One of the best ways to spread the knowledge of applying for things and to get motivated to apply is by hosting get togethers.
What you’ll need:
- One or two people who have gotten things
- One or two people who decide who get things
- A bunch of people who would like to get things
- A quiet, chill space (maybe with a projector?) where people can talk and work
- Snacks (optional)
Time: 2 hours
Start with host intros and quick hellos for everyone in the room (make them super quick if there’s more than 10 people!).
Then have someone who decides things talk about who they are, where they make decisions, and what they look for. Ask them how their applications work, what they’d like to see more of, and what they’d never like to see again.
After, have someone who’s gotten a thing show the application they sent in that got them that thing! Ask them how they heard about it in the first place, how long they worked on the application, whether they thought they’d get it, and how the interviews or other rounds went. Then ask them if the thing was what they had hopped for
In the last hour, break into small groups:
- A group to help find each other things
- A group working quietly on writing applications
- A group that swaps and offers revisions on each others applications
That’s it! We recommend doing this a few times a year.
Help each other out and spread the word :)
Since 2016, Katrina, Kira & Sebastien have been hosting ‘Apply For Things’ workshops at universities like the Cooper Union, SUNY Stony Brook, University of Massachusetts Amherst, New Jersey College, as well as arts organizations and nonprofit spaces like NEW INC, NYFA, Urban Glass, The Knockdown Center, Groundswell, Impact Hub, Idea New Rochelle & more.
We’d like to thank all those who hosted us, took part and shared questions, concerns, tips & motivation, especially our presenters: Artists Alliance Inc, apexart, Chloë Bass, Cortney Andrews, David Xu Borgonjon, Onyedika Chuke, Johann Diedrick, Stephanie Dinkins, Eyebeam, Alessandro Facente, Hello Velocity, Ideas City, Felicity Hogan, Offshore Residency, Rasu Jilani, Ladi’Sasha Jones, Elizabeth Larison, Learning Gardens, Fei Liu, NEW INC, Francis Tseng, Jodi Waynberg & Amelia Winger-Bearskin; and to Myriam Doremy Diatta of Matter Mind Studio for designing and illustrating this guide.
This guide was developed in part with support from a Common Field’s Field Grant. Thanks, everyone!
If you’d like us to come facilitate a workshop, get in touch at info{at}rivet.es or visit www.rivet.es !
