PRISM Grant

Every year, PRISM Comics hands out a grant aimed at assisting in the publication and promotion of LGBT comics. The Queer Press Grant is an undisclosed amount that is granted to one lucky creator whose work is top quality (although financial need does play a part as well). The application involves the following:

Cover letter stating the project title and reason for interest to LGBT readers
Creator's statement of purpose
Business plan outlining fund spending
Resume
Financial Statement
Presentation of work in JPEG images

Interested applicants have until October 1 to get their submission in (email them to grants@prismcomics.org.

Full details after the jump.

Grant proposals must be submitted in the form of an e-mailed request and must include the following items (as either PDF or JPG format files):

1. Cover letter that states the project title and why the project is of interest to the readers of LGBT comics
2. Creator's statement of purpose (separate from the cover letter)
3. Business plan and budget detailing how funds (in US dollars) will be spent and obtained, including an intended time period
4. Resume (for each contributor, if more than one)
5. Financial statement (for each contributor, if more than one) -- use the form provided by Prism Comics and include attachments as required
6. Presentation of the work to date in JPG images, with an appropriate resolution that suits your work. Most submissions will be reviewed online, unless specifically requested otherwise.

When to apply:

Proposals are reviewed on an annual basis by the Prism Comics Board of Directors, with the Prism Comics Advisory Board being called in should there be a tie. Requests must be received by the deadline date to be considered at that review. Early application is encouraged. You will be notified by e-mail when your application has been received.

What we are looking for:

The submissions are judged for a variety of elements. First and foremost is the quality of the work itself; the level of the illustration and writing, the use of cartooning techniques such as panels, lettering, and page layout, and the thematic depth and ability to develop character and plot, for example, all play significantly in the decision.

Also under consideration, however, are financial need, the thoroughness of the business plan, and the presentation of the grant proposal. A well-written proposal with no grammatical or spelling errors, for example, can provide the crucial few points to break an artistic stalemate.

The work can be in black and white or in color, and in comic strip, comic book, or webcomic format. It must simply be what we would define as “comics.” Or, to use Scott McCloud’s definition, “juxtaposed pictoral and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer.” In other words, it should not be a prose story with illustrations, animation, or modern dance.

Sexually explicit and graphic material is absolutely permitted, but bear in mind that all material will be judged for thematic depth and narrative interest, so erotica whose main goal is titillation will have the odds stacked against it.

What you get:

In addition to the money itself, Prism Comics will do its best to help support the grant recipient through various methods, such as a news article and press release about the grant decision that profiles the winner, and help in arranging panel appearances and convention signings. We want to help you succeed in your project.

Deadline date: October 1st, 2010

NOTE: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for the following year. There is no fixed date for the decision, but updates will be given in a timely fashion.

Please submit proposals and queries to grants@prismcomics.org.