#285 - Top Tips When Obtaining Funding
Know were grants come from
Understanding how the ecosystem of grants related to the current music industry works not only allows you to target the logic of grant allocations, but also to better build your argument.
The public authorities
The professional sector
Research which funding is right for you
Before undertaking any grant application process for your musical project, it is imperative that you :
Assess the demand
Know what you are applying to
Take into account the deadline for each application
This means that you need to explore each funding scheme in depth and target those that best correspond to the needs and ambitions of your musical project. Don’t hesitate to contact the funding organizations directly and check out their websites.
Adopt a coherent strategy to ensure an optimal result
It is a matter of finding the right balance. On the one hand, don’t be too ambitious. On the other hand, don’t think about these grants as the necessary cornerstone for the success of your musical project. By definition, the role of a grant in music is to support and flesh out the realization of a musical project. An ambitious musical project with a substantial budget will not necessarily be more advantageous, and will not have more chances of being selected than a more modest project. It is therefore necessary to build a rational and concrete financing plan.
Follow up on your requests
Once the grant applications have been completed and sent, the process does not stop there. To maximize your chances of receiving a positive response and finally obtaining financial assistance to develop your musical project, it is good to follow the status of the process carefully, to be reactive and to respond expressly to each request for additional information from the funding agencies.
Be patient
There is no magic formula for success. Applying for a grant for your music is often a daunting task and requires a scrupulous respect of administrative obligations. It can take several weeks or even months – depending on the amount of paperwork involved – to put together an application that is eligible for grants. Having someone else review your application to get a broader view of your needs is also worth considering. And if you are turned down, don’t get discouraged and try to build on the experience. Even if the granting agencies do not communicate much about decisions, do not hesitate to contact them directly for a detailed report.
