Most people err on the long side in their Guggenheim grant applications. 

This isn’t ideal.

Everyone is busy, including the jury members that are reading your application. If you make reading it easy for them (as opposed to the opposite) they already will be disposed to liking what you are doing. It’s human nature, clarity and brevity is attractive.

And it’s hard to be concise. 

Especially if you don’t have a second pair of eyes professionally editing your writing. 

For example, without our work together, I feel Vicky’s statement of plans wouldn’t have been as concise. 

The statement of plans explains what you’re going to do with the grant, and this is a crucial part of your application because it is about how you will spend the money if you win! 

Most artists misunderstand what the jury’s looking for here. “Statement of plans” is NOT asking for a budget or an “artist statement”. It is asking about what you will be doing with the funds if you win.

This is from Vicky, where she speaks about the process of needing help for getting this grant done right:

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After over twenty years of relentless writing about my work for various purposes such as grants, residencies, and biographies, I realized the need for direction, revision and most importantly, an objective point of view to guide me through the trajectory of my life as an artist. Brainard Carey was direct and purposeful in scrutinizing the various writings and the work. He guided me through the process that in turn has resulted in a willful piece of writing and a reexamination of my work that I can apply towards all future endeavors and can feel good about.

- Vicky Sambunaris (Guggenheim winner)

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When you work with me, I look closely at your art and your history to help you shape your presentation. I then help you apply using the expertise that has helped my five previous winners receive their grants.

This process includes a one-on-one, step-by-step procedure where I will lead you through this application - about how to write and how to proceed, and then I will edit with you by email as much as it takes until it is all done and submitted. 

I will also look carefully at your art for the round where images are requested, so that with an understanding of your history and work I can help you to choose the very best work and images to submit for the application.

That is how I worked with the five  applications I have seen win. Including the two. Same process.

Of course there are no guarantees, but I can get you the best possible shot at it. You will also have a powerful application in your hands that you can reuse for other applications and grants.