So now, let’s get back to the grant writing process.
Several blog entries ago, I promised to be as transparent as possible about my grant writing process. I also promised to post some of my responses to certain queries on the Alabama State Council on the Arts grant application. I will do this today.
Section A of the ASCA application requested information about the applicant organization. This section focused on identification (name of organization, legislative districts, federal identification numbers, etc.), contact information, and grant amount being requested. It was all pretty straight forward information.
Section B requested some projected statistical info (who will participate in the project, number of participants, number of educators involved, number of artists involved, etc.), and “a brief narrative paragraph that summarizes your proposed project.” My brief narrative looked like this (keep in mind the strict character count I mentioned in an earlier blog post):
The Gadsden Public Library will offer a series of educational book arts programs to the public designed to instill an appreciation and passion for the book as an art form (from both a literary and from an artistic perspective), and to present book arts in an accessible way. Programs will consist of lectures, demonstrations and educational outreach in the following areas: papermaking, letterpress printing, bookmaking, altered book forms, and creative writing. The lectures and demonstrations will take place within the library facility; the educational outreach will take place at schools, an alternative teen living facility, and assisted living facilities. Additionally, there will be ongoing educational benefits after the project is finished through continued letterpress and papermaking outreach conducted by the library outreach coordinator.
Section C asked for a project description, which allowed me to flesh out the narrative a bit more:
The GPL Foundation seeks funding for lectures, demonstrations and educational outreach in the areas of papermaking, letterpress printing, bookmaking, altered book forms, and creative writing. Through these programs, the GPL will provide a variety of educational, hands-on opportunities for the community to learn more about book arts. Additionally, the GPL will purchase letterpress equipment to use for educational in-house and outreach programs. There will be eight total school outreach programs (to schools and living facilities) divided up into four days of papermaking demonstrations and four days of letterpress demonstrations. The GPL will host three educational hands-on demonstrations/classes for the general public in the following areas: papermaking, letterpress printing, and book making. Internationally recognized book artist Brian Dettmer will present a lecture on altered book forms. There will be a writer’s residency with Alabama author Irene Latham (author of Leaving Gee’s Bend, What Came Before, and The Color of Lost Rooms) that will consist of three creative writing workshops for high schoolers, and one public reading/book signing at the library. The entire project will culminate with the Print, Paper & Poetry Exhibition (P3), which will be made up of works from participating students and patrons. There will be ongoing educational benefits after the project is finished through continued letterpress and papermaking outreach conducted by the library outreach coordinator.
Nothing fancy. Just the facts. Which is hard to do sometimes if you are a fan of creative writing.
More riveting grant writing info soon…
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