Applications are now open for the second round of ArtStart grants. With over one hundred, $10,000 ArtStart grants up for grabs, thousands of recent arts graduates across all artforms are expected to apply.
ArtStart gives artists who have graduated from an accredited artist-training scheme in the last three years, help to build an income-generating career.
‘ArtStart is a terrific initiative. The transition from training to professional practice can be challenging and ArtStart offers an early career opportunity for artists to think carefully about how best to set up their business,’ said Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett MP.
Grants can be used for developing skills and business support, renting studio space or tools, getting expert business advice, growing skills in marketing and promotion or putting together a portfolio.
‘ArtStart is the perfect building block for any artist looking to start their career. We hope to see a diverse range of applications from all over Australia and we are excited to be opening the grant scheme up to yet more budding Australian artists,’ said Libby Christie, Executive Director of Arts Funding at the Australia Council for the Arts.
Round one of the ArtStart grant initiative saw 53 successful applicants from around Australia demonstrate their commitment and long-term plans to build their arts practices. Grant recipients ranged from a lighting designer embarking on a career in theatre all the way to a music graduate developing a chamber ensemble.
'The ArtStart grant will give me the opportunity to really get my work out there. Not only will I be able to use the funding to upgrade my website and print business cards, but it will also allow me to take my art to New York. Meeting with American artists and organisations will ideally increase my profile and opportunities', said successful ArtStart grant applicant, Sandy Elverd (Adelaide, SA).
To apply for an ArtStart grant, applicants need to submit a written application outlining a simple five-year plan of activities they believe are important to establishing their practice. The ArtStart website guides candidates through the application process from start to finish, making it easy to apply.
Marking the launch of the second round, a video of the creation of a newly coined artform, Pogoism, has been made available to inspire eligible applicants to apply.
So what is Pogoism? It’s a group of pogo happy people bouncing on their pogosticks to paint a supersize masterpiece!
You can view the Pogoism video at http://www.vimeo.com/8955445. ArtStart grant information and online application forms can be found at http://www.artstartgrant.com.au.