[Jewelry making - Article 00862] - Re: [Orchid] Jewelry art grants

[Beth Wicker]

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    Altana - yes, I've heard of others in similar situations. Go to any
    art school in the country - any country! - and you will find plenty.
    I was once one of them. What do you do? You go find a job. Very
    simple. If you are lucky, it will have something to do with what you
    want to do, in some small way. Otherwise, it will pay the bills that
    allow you to do what you love in your spare time, until you can
    build up a nest egg that allows you to do what you love full time. Or
    until your mastery of your art grows until you are in sufficient
    demand for it to pay for itself.

    Making it as an artist of any sort is not easy. 

    Take some business courses; work in some galleries or jewelry stores
    or craft stores - see what it is like. Learn the business.

    Don't look for handouts. There aren't any. Look at the economy -
    folks are loosing their houses and jobs right and left - you think
    there will be money to pay you for finishing school and opening a
    business??? Think again.

    There ARE student loans, if you qualify. There are business loans;
    again - if you qualify. You should have enough cash to not break even
    for several years when starting a business....I can't remember how
    many they say, but I know it takes most businesses several years to
    establish themselves. There are a number of business groups that
    will help you create business plans and get prepared to start a
    business. Check with your local chamber of commerce or better
    business bureau for ideas. Many have mentors.

    Quite wasting time looking for grants that don't exist....if this is
    what you really want, go to work to make it happen. It can, and for
    some it does, but it takes a lot of hard work, and a good bit of old
    fashioned luck doesn't hurt! 

    That said, once you are somewhat established, your state arts
    commission may have some emerging artist grants, or annual artist
    grants, that you might apply for. Not in the price range you were
    stating! I have gotten several small grants through the years to
    allow me to get additional training, or to travel for my work. They
    all then required me to exhibit work in the state as part of the "pay
    back" of the grant. 

    Some states also have artist residency programs. SC has one that
    provides artists for the schools for a week at a time. It has
    changed radically over my career, and you now set your own pay scale
    with the schools. If they like you and what you plan to do with their
    students, and have the money, they will hire you. If not, they won't.
    When I started I got paid $500 a week. Now I get $1500 a week plus
    housing. On the other hand, when I started it cost $35 for a good
    motel room, and gas was well under a $1 a gallon. Now a decent motel
    room will run at least $75 and lucky to get it that cheap, and gas is
    between $2.60 and over $3 a gallon. And supplies have gone up
    accordingly. 

    I hate to rain on your parade, but get out there and work and your
    dreams may come true. Spend your time hunting for nonexistent
    grants, and they never will. Sorry. Reality can be painful. 

    Good luck though!
    Beth in SC

    PS - if anyone actually knows of any money out there to be given,
    I'm sure plenty of us would be delighted to apply for it!
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