Southwest State Arts Grants
Grants for Poets and Writers in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada
Writing grants are available from state art commissions for poets and writers in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.
Grants provide money for artists to work on specific projects, to further their careers, or as recognition for outstanding contributions in their fields. Artist categories range from dance to visual arts to literature; the literature area may be open to any creative writing, or divided between poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, etc., on different years.
In general, applicants must be residents of the state, must be over 18 or 21, and must not be pursuing a college degree or certificate. Read Applying for an Arts Grant for tips.
Grants for writers come in several forms:
- Matching, where the organization will fund part of your project.
- Non-matching, where the amount does not require money from you or other contributors.
- Specific project expenses, such as travel, research, supplies, etc.
- Professional development, which is often set up for workshops, conferences, retreats, etc., that will help you as a writer.
- Fellowships, highly competitive awards for writers based upon the quality of their previous work. Always non-matching.
Arizona Grants for Writers
- Artist Career Advancement Grant: Up to $750 for opportunities that will advance the careers of professional and emerging writers, such as mentoring, conferences, agent meetings, etc. The awards are based on artistic merit and career impact. Year-round deadline, but funding may not be available through the entire fiscal year.
- Professional Development Grant: Up to $500 to attend out-of-state retreats, conferences, and workshops (as a participant, not speaker). Year-round deadline.
- Artist Project Grant: Up to $5,000 to allow time to research and create new work. The awards are based on the quality of the proposed work and the artist’s past work. The 2007 deadline was in September. The 2008 deadline will be announced in May 2008.
Contact the Arizona Commission on the Arts for more information.
New Mexico Grants for Writers
New Mexico offers grants to organizations and arts councils, but not to individual artists at this time.
Visit New Mexico Arts for current information.
Nevada Grants for Writers
- Jackpot Grants: Up to $1,000 to support new projects or for activities to further an artist’s career, including attending conferences and seminars. Artists must be at least 21 years old. Quarterly deadlines in February, May, August and November.
- Artist Fellowship: Three $5,000 awards in literary arts are awarded each year for artist support and career enhancement. Three $5,000 honorable mentions are also awarded. The fellowships are very competitive and are based on creativity, consistency of body of work, and “evidence that artwork reflects on-going, serious, and exceptional aesthetic investigation.” Artists must be at least 21 years old, and a free public presentation is required during the year. Deadline is April 11, 2008.
For more information, visit the Nevada Arts Council.
See Applying for Writer’s Grants for tips on applying, as well as links to grants for other states.
