The key is how you respond and move forward.
As writer Rochelle Siemienowicz notes, ‘It’s OK to wallow … for a few days. It’s OK to feel bad and sad and maybe even angry at the injustice of it all… It’s normal and you don’t have to act it out or suppress it.’ Give yourself a short time to process the disappointment: cry if you need, vent in a journal or to a close friend, or engage in a cathartic activity (like a run or loud music). Treat it as a temporary setback, not a permanent verdict on your talent. Remember that no feeling is final – as hard as it hits now, it will pass.
