CALL FOR STUDENTS AND ARTISTS: A GUIDE TO LOCAL GRANTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DURING AND BEYOND THE PANDEMIC
Apart from art initiatives, an Artist Grant is another route of financial support for the art industry. Here's a rundown of some that have been mobilized to aid our artists during and beyond the pandemic.
It’s indeed a tough time for everyone, especially in the art industry, due to the health crisis the world is facing. With most art spaces and galleries closed down, artists are shifting into online selling and virtual exhibitions to continue promoting their works. But then, art requires a certain amount of fund for materials such as paints, oils, brushes, and palettes for painters; then electricity to support electronic instruments or allowances for boosting and promotions for musicians; and then there’s actors whose pause in production led them to shift to online shows to earn indefinite tips. A major industry in the society that was hit with a major blow. You see, art covers a lot of processes. It’s also a business worth saving.
“Following your passion is dead,” says an article from Forbes last July 2018. A lot of factors weigh in on its context but one thing rings to us: people affixed in pursuing their passions were more prone to giving up when obstacles arise. That major obstacle has finally come and it did more than just affect one artist but a joint industry.
While it’s a collaborative effort to lift each other’s hopes and community through fundraising and art initiatives for displaced or affected artists, one may also take the route of applying for Artist Grants. These grants have specific requirements and may serve beneficial in getting by or starting up a business until the situation outside eases. It might be depressing times but there’s opportunities lurking for you to find.
Khy Khy, a visual artist from Tacloban, shares that she learned about the NCCA Artist Grant through the local art group ISLA (Island of Samar and Leyte Artists). After qualifying for its requirements, she received enough funds for her materials and extra for their home necessities. Khy expresses, “My advice for artists in this time of crisis is for them to keep on creating. Our industry is very important during these days. So use the situation as a source for inspiration, and keep inspiring and touching the hearts of people.”
In the case of Jstranzhur, a visual painter and entrepreneur, he read about the NCCA Artist Grant from a post which was taken down soon after on their official Facebook. A month after his submission, he qualified and received the fund to support his art business. For him who earns a living through both his painting and “microtransactions” such as reproduction of his artworks, the funds were more than enough to keep his business rolling and cover some household needs. Eventually, his collaboration with Patrick Cabral called Strangely Patrickular which they tagged as “Not a shirt, but fine art” launched during the quarantine period and it went smoothly as planned.
Now, that you’re pumped to learn that these grants exist, here are some Artist Grants that you can check out:
School Artist Grants
For student artists, these are some schools where you can receive several artist grants.
DLS-CSB
Pierre Romañçon Grant provides partial to full tuition subsidy for those under the category of financially-challenged;
School of Design and Arts Scholarship (SDA) for those who exude exceptional talents in art, multimedia, design, and music; and Office of Culture and Arts (OCA) for the ones who excel in performing arts.
These grants are regularly provided every year and was announced for SY 2020-2021 since last year. If you have clarifications, you may contact them on their website or email at [email protected] or call +63 5250722 (direct line), +632305100 local 1821 to 1822.
UST
They do offer Artist Grants but unfortunately they will be skipping it this year. Should you wish to pursue it upon availability you can check out the Santo Domingo De Guzman Scholarship for the Gifted which is intended for those who excel in arts, music and sports.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
The official government for culture in the Philippines. Over P63.8M worth of funds were allocated for arts, culture programs amid COVID-19 crisis.
For the initial assistance through the NCCA Assistance Program for Artists and Cultural Workers Under the State of Calamity, P5,000 cash were provided for artists and cultural workers who are not under an employer-employee relationship, no regular income, works as freelance, and whose main source of income was affected by the ECQ.
For the second release, there were two components. First was a continuation of the Cash Assistance Program and then the second was via committee-driven grants. These committees involve the following disciplines: architecture and the allied arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music, visual arts, archives, art galleries, historical research, libraries and information service, monuments and sites, museums, communication, language and translation, cultural education, and cultural communities in the North, Central, and Southern Philippines. Here, each committee has the call on how they will allocate and distribute the funds
Other existing grants can be found on their website and Facebook. These include Research Grants, Competitive Grants for project proposals, International Travel Grant when performing abroad, and more. It’s regularly updated so make sure to keep on checking.
Cultural Center of the Philippines
2021 Exhibition Grant Program
CCP has also updated their site regarding the skip this year to ensure the health and safety of audience members, artists, and employees, by closing parts of CCP to the public for a while. Requirements, guidelines, and components of the grant are listed here.
VAMD Venue Grant Program
As of writing, there was no news yet for this program. Considering that this grant provides exhibition space for artists, this may not be happening soon as currently parts of CCP are closed to the public.
