Courtesy Reminder: The applications for the Guggenheim Grant are due on about September 17th, in a little more than a 6 weeks. 

Spots are filling up to work with me, so if you are interested in learning about my fee structure please reply to this email as soon as possible. 

==========================================================

Applying to the Guggenheim Grant takes effort. But is it worth it?

What difference does winning the grant really make?

Those are questions you should be asking.

And only a fellow artist who has won the grant herself can answer them honestly for you. 

Therefore, I want to introduce you to one winner that wants to remain anonymous, I worked with her on her Guggenheim Grant application. She had applied 3 times before, and was rejected each time.

Here is a transcribed talk I did with her after she won the grant.

Come, sit with us, and listen as she so generously shares her story.

=========================================================

Q. How did it change things for you?

It was a great year, I took off a year, and got a sabbatical from teaching, and I had that money so I just worked a lot on painting. 

The grant is something that stays with you - you feel a part of something - you feel recognized - more than any other grant. The Guggenheim has a special character about it because everyone on the committee is an artist, there are no critics or curators, no art professionals, the jury is just artists - and that is really special I think. 

There is a lot of integrity the way they run it. I don’t think it's political, and I was really pleased with the results this year. People who won it make work that I think looks really good. 

Q. Could you tell me a bit more? How else did it change things for you?

My mother died just before I got it and began working with you, so it was a hard time and winning the grant was soothing and comforting, and especially being able to take a year off which really saved me.

You know you have it always (the grant) and it’s not like other grants, it feels like a lifelong thing. It’s not like getting an NEA or something else that’s just money. The Guggenheim feels like there is a level of respect that you get that you always wanted. 

It also feels very separate from the commercial aspects of the art world. It’s not about how successful you are or were in terms of sales. It’s more the content of your art and that you are showing and continuing to work. It doesn’t matter if you are selling or not, and that is a good thing.

Q. Anything to say to artists who have applied before and not gotten it?

Yes, to not give up because the committee changes every year and your work changes, everything is always in flux. It is not a final answer, so you should keep applying because there is always a different jury with a different attitude. I think it is also important to note what the new case histories show - that a strong exhibition record seems not to matter, just good work. 

=========================================================

The deadline for the Guggenheim Grant application is September 17th. 

Reply to this letter to ask any questions and also to find out the fee structure of hiring me to work with you step by step for every element of this grant including image selection and looking closely at your art.

I work with a total of ten artists on this on a first come first served basis and then it is closed. 

Whether we work on it together or not, I want you to apply anyway. It could change the entire trajectory of your art career. You owe it to yourself to give it a try this year.

Sincerely,

Brainard