Arts Grants - Acceptance & Social Responsibility

[sapearl]

What are you feelings about applying for (financial) arts grants if you are fortunate enough to be in the position to fund your own talents out of pocket? Are you taking an opportunity away from somebody else who is less fortunate?

I have been offered the opportunity to apply for a local arts grant. There is no guarantee I would receive it as I would be competing against hundreds of others in the area.

The grant's purpose is to "strengthen .... the local arts community, it could allow an artist to quit a day job, study with another artist, or develop a marketting plan." The grants are merit based, and not based upon financial need. Applicants must submit a body of work to be judged by a peer board, along with a lengthy application. You would also have to submit a detailed plan stating your grant goals, which would also be judged for merit.

I am not wealthy, but certainly better off than many, having a good job and having always tried to be fiscally responsible. The grant is taxable as income, and it's award also includes membership in an arts group as well as inclusion in a publication. The money for this comes from cigarette tax.

The grant cannot be used to pay for school tuition or to pay off bills or any debt. The oversight committee will meet regularly with the award winners to make sure they are staying on track, and at the end of the grant period the artist must report on how the money was spent.

Truly, times are tough. As a result I have mixed feelings about applying for such a grant. Is it morally responsible to enter a merit based competition, whose main goal is to stimulate the local arts community, if you can afford to pursue this direction anyway, without assistance? I can see arguments both pro and con :rolleyes:......

What are your thoughts - thanks.

[neumanns]

I say go for it...

This is merit based not a program to open up arts to someone who otherwise could not afford it.

I see no moral conflict at all.

But if you do win, give it a wholehearted go. Not just minimum required effort to appease the board.

[sapearl]

Hi neumanns - thanks for the good input.

This is how I am leaning, but sometimes I overthink things and play devils advocate on both sides and especially because we are in a recession. The vetting process looks pretty tough and more minds than mine will make the final decision. But I do agree that the effort should be all or nothing - after all, the committee is placing their trust - and money - in the people they select ;)

[chauncey]

C'mon Stu

At your age, and mine, you gotta know what's motivating your query...can you say guilt. :lol:

Guilt because you're better off fiscally than others and because of that, weighing the merits of taking the grant
and taking it away from someone that you consider less financially fortunate.
All that BS is what you alluded to and it says that we are quite similar folks, albeit, princes among the commoners. :lol:

I can surely understand your quandary, in general, I've been there and done that.
We find a wallet on the street and we go out of our way to return it, but if I find a bank bag in the street...going in my trunk.
Hypocritical...it sure is. :oops:

There is a way out though...compete for the prize and should you win, that's when you very humbly express your gratitude for their decision and...
decline the offer, citing a slew of very humble reasons.

Gives you an outlet for your competitive nature and it assuages your moral quandary.

[Spacemunkie]

Why are you even thinking about it?

These grants come from funds that HAVE to be given away. If you don't get the money, someone else will. If you're passionate about what you do and you think it's of a good enough quality, why should you worry?

It's also paid for out of tax on tabs!! Don't think twice!

[chauncey]

Your right, someone else would.

But that isn't what concerns him.
His concerns are; perhaps someone else could use that grant to further their career, and needs that Grant more than does Stu.

I empathize with his dilemma.

[sapearl]

Ah, Chauncey my friend I admire your left-brain intuitive intelligence ;). What do they call these feelings of ours, middle aged angst? You have the xray eyes of Superman and can see right through me.

My problem is that I can usually see things from both angles.... simultaneously a blessing and a curse. I've done some more research on this grant and it truly is merit based with the goal being to stimulate the arts and to get anyone to create more for the public to appreciate.

I probably shouldn't moralize this. The yay or nay votes will basically hinge on two major aspects: a portfolio to be submitted, and a written plan detailing how the money would be spent. If the powers that be consider it worthy of support, they will vote with their wallets.

I consider myself to be a member of the middle class - my wife and I drive our cars for 7 - 16 years and we try to brown bag it to work whenever possible> Starbucks? Not for me. I grind my own beans and it costs me around 25 cents/cup. If I were a millionaire it would be a different story. The key angle is to do something truly worthy of the grant.

C'mon Stu

At your age, and mine, you gotta know what's motivating your query...can you say guilt. :lol:

Guilt because you're better off fiscally than others and because of that, weighing the merits of taking the grant
and taking it away from someone that you consider less financially fortunate.
All that BS is what you alluded to and it says that we are quite similar folks, albeit, princes among the commoners. :lol:

I can surely understand your quandary, in general, I've been there and done that.
We find a wallet on the street and we go out of our way to return it, but if I find a bank bag in the street...going in my trunk.
Hypocritical...it sure is. :oops: .......