FEATURED ARTICLE
What Assessors Actually Look for in an Arts Grant Application (And Why Most Artists Get It Wrong)
By Cat Dibley Here’s the thing nobody tells you about arts grant writing in Australia: assessors aren’t looking for the most talented artist. They’re looking for the artist who can best prove they’ll deliver what they’re promising. I know. Devastating, right? But after a decade of assessing grants for organisations like The American Australian Association and Create NSW, I’ve read hundreds of applications. And I can tell you exactly what makes an assessor lean forward in their chair versus what makes them reach for their third coffee and wonder if it’s too early for wine. Grant rounds are open across the country right now — Creative Victoria's Creative Projects Fund just opened (closing...
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