Why Shop Small?

Why shop small this holiday season? Or really why shop small anytime? Why shop local? Why does it matter? As a consumer we hold a lot of power. We get to decide how we spend our money and what we choose to buy. We make purchasing decisions all the time that help the economy as well as our local community or friends. 

Here are some reasons why we should try to shop small and why shop local.

Why Shop Small?

You are supporting a small business

A small business is just like the name says it is small. My business includes myself and help from my husband. Most of the work I do I am not paying myself (or my husband).

You are supporting a dream 

Anyone who owns a small business also owns a dream. I love making art and I dream of being a full time artist. That doesn’t happen if I don’t sell my art or if people don’t buy it. I’m passionate about art and each day I get to make art, sell art or write about it, is a great day. I’m thankful to be able to do this. I look forward to doing this full time and I thank you for being here! 

You are buying quality 

When you shop small you are shopping from one person or a few people on a team. There is a sense of quality in what you buy because it is not made in a factory, it’s not made by a machine and it is not produced carelessly. It is produced with love, time and care which helps give it quality and makes it a purchase that will last for years to come! 

Why Shop Local?

You are supporting your local economy 

By shopping local you are supporting your economy. You are paying someone who pays taxes in your area and you are supporting local places that that person is buying from. For example, if you buy soap at your local farmer’s market you are supporting the person who made the soap and in turn you’re are supporting the people who supplied the materials to make the soap. You aren’t supporting a big corporation where people are not paid properly for the work they do. 

You are supporting friends, neighbours, family and people in your community

By shopping locally, especially in a small community chances are you know the person or you know of the person through someone you know. It’s nice to support people you know. If you aren’t able to support someone you know, try to share their work with others who you think might be interested. 

You are saving on shipping costs and helping the environment

When you shop local, you can pick up the work locally, you can have the work hand delivered or you can purchase directly from the business. This saves on shipping costs for you and helps the environment by reducing the amount of shipping materials and gas/fossil fuel emissions. Win-win! 

If you can't shop small or shop local this holiday season. I understand completely. It’s been a hard few years with inflation, the housing market and the pandemic. If you can’t shop small or shop local there are other FREE ways you can show support to your favourite small business or artist.

FREE Ways to Support a Small Business if You’re Unable to Shop Small!

• Follow them on social media! 

• Share their posts on social media to your friends to help them reach more customers 

• Like and comment on their social media posts - it helps them reach more people because of the algorithm 

• Join their email list  (Join mine below!)

• If someone is looking for that business - you can tag their business and give them credit 

• Refer your friends and family to the small business or share why you love it 

You can follow me by clicking on any of the icons!

I have explained the reasons of why shop small or shop local this holiday season. It may not always be possible to shop small or shop local for a variety of reasons based on where you live and your financial situation. When you shop local or shop small it does make a difference. Remember that! 

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How to Get an Artist Grant

How to get an artist grant? Is a common question for artists because being an artist can be difficult and financially frustrating. There are lots of things to pay for as an artist like your studio space, art materials, ongoing learning, travel and residency fees, website fees, domain name and more! If you find yourself asking how to get an artist grant -then keep reading!

Getting an artist grant helps to relieve the financial pressure and money insecurities that come with being an artist, especially an emerging artist that is just starting out. By the end of this article you won’t be asking how to get an artist grant again!

How to Get an Artist Grant -the Steps

1. Research what grants you are eligible to apply for (make sure you check eligibility)

2. Record the deadlines for the grants

3. Start early at least two weeks but sooner is better than later! 

4. Read the application instructions 

5. Gather and prepare your materials for the artist grant

6. Fill out the application and double check

7. Proofread and have someone else read it too!

8. Submit and take some deep breaths! 

Make Sure You Research the Artist Grant

Where can you find an artist grant? Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council or even more locally. A lot of cities have their own grants or awards for art. In my city of Waterloo there are Region of Waterloo Arts Fund and City of Waterloo. 

You have to begin by researching and checking which artist grants you are eligible for. Then you can research deadlines so that you have enough time to apply for the artist grant. 

As a young emerging artist, I started with smaller grants with a low budget proposal that I could help build my CV and prove that I could complete projects and handle working with grant money. This is a new skill -it’s good to start small and to practice! 

How to Get an Artist Grant -Practice, Practice, Practice

It takes time to get an artist grant. You probably won’t get one right away and that’s okay! Keep applying and keep practicing. It can be difficult to write about your art or to explain why getting the grant would help you as an artist or your community. With time you do build your confidence and your writing improves!

Tips for How to Get an Artist Grant 

1. Read and complete everything 

2. Make sure your writing and proposal is clear and makes sense

3. Have professional photos of your art 

4. Ask for feedback if you don’t get the grant so you can improve 

5. Attend free grant writing seminars or workshops -most places offer this or there’s lots on YouTube

6. Interview people who have won grants and ask questions 

7. Call the place or email where you are applying at to and ask any questions (this doesn’t negatively impact you receiving a grant- only helps)

8. Again, give yourself plenty of time and make sure to submit early in case the website crashes!

What Happens When I Receive an Artist Grant?

When you receive an artist grant -which you will someday (don’t worry!) Make sure you keep track of your receipts, paper copies and digital copies (take a picture or scan) This way you don’t lose them. Complete the project you proposed on the deadline stated. If you can’t meet the project deadline or if the project is changing slightly -reach out to where you received the grant to speak to them. They are always very helpful and they want you to succeed! 

Related Articles

Patched Book

WAF Grant Update

Tips for Pricing Your Art

Quit Feeling Like a Starving Artist

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

Helpful Links

Waterloo Artist Fund (for people living in the Waterloo Region)

Ontario Arts Council -people living in Ontario -OAC 

Canada Council for the Arts for Canadian residents

CARFAC fees to help you with your budget

If you found this article helpful connect with me in the box below! I send tips, tutorials and discounts to my mailing list members!

Waterloo Arts Fund Grant 2020

You might know that I won a Waterloo Arts fund grant of $2500 to create and publish my book Patched that is a collection of art installation photographs on trees with handmade map paper and poetry about nature. You can see the book here!

I am grateful to acknowledge the support of the Waterloo Arts Fund once again for $1600 to support a new project I will be working on in the New Year. I am excited to be able to purchase new equipment to allow me to be able to film and edit high quality acrylic painting video tutorials.

You can read more details from my project -covered in a recent newspaper article from the Woolwich Observer by Damon Maclean:

Here is a snippet:

With my background in teaching and my experience in leading art workshops, COVID-19 impacted both my art practice and ability to instruct in-person workshops. With my grant I plan on selecting five locations of different landscapes in Waterloo Region to photograph. I will create five 12” x 18” acrylic paintings on canvases to donate to local businesses in my hometown of Wellesley.

I will film myself with the help of my husband, teaching beginner painters how to paint these landscapes from the Waterloo Region in a step-by-step process. After editing these videos, they will be uploaded on my new YouTube channel – Jackie Partridge Art – that was created during the lockdown this year…  I plan on sharing the videos with local organizations like libraries to offer art educational support and free online art activities for people during these difficult times. I strongly believe and have seen the power of art to help improve the mental health of not only myself but my students.

Follow along on social media to stay connected about this project!

Learn more about the grant by clicking on the image above!