Starting a creative business is not easy, particularly for the self-employed creative professional who plans to make a living by freelancing. For those who are leaving a job with a steady income, the change in income flow can be devastating. A freelancer’s income is unpredictable, at best. They may be able to provide a steady stream of work, but they might not see an income from that work for weeks, months, possibly longer.

This type of new business is not usually eligible for a small business loan. However, an option for creative professionals considering self-employment of this type may be a grant. Grants are issued by the government or foundations and do not need to be repaid. There is an application process to any grant, and most are awarded on the merit of the creative professional’s body of work. Writers, artists, musicians, and others who apply for grants must demonstrate their professionalism and talent when applying for grants.

Show Us the Money

Grants are available for all sorts of creative endeavors. A grant could cover attendance at a writer’s conference or pay expenses for a ballet dancer’s summer apprenticeship with a prestigious dance company. Large grants are sometimes available to provide living expenses for six months or a year while the creative professional concentrates on an intensive project, like researching a non-fiction book or writing an opera.

The money is out there, but the creative professional needs to know where to look. A good place to start is with the Federal government. The National Endowment for the Arts is a good place to start. The NEA provides grants to outstanding artists of all sorts, but it also can direct the creative professional to state and local agencies that provide grant money. Another place to investigate is a local university’s creative departments. Bulletin boards in the arts, music, writing, dance, and theater departments often have information about grants available, or the department director may have some leads.

Applying for a grant requires writing a grant proposal. When writing the grant proposal, the creative professional must present a clear vision of the project and why the professional is the one person who can pursue this project. Follow the guidelines of the grant agency precisely and get an impartial person to proofread and critique the proposal before applying, preferably someone who has a bit of background with grant writing.