“Oh, yes, of course we applied for a grant, but we didn’t get it. I guess they didn’t like our application”.

Two sentences like these are often heard in the world of non-profit societies. Variations on the second of the two sentences are also common: “I guess we were unlucky with who was on the selection committee”, or “They said we didn’t fit their criteria”, or “You have to know someone”. However, one variation on the second sentence that is rarely, if ever, heard is “We put in a poor application."

This is an excerpt from a reprint of this very popular article by Graham Kelsey from our Winter, 2007, Community Arts Connect newsletter can be downloaded as a PDF file.   Please respect the copyright, which allows only for personal use.  For any other use, please contact us for permission.

Originally published in Arts North, Vol 31, Issue 4 (Fall 2006), pp.4-6.

Graham Kelsey is Professor Emeritus of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia and a past President of the Central Interior Regional Arts Council.