Barbara Hammer Grant for Lesbian Experimental Filmmakers

Frequently Asked Questions

 GENERAL

Q. My relationship to the term lesbian is complicated, how do I know if I’m eligible for this grant?

A. This is a grant for self identified lesbians. Lesbian is the term that Barbara Hammer most identified with in her life—she felt strongly about creating a fund to support artists who identified similarly. We recognize that language is slippery and evolving, and that the terms for self-identification may carry different meanings for different people. We don’t police how applicants self-identify, so only you can determine your eligibility in this regard. 

Q. What qualifies as experimental film? 

A. Qualifying work may be experimental animation, experimental documentary, experimental narrative, cross-genre, or solely experimental. 

Q. How large is the applicant pool for the Barbara Hammer Grant for Lesbian Experimental Filmmakers?

A. In 2020, Queer|Art received 148 applications for the Barbara Hammer Grant for Lesbian Experimental Filmmakers. 

Q. How do we choose Judges?

A. Participation as judges is by invitation. In an effort to expand the network of artists who comprise our judging pool, Queer|Art welcomes recommendations for new judges from individuals who have been judges in past years of the grant.

Considerations are made each year around regional, racial, and creative diversity within the field of experimental film.

ELIGIBILITY

Q. I don’t live in the U.S., can I still apply? 

A. No, this is a grant for U.S. based individuals, including the 50 states and its territories.  

Q. I live in the U.S. part time, can I still apply?

A. This is a grant for U.S. based individuals. Please honestly self-determine your eligibility in this regard. 

Q. Can I get an application fee waiver? 

Yes, anyone who does not have the financial means to pay for the application fee can write to the Programs & Operations Manager, Reya Seghal at reya@queer-art.org to request a waiver. You do not need to explain anything you don’t feel comfortable sharing, all requests for a waiver will be granted with no questions asked. 

Q. I would like to apply as a pair with my creative partner / I would like to apply with my collective, is that okay?

Yes, creative collaborators can apply as a pair or with a group/collective as long as all applicants who would be benefiting from the grant funds meet all of the eligibility requirements.

If applying as a pair, you can put both names, etc into a line answer (i.e. Dani & Rio). For lines that only allow one answer please put the primary applicants info. 

If you have a joint bio that's best, but if not, two separate bios is fine. If you have a headshot of the two of you together that's best, if not two separate files is fine. 

Q. I’m applying as a pair / collective, what should I do about references?

A. We suggest you ask recommenders who can speak to your work as a pair / collective. If this is not possible, please submit one reference for each artist (up to two) or two for the primary applicant.

Q. Can I submit with a film / project that is already finished to pay for distribution costs and/or expenses I paid out of pocket?

A. Its best to apply with a project that is in development, production, or post-production. Funds can't specifically be used solely for distribution costs. If you can create a proposal and budget that reflects the funds being used to "make" the visionary moving-image art then you can certainly apply. Be clear in your essay answers and budget what has already been paid for or is completed and what the grant funds would be used for. 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Q. How do I submit my application?

A. You will be directed to SlideRoom application via the link on our website. You will create an account via SlideRoom which will allow you to work on your application and save changes in draft form before submitting. It is suggested that you also save a working draft of your essay questions on another platform such as Word, Notes, TextEdit, Google Docs, etc. 

Q. What is SlideRoom?

A. SlideRoom is an online application software that we use to help us manage the volume of applications we receive for the Hammer Grant each year. You can learn more about SlideRoom here.

Q. Where do I send my work samples?

All work samples must be uploaded through SlideRoom.

Q. Who should I select as references? 

A. Someone who can speak to your work as an artist. Applicants typically chose professors, mentors, colleagues and/or collaborators in their field, etc. 

Q. Will my references be required to write a letter of recommendation? 

A. No, references are not required to write letters of recommendation. The judges may reach out to your references, as needed, via phone and / or email if they have any questions as they finalize deliberation. 

Q. I’m having trouble uploading my work samples. What should I do?

A. Please do not wait until the last minute to try to upload work samples so you have time to troubleshoot. If you are uploading a video file, please double check the specifications:

Max files size: 500 MB

Accepted file types: .m4v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .flv, .asf, .mpeg, .mpg, .mkv

Q. Can I edit multiple work samples together into a 10 minute clip? Are reels acceptable? 

A. We do not advise sending reels for a work sample; you can edit up to two work samples together into one link / file, but we do not recommend submitting more than two work samples within the 7-10 minute time cap as the judges would prefer to see quality over quantity. 

Q. I have a file / link but it is over 10 minutes, can I still submit it as a work sample?

A. You can use a longer clip and mark the in and out times in the application notes for the judges to watch. You can include multiple in and out times for a single file as long as the combined amount remains under 10 minutes. 

Q. What are you looking for in the budget?

A. The budget PDF should be an overall budget of how much it truly costs to make your film. Your budget should account for how the work will be made (you do not need to include presentation costs). Consider costs for talent, crew, translation fees, subtitling, editing software, equipment, etc. If the cost of production exceeds the grant amount, please indicate within the budget any confirmed funding you have received or additional funding you anticipate that will enable you to complete this project.

Q. I’m submitting a YouTube or Vimeo link, but want it to be password protected.

A. SlideRoom cannot accept links that are password protected. You can upload your videos directly to SlideRoom if you do not want them publicly available online. Please keep in mind when uploading, the max file size is 500MB per video. Please give yourself enough time to upload the files before the application deadline.

Q. What’s a CV? What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?

A. A CV is a list of your accomplishments as an artist that includes your education, shows, publications, and awards. It does not include employment outside your art practice. For instructions on how to create a CV, with samples, visit: https://thepracticalartworld.com/2011/02/12/how-to-write-an-artists-cv-in-10-steps/.

Q. When will I be notified about the status of my application?

A. The judges will review applications throughout November and early December. All applicants will be notified about the status of their application by mid/late December 2020.  

DEADLINE QUESTIONS

Can I get an application extension?

No, to be fair to all applicants, we cannot grant individual application extensions. 

Can I apply after the application deadline?

Applications close at 11:59pm EST on the lised date of the application deadline. We do not accept applications after the deadline has passed. Please try again next year.

For further questions or more information please contact
Queer|Art Programs & Operations Manager, Reya Seghal (reya@queer-art.org).

Further Reading

How do you write a good artist statement? What work samples should you include? How much academic language should you use? What kind of story should your application tell about you? Learn about all this and more through two of our blog entries below, written by Queer|Art staff members. There may be some things in there you find useful as you prepare your application.