Grant Writing 101: How to write an artist CV

I know the pools are still open, and we’re still subsisting on popsicles and ice cream truck soft serve, but grant season is coming, and no matter what grant you’re applying for, you’ll need an artist CV.

When I’m not working on my own writing, I write grants for artists, and the first thing we do is get their artist CV in tip-top shape.

It’s important to note that generally, the purpose of an artist CV is to determine eligibility for a grant. Does the grant say you have to have X number of publications to be eligible to apply? This is where you put it all down. 

What is the difference between an artist CV and “work” CV?

An artist CV is NOT a job-job CV. The order of information is different, and most importantly, the focus is different. The purpose of an artist CV is to show your artistic work only. No need to include your work as a barista, or swim instructor. 

And, it does not have to look fancy or be designed. Simple works!

Note: It generally has to be three pages or less.

Essential: Intro

After your full name and contact info, you can include a paragraph about your work as an artist, or not! Your choice. 

Essential: Publications

This section is essential as it is going to show the grant officer/jury that you’re eligible for funding. I like to list my publication credits by genre—books, anthologies, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc. 

Every granting body asks for a little something different when it comes to publication credits—some want the date, some want the location, some want the number of pages—so I like to have one CV that covers all the bases, so I include:

- the year of publication

- the name of the publisher

- the city the publisher is based in

- the number of published pages (or indicate “online”)

- I often include confirmed forthcoming publications, because why not! 

What if you have no publishing credits?

If you’re just starting out and you don’t have any publishing credits, the Canada Council has a great program for early career artists (and there’s no age cap, because we all know that emerging has nothing to do with age!) And in this case, you don’t have to include publishing credits. Huzzah!

Not essential: Readings, festivals, residencies

After the list of publications, I include anything else that is writing related: readings, festivals and/or residencies. Remember, these are not essential and you can always add them as you build your career.

Not essential: Relevant education

This section is for education that is relevant to your work as an artist and it does NOT have to be from a university or post-secondary education. Include workshops you’ve attended, or mentorships you’ve had—anything that’s helped you explore your craft. 

If you have a degree in Biology, or an MBA, or a certificate in plumbing, you do not have to include it in an artistic CV (unless, of course, it’s relevant to your artistic practice, in which case, of course include it!!)

Not essential: Awards/teaching gigs/juries, etc

Again, this section is not essential, but you can include anything else that might be relevant to your artistic career here including awards, grants, teaching gigs, juries you’ve sat on, etc.

Ordering your artistic CV 

This is the order I suggest writers use for their artistic CVs:

Necessary components:

• Name, contact info
• Publications by genre (including date, publisher, number of pages (or indicate “online”)

Potential components (that are NOT necessary!):

• Reading
• Festivals
• Residencies
• Relevant education (including workshops, mentorships)
• Awards
• Anything else! Teaching gigs, juries, etc

Note: If you’re looking for more support with grant writing, I’ve written a lot more about grant writing here at Open Book:

Grant writing: Part 1

Grant writing: Part 2

I got a grant…now what?

You didn’t get a grant…now what?