QUEER PRESS GRANT

Every year, Prism awards the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant to assist in the publication and promotion of LGBT comics. The grant is funded by donors who are either creators who want to help others just starting out, or fans who want to see more LGBT creators get published.

QUEER PRESS GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS:

Grant proposals are submitted using an online form, and consist of the following items:

1. Cover letter that states the project title and why the project is of interest to the readers of LGBT comics (a statement of purpose)
2. Business plan and budget detailing how funds (in US dollars) will be spent and obtained, including an intended time period
3. Resume (for each contributor, if more than one)
4. Presentation of the work to date in PDF files, with an appropriate resolution that suits your work.

You will also be asked for financial information on the application, which is necessary for the grant process. Submissions will be reviewed by the judges online.

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. For 2019, the application process goes from Jan 1, 2019 to March 1, 2019.

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.

The judges also lean towards projects that are more fully realized — we want to see many pages of sequential art, rather than an idea with sketches.

The Queer Press Grant is awarded to an amateur artist who hasn’t yet gotten a mainstream publisher.

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:

The grant is $2K (unless there is a tie, in which each recipient gets $1K.) The grant will be made by check or PayPal within one month of the announcement of the winner.

In addition to the money itself, Prism Comics will also issue a press release about the winner, and continue to be in touch with them about their goals. Prism 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.

WANT TO LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT THE GRANT?