Short-Form Writing
The Short-Form Writing category supports the ongoing practice of writers who regularly produce short texts that respond to current exhibitions, events, and issues in contemporary visual art. By “short” we mean texts in the range of 250-1,500 words. By “writers who regularly produce” we mean writers who, on average, publish at least one text per month in print or online (magazines, newspapers, blogs, or other independent publishing platforms). Short-Form Writing grants are $30,000 each.
Eligibility Requirements
Short-Form Writing grant applicants must
- have published at least eight pieces of writing related to contemporary visual art of at least 250 words each within the last five years.
Please refer to the guidelines for general eligibility requirements.
Writing Sample Submissions
The total of all three writing samples combined should not exceed 5,000 words. If all of your writing samples are less than 500 words each and you would like to submit more than three writing samples, please email [email protected].
Short-Form Writing FAQs
If I am applying as a short-form writer, how should I answer the project questions? Your application must be framed as a project. If you are applying to continue your current practice, present your project in terms of your interests (whether aesthetic, regional, political, theoretical, or some combination thereof). You may also choose to write a project description with a focus on a particular topic, or as an experiment with the kind of writing you would like to develop.
How should I answer the questions about contextualizing the project? In the field that asks that you to “contextualize this project in relation to existing writing on the subject,” you may write about how your short-form writing (whether reviewing, reporting, or feature-writing) relates to, or is different from, other arts writing.
In the field that asks you to “contextualize this project in relation to your own work,” write about what you hope to do during the grant period that you were not previously able to do; or, if you are applying to continue your current writing practice, write about how your writing contributes to the discourse of contemporary visual art.
Is the category designed primarily to support a specific sub-group of short-form writers? The Short-Form Writing category supports short-form writers writing on all areas of contemporary visual art and at all phases of their careers.