Funding for Community Arts Projects
- The first step in obtaining a funding source for your community arts project is to develop a convincing, well-written proposal that defines your project's goals. Outline your specific budgetary needs and what shape the project will take so that your potential sponsors know exactly what they will be contributing to. Depending on the grants you decide to apply for, you may want to stress one particular aspect of your project in order to better appeal to the philosophy of the foundation you're soliciting.
- Applying for grants is a method by which you can pitch your project to a foundation that exists to fund artistic projects. There are grants available for all kinds of community arts projects, from international arts grants, to those that fund very specific types of projects or even support community art within your very city. Research the types of grants that pertain to your project's aims and find out all of the requirements for application.
- Looking for sponsorships is another way to develop funding sources for your community arts projects. Many businesses give away a certain amount of money per year to artistic endeavors, in return for having the company name mentioned as a sponsor of the arts. Research local corporations that regularly sponsor artistic endeavors and approach them with your proposal to see if they would be interested in contributing. Sponsors are often less stringent than grantors with their requirements for a project in order to support it, so if you're struggling with making your project fit grant requirements, it may be worth looking into sponsorships.
- Fundraising is another option for making your project become a reality, and it's one that can exist outside of sponsorships and grant applications."Crowdsourcing," which is a means of raising funds by allowing people to contribute small amounts over the internet, is increasingly proving itself as a viable method of bringing artistic projects to fruition. Websites such as Kickstarter and Indie GoGo have already funded thousands of community arts projects simply by soliciting donations from people online. More traditional methods, such as door to door canvasing, are also a possibility for raising funds.