Deadline for the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant is September 1st!

Prism Comics has announced that the deadline for this year’s Queer Press Grant (QPG) is approaching soon, on September 1, 2011. As the Xeric Foundation is no longer awarding grants for comics, the QPG is the only grant today that is specifically awarded to independent comic book creators.  The grant was established by Prism to assist in the publication and promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender comics.

“The Queer Press Grant is a significant resource to help promote LGBT themes in independent comics, and to support up-and-coming cartoonists bringing their projects into the world,” says Justin Hall, Prism’s Talent Relations Chair.

This year’s submission deadline has been moved up to September 1st this year so that the recipient can be announced during San Francisco’s Alternative Press Expo taking place from October 1-2.  Applicants can submit online now at prismcomics.org/grant.

The Queer Press Grant is awarded to a comics writer/artist or team working on a project with LGBT characters or themes, to assist them in publishing a new project or expanding an existing one.  Entries are judged first and foremost by artistic merit, followed by concerns such as financial need, proposal presentation, and the project’s contribution to the LGBT community. They are reviewed by the Prism Board and past recipients of the Grant, with the larger advisory board brought in when tiebreakers are needed.

Grant guidelines can be found at prismcomics.org/grant.  Questions about the grant can be directed to Justin Hall at justin@prismcomics.org.

The Queer Press Grant is funded entirely by donations, generally from comic book professionals and readers plus fundraising efforts from Prism members including Charles “Zan” Christensen and Roger Klorese.  To donate to the Queer Press Grant, go to prismcomics.org/donate or donate through Prism’s Facebook Causes page for the QPG. From these contributions, the standard amount of the Grant in the past few years has been $2,000.

Since its inception, the Queer Press Grant has been awarded to Tana Ford (2010, for Duck), Jon Macy (2010, for Fearful Hunter). Ed Luce (2009, for Wuvable Oaf), Eric Orner (2009 for Storybox), Pam Harrison (2008, for House of the Muses), Justin Hall (2007, for Glamazonia), Tommy Roddy (2007, for Pride High), Megan Gedris (2006, for YU+ME), and Steve MacIsaac (2005, for Shiftlifter).

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Website Links:
Prism Comics: http://prismcomics.org
Prism Comics Queer Press Grant: http://prismcomics.org/grant
Prism Comics Donation Page: http://prismcomics.org/donate
Prism Comics’ Causes Page for the QPG: http://www.causes.com/causes/176646-the-prism-comics-queer-press-grant