Advice on Grants / Funding for Photography Workshops

Hi,
I'm looking for any advice or information regarding obtaining funding for photography workshops. Basically, I am in a situation where I was not able to afford attending an expensive art school, and have spent several years worth of intensive independent study on photography and art history, as well as developing my own body of work. I would like to further my knowledge and experience through attending workshops, but there are of course some financial obstacles in my way. If anyone would happen to know of any specific artist grants or scholarships that I can look into, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

A lot depends what country you're in. I'd approach the workshops themselves and see if they know of any grants or funding. You need to contact your local arts body. There's a knack to making funding applications, it's useful to get hold of copies of successful applications.

Here in the UK it's sometimes the workshops themselves that used to be partially funded, but arts funding has been cut drastically. We have Artists Newsletter which is a useful source of information and they publish various guides etc.

Ian

An expensive art school is the LAST place someone would go to learn anything, especially at a university (them that can't, etc). Art is not engineering or neurobiology. One gets good by working consistently. Studying under a really, really good artist, one learns a little, but it's a bit dangerous. Like the old saying, nothing grows under the shade of a great oak, so it's easy to just turn into a lesser sort of copy of who you are studying under. So, you need materials and the time basically. Not a grant. Grants come w/ strings anyway. What self respecting artists does things someone else's way?

Most good artists won't teach anyone else anyway, they're too busy working on their own work. Hanging out w/ some working artists will give you a few good ideas, possibly. If nothing else, you'll learn to drink quite well. and learn patience dealing with some pretty strange folk who basically have one focus....their work.

Drawing is a learned skill and needs constant practice, or like a musician, you lose your chops and have to sorta start all over again, which is no big deal really. And lastly, but most importantly, artists either have that eye, passion and drive, or they don't. Only you would know that.

momus said:

An expensive art school is the LAST place someone would go to learn anything, especially at a university (them that can't, etc).

Click to expand...

Did you attend an art school? You're painting the experience with a broad brush.

Ian Grant said:

A lot depends what country you're in. I'd approach the workshops themselves and see if they know of any grants or funding. You need to contact your local arts body. There's a knack to making funding applications, it's useful to get hold of copies of successful applications.

Here in the UK it's sometimes the workshops themselves that used to be partially funded, but arts funding has been cut drastically. We have Artists Newsletter which is a useful source of information and they publish various guides etc.

Ian

Click to expand...

I live about an hour outside of NYC, where a degree from a top art school costs about 150K, or about 300,000gbp. Even with grants and government financial aid its impossible for me to afford that. I've attended photography classes at the local community college where the arts program is poorly funded and facilities are sadly decrepit and haphazard. While I'd rather not get into the politics of the true motivating factors behind schools like Pratt and SVA, I will say that the price to attend is highly prohibitive. I've spent alot of time doing my own independent research and study, both on the technical and the theoretical side of things, I've covered everything from Ansel Adams camera, negative and print trilogy to Roland Barthes, Sontag and Geoff Dyer (reading lists for MFA programs at schools such as SVA are easily obtainable online).

My motivation for attending a workshop is that I'm increasingly interested in the social documentary side of things, and there are specific workshops offered by photographers who's working methodology is of great interest to me - as well as access to settings and situations that would ordinarily not be easy for me to obtain.

I've read of grant writing workshops which are supposed to be of help, looking for successful proposals is certainly a good idea.

JWestern said:

I live about an hour outside of NYC, where a degree from a top art school costs about 150K, or about 300,000gbp. Even with grants and government financial aid its impossible for me to afford that. I've attended photography classes at the local community college where the arts program is poorly funded and facilities are sadly decrepit and haphazard. While I'd rather not get into the politics of the true motivating factors behind schools like Pratt and SVA, I will say that the price to attend is highly prohibitive. I've spent alot of time doing my own independent research and study, both on the technical and the theoretical side of things, I've covered everything from Ansel Adams camera, negative and print trilogy to Roland Barthes, Sontag and Geoff Dyer (reading lists for MFA programs at schools such as SVA are easily obtainable online).

My motivation for attending a workshop is that I'm increasingly interested in the social documentary side of things, and there are specific workshops offered by photographers who's working methodology is of great interest to me - as well as access to settings and situations that would ordinarily not be easy for me to obtain.

I've read of grant writing workshops which are supposed to be of help, looking for successful proposals is certainly a good idea.

Click to expand...

I have an excellent book on writing Grant & Funding applications while it's a British publication the principles don't change, I'm not sure where it is (I moved recently). Also AN (Artists Newsletter) published a book called "Making Ways" it's about finding ways forward for artists. You might look at the AN website they ahave lot of fre PDFs with useful information, they are funded by our Arts Council. While specific examples will be to UK organisations I know from visiting NY State (Rochester) that you have quite similar organisations in the US, usually better funded.

I can understand what you're after I went through a similar process in the late 80's, I was fortunate to be able to fund workshops etc and became involved with arts/photography through a regional arts funded Photography coordinator. You need to get networking to build up contacts etc.

Two friends from University worked as technicians in Photography departments in local colleges to fund their part time Masters degree courses, you have to think laterally.

Ian

Momus since I went to such an art school I have to disagree with you most people that go to those art school have to have a portofolio before they start that school in short they should already know the basics. The reason to go to such a school is called connection and networking in some countries it's hard to get public funding or jobs without a degree from such a school. You also learn the talk and you also get inspired (which can happen at workshops as well). Successful artists do teach at such schools not full time but at least part-time.

As to the OP since you live in the US you don't need art school workshops should help but you still need to network in order to be successful.

A good friend of mine a pro skater who also enjoys some success as skater photographer once told me there are dozens of better skater than me I wasn't chosen because I was good at skating but because I was good at selling myself and the sponsors liked my behavior the same applies to art. The best portofolio is worthless if you can't sell yourself.

If you want funding try to find out who is responsible for the grants and funding and try to get a connection to the persons if they are artists go to their vernissages and I believe the english word is schmooze and suck up to them but not too obvious. They might also be willing to help you if you ask them personally make them part of the process. If they are part of the process they are more willing to give you funds.

Ian thank you for the link interesting site.

Check with some of the larger workshop groups -- such as Maine Media Workshops -- http://www.mainemedia.edu/workshops/about/scholarships

I paid for my first workshop back in 1985 -- a specialized large format workshop in the SW. I then got a scholarship (based on need and portfolio) to attend a Friends of Photography workshop (Carmel area, CA)...and another one the next year. Because I was happily willing to help out during the workshops, I was invited to apply as a workshop assistant (volunteer, unpaid) and for many years I did that. Incredible experience! As far as networking, it was very valuable. Many (most) of my fellow assistants have moved forward in their photographic careers...Stu Levy, Christopher Burkett, Elaine Ling, and so forth. I got to talk with folks like Sexton, Ruth Bernard, Richard Miserach, Morley Baer, Linda Conner, and on and on...I showed them my work, got great honest feedback, and saw their work close-up.

What was great about these workshops was that for a solid week, one did nothing but photography. Up for optional 6am field trips to photograph the local area, then talks, demos and looking at prints all day, and then talking (and doing) photography until 2 or 3 in the morning (made the optional field trips at 6am a little tough to get going on!) The workshops were 400 miles away, but worth the drive and gas!

So look at the scholorship possibilities, save your money up, and see about attending some good solid workshops.

Why do you want to attend a workshop?

I used to think it would be nice to attend photo workshops but after looking into sever I discovered they usually only had the following benefits.

1-photography fundamentals like the exposure triangle, basic composition etc

2-have someone who knows the area with you.

3- to socialize with other photographers.

For me none I those things were worth the high prices that people charge for workshops, and I already know the fundamentals of photography.

I decided to pick places I wanted to go then heavily search the area and go myself. It's much cheaper.

Why is it that the people who are most dismissive of art schools/workshops are those who've never attended either?
Like most endeavors, the benefits derived from schools/workshops is proportional to the amount of effort (and enthusiasm) the attendee brings.

You sound serious. Send me an email: michaelandpaula@michaelandpaula.com. I do not get here often enough to check the private messages on a regular basis.

Michael A. Smith