Enter the Arts Fundraiser or Dumbing Down For Successful Fundraising ?

I have had a lovely email back from an arts fundraiser (local) recomended by an artist friend of mine who is also using her services. She will meet with me early in the New Year , oh what joy if we can agree the time period required and price regarding my re submission, to a the leading funding body for the arts in the UK. Such is the way of things, as I is need to be able to concentrate more fully on art rather than being an arts administrator etc. I had a strange conversation with an artist colleague, after discussing how generally to be accepted as an excellent artist by ones peers , said same artists do not get funded in many cases. My own a case in point to date. I have directly received grants as such for development as an artist bar one for soudn engineering msuic technoly they padi 50% of a £2000 course I paid the rest myself . As I was more of an arts entrepreneur in terms of my own development. He began to recount his many refusals also of arts grants funds. As a result his advice was that you should 'dumb down' your proposals, emphasise how much you need 'their help' to succeed , dumb down a bit your achievements, capabilities and definitely your entrepreneurial spirit in particular, past excellence of what you have done and importantly hope to do, only with their help of course. He seemed utterly convinced that this was the way forward. I could not help but reflect on what he said and how this may apply for next year in an ever increasing competitive 'market ' for grants . I found it useful to refer back to the end of my March 2010 blog !

The Really Big Curve

What a big learning curve this year has been ...so many things went right (creative team champions, advisory group, writing the text, dramaturg, poetry writing, improved social media skills ie. certificate from De Montfort Univerisity used for arts work & to create interest in my poetic writing i.e.200+ people, first poem published in a literary magazine 'Hearing Voices' , the role & value of creative collaboration ) but also so many other very important things unexpectedly and sadly went awry too (grants funding , not being able to access approved funds to further develop project (can only access by getting matching funds) rescheduling dates/venues, Alan Sillitoe's passing etc.

My challenge is not to be frustrated (whilst dreaming of an Apple Mac pro (an essential basic but very important tool I need for the project to create & run everything ) but to remain completely focused but not tunnle visioned as I may have been before and definitely not assume to much on the part of others ! so an adminstrator has been contacted for their services to do funding bids entirely and I suggest this investment is the only way for an artist like me to go. I found one on a recomendation from an other artist colleague Mellow - we will see how we both get on...

However we continue onwards and upwards but more savvy to the ways of the arts world, with its really big competitive challenges. It is a comfort to know my inspiration is ever present. I recently attended an event Upstream for work, but could not help to be uplifted by the artists there. The conversation and shared experiences and my friend and colleague Gaylene'Gould's (Clore Fellow) concept of 'rebel dreamin' .my knowledge grows exponentially.

I have had recently the pleasure of seeing two pieces of poetry/spoken work, in a theatrical setting in my home town . One directed the other not, this has helped me enormously. Simon (he is helping with text and devising ) came along also for the second piece. I realise I have seen or been lucky to have worked with/alongside a number of of different artists - both regional, national. Excellent artists like ,Will Power, Jean 'Binta' Breeze, Joolz Denby, Benji Reid , Aoiffe Mannix, Salena Godden, Patrick Neate, El Crisis, Lebo Mashile, Lemn Sissay, Kat Francois, Floetic Lara, David J Pugilist , Michael'Sure Shot' Brome ' Zena Edwards, Polar Bear . At the end of this year, this deacade, even I am convinced even more of the value, of what this project is about, the people I am workign with ,are more than capable to deliver such a unique piece of work , that is so timely , cutting edge, innovative - so very beautifully BIG !!!