Artists seeking to further their careers are constantly submitting proposals, including grant applications, public art proposals, and commissions. I was reminded this week how critical a good proposal is when the giant blue bear started going up outside of the Denver Convention Center. As I recall from a panel discussion I attended, this sculpture, by local Lawrence Argent, won the project because the artist proved he could do it. In other words, there were no holes in his proposal.

Whenever you have to submit a proposal, make sure it's solid by following these eight steps.

1. If application guidelines exist, read them. Read them again and again, highlighting the important parts and making sure your project is a good fit.

2. Understand your project fully. Make sure you can do it and that you can articulate as much. Is your budget complete and realistic? Do you need to hire additional help? What kind of a model would help readers visualize your project?

3. Always keep the beneficiaries in mind. Are they the public? The workers in a large corporation? Who will benefit from your project and are you addressing their concerns?

4. Aim for clarity. Emphasize key points in the first paragraph and grab the imagination and attention of the reader.

5. If the organization offers help with proposal writing, take it! You will get to know the staff and will, as a result of your dialogue, submit a far better proposal than if you did it alone.

6. Allow yourself plenty of time. Do not write a proposal the night before. You must have time to change, rearrange, and edit your content.

7. Have at least one other person read your proposal. This falls into the "duh" camp. Editors exist because everyone needs one. A non-biased set of eyes can see holes in your proposal that you can't.

8. Go back to the guidelines and make sure you have your supporting materials in order before you send it in. The length should be within limits and, as a general rule, you shouldn't submit anything that isn't requested.

KNOW THIS----------~> Submitting proposals is part of a professional artist's career.

THINK ABOUT THIS---~> Submitting proposals is easier when you are organized and working well ahead of the deadline.

DO THIS------------~> Submit a solid proposal. Copy and paste the eight steps above into a new document you can use as a checklist for future proposals. Email me if I left something out.

Portfolio reviews and website critiques are also available.

EBSQ is pleased to publish Alyson's work as a regular feature to the EBSQ Zine.