About this Service

Hi artists,

It’s that time of year when many of us are staring down grant deadlines and trying to explain our work in 1,000 characters or less. If you’re preparing applications for Creative Capital or other major grants this spring, I’m opening a few spots to support artists through the process.

I’m a filmmaker and grant writer who has raised over $900,000 for independent projects, with support from Sundance, SFFILM, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the MacArthur Foundation. I’ve also gone through many of the labs, fellowships, and residencies artists apply to myself, and have served as a mentor, advisor, and juror for labs and fellowships, so I know how opaque, time-consuming, and occasionally demoralizing the process can feel.

I genuinely enjoy helping artists clarify what their work is doing in the world, shape strong applications, and find opportunities that actually align with their practice.

Some upcoming deadlines many artists are preparing for include:
Creative Capital — April 2
Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant — April 1
Artadia New York City Awards — March 1–April 1
Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants — April 7
Whiting Nonfiction Grant for Works-in-Progress — April 23
Harpo Foundation Grants for Visual Artists — April 27
SFFILM Rainin Grant — May 8 (final May 22)
VIA Art Fund Artistic Production Grants — May 21
Sundance Documentary Fund — expected July 2026
I offer one-on-one support for grants, fellowships, and residency applications, including:
• shaping project descriptions and proposals
• editing artist statements and bios
• opportunity curation and identifying grants that fit your work
• strategy for positioning your application

I work with filmmakers, writers, visual artists, and interdisciplinary artists, and I especially enjoy helping artists translate complex or experimental work into language that feels clear, compelling, and true to the project.

I’m taking on a few artists ahead of the Creative Capital deadline. If you’d like support shaping an application this season, feel free to reach out and tell me a little about the project you’re working on.

Warmly,
Rowan

About this Lister

I’m a filmmaker, writer, and grant strategist who loves helping artists get the money and support they need to make their work. I know firsthand how overwhelming the funding world can feel. I love simplifying it for people. I also love seeing my clients get opportunities they have put themselves up for, and I enjoy making the process less intimidating and more successful for other creatives. As an artist, I speak the language of artists and translate that into language that will appeal to funders and selection committees.

Background and Expertise

I’ve been writing applications and helping artists secure funding for over 10 years, raising more than $1.2 million for a feature documentary and guiding clients to win support from the MacArthur Foundation, Sundance, NEA, Guggenheim, MASS MoCA, Harvard, Princeton, and more. I’ve also gone through many of the labs, fellowships, and residencies artists apply to myself, and have served as a mentor, advisor, and juror for labs and fellowships.

My clients have landed competitive grants, fellowships, and residencies like Yaddo, MacDowell, Marble House, and Anderson Ranch. I specialize in translating creative ideas into clear, compelling applications that speak directly to what funders are looking for, while keeping the artist's unique voice front and center.