I have a confession to make. For the first few years of my career, I wrote grant applications the way most artists do – stare at the form until it makes even less sense, procrastinate as a stress response, write something heartfelt and vaguely important sounding, hit send at the very last minute and then panic–refresh my inbox every day for the next six to eight weeks.
I’ve now spent over a decade on both sides of Australian arts funding – as an applicant who has personally secured millions in grants, and as an assessor across state programs and international funds. Here is what I wish someone had told me before I wrote my first application.
