CrankyBuddhist   the learning never ends …

As I was hunting and pecking around the internet looking for grant opportunities I ran across one that had to do with photojournalism. The annual grant is awarded to one photographer whose goal is to produce a book with a topic somehow related to world peace (gaining it, living it, searching for it, whatever).

I contemplated (and still am contemplating) applying for this grant. I was trying to think of an angle where I could continue my photo series on Maya archaeological sites, which, are really peaceful.

And then I realized that they are peaceful places because no one lives there anymore.

I’ve been heads down searching for art grant opportunities and then filling out the applications. In the US, grants for artists are far and few between and most of them are given by private foundations. It might seem that there are a lot of them out there, but by the time I read through the requirements, there are really not that many that I am eligible to apply for.

There are two that I’ve been applying for off and on over the last many years. They are artist-in-residence grants and are highly competetive. I just completed both of the applications and have sent them in. I have to say, that from my perspective, I wrote a couple of very good proposals. I’m actually very happy about how well written they were.

But because I am not in control of all the variables in reviewing applications or making decisions about who will be getting these grants, I have to be happy in the fact that I wrote the best applications that I could.

Now, on to the next one …