Today, I wrapped up the final report for my first Professional Development Grant through the Regional Arts and Culture Council. The grant monies I received went towards redesigning my website and branding. It’s sort of a remarkable way to end 2010…looking back on this project that got me investigating the world of grants and fellowships and artist-in-residencies (oh my).

Over the past year I applied for two grants, one fellowship, one artist in residency and one guest instructor position. So far, I received this grant and I learned:

Do see rejection simply as information and a chance to change or grow with that knowledge. It’s better than wallowing and I always find I’m rejected for reasons different than I thought. I know this because I make it a habit to send a follow-up email and ask for feedback.

Do see applications as a chance to get my work in front of new people as potential for opportunity. I never know who is sitting on the committee that will remember me in the future or where that will lead.

I’m very grateful for the opportunity that this grant provided. In addition to the realizations listed above I also discovered a mind-shift that was lying dormant. There is something about winning an award – especially when you expose yourself and ask someone to validate your work – that ups the confidence. Its subtle, but I notice it in the way I talk to people and present my work.