Minnesota State Arts Board 2015 Artist Initiative Grant Program 1

Minnesota State Arts Board

2015 Artist Initiative Grant Program

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Artist Initiative

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Program Purpose• Grants for artists at all stages of their careers

• Career building and professional growth

• Projects must promote professional development and be strategic to career advancement

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Artist Initiative outcomes

• Minnesota artists are able to expand or further develop their artistic abilities through varied learning opportunities.

• Minnesota artists are able to develop business skills needed to support their professional arts work.

• More Minnesotans are able to engage in or with the work of Minnesota artists.

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Artist Initiative eligibility

• Must be a Minnesota resident 6 months prior to deadline

• Must be at least 18 on or before the deadline• Cannot have received Artist Initiative grant for

fiscal year 2014• Cannot have received a Cultural Community

Partnership grant for fiscal year 20145

Grant amount

$2,000 - $10,000

No match is required

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Use of Funds

• For time to research, complete, or present work• To travel within Minnesota for artistic research or to present or complete work• For professional documentation of work• To achieve specific artistic career goals or pursue projects that further artistic

development• To purchase supplies• To purchase equipment totaling less than $5,000• To attend Minnesota based workshops and conferences for professional

development• For the realization of specific creative ideas or other purposes that will contribute

to the artist’s professional growth and career development

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Funds may NOT be used for(partial list)

• Travel for individuals or organizations brought into the state for the project• For work on scholarly manuscripts or standard journalism.• Activities that involve any organization at which the applicant is employed and/or

from whom the applicant receives a W-2 or 1099 form;• Paying for tuition, fees, or work toward any degree;• Paying for translating another person’s literary work; • Activities that are exclusively for curriculum development; • Costs for relocating the applicant’s legal residence outside of Minnesota; • Paying for the establishment of any type of organization;• Paying for publishing with a vanity press;

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Review criteria

• Artistic quality in relation to the artist’s career goals, as demonstrated by work samples and resume

• Merit and feasibility of the proposal and its impact on artist’s creative development and professional growth, as demonstrated by artist plan

• Ways in which a grant to this applicant will strengthen the creative community and the state of Minnesota

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WebGrants grants management system

• Use WebGrants system to apply

• Registration is required before beginning an application.

• Add webgrants@apply.mn.artsboard.com to your safe sender list.

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How to start an application

• Log into WebGrants• Select: Funding opportunities• Select: FY 2015 Artist Initiative • Select: Start a new application• Complete eligibility questionnaire

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General information form

• Primary contact• Project title• Organization (won’t appear in most cases)

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Artist and participant estimate form • Number of artists who will provide artistic

services for the project • Number of youth and adults in the audience

or participants• Broadcast and electronic audiences “0” unless

project content is delivered this way

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Artist plan form 1.Project dates2.Publicity statement3.Project location 4.Review panel5.Project and program outcome(s)

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Artist Plan Form (continued)

Artist plan form (continued)

6. Artist plan narrative a) Artist’s background - Tell the panel about

yourself and your work; why this work is important to you and where you see it taking you.

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b) Major goal - Identify a goal that is a stretch but is also achievable within the project dates.

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c) Barriers – Identify what is standing in your way and why you can’t achieve your goal now.

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d) Actions – describe what you will do to

achieve the major goal and overcome the barriers

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e) Community component - a live, in-person community component is a requirement of the program.

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f) Impact on the state and/or creative community – describe what the project will contribute to the state’s cultural legacy.

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Artist plan form (continued)

7. Artist Resume– Two-page maximum– Focused on artistic training, experience,

accomplishments, and artistic recognition

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Financial information formProject Revenue

• Request amount $2,000 - $10,000• No match is required• Income must equal expenses• Round figures to the next $100

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Financial information form Project expenses

• Artist compensation• Other project personnel• Travel• Space• Materials and supplies• Promotion and marketing • Equipment purchase (must be less than $5,000)• Equipment rental • Other expenses

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Artist work sample• Submit work samples electronically • Quantity: 9 images, or 4:30 minutes of video or

audio, or 12 pages• Videos must be uploaded to www.vimeo.com• Complete the work sample description form as

fully as possible

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Project information form

• Artistic discipline(s)• Project characteristics• Project descriptors• Educational activities

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Demographic Information Form

• Gender• Ethnicity • Other – veteran, older adult, disability • If applicant is not a U.S. citizen, attach a copy

of permanent resident card (green card)

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Certifications and signature form An electronic signature is required. The signature certifies that all information in the application is true and correct. It also certifies that all of the program eligibility criteria are met and that grant funds will only be used as described in the application.

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Panel review

Panel review process• At home review• Open meetings by discipline• Scoring based on criteria• Panel recommendations go to the board in

November 2014 for literary and performing arts, and January 2015 for visual arts

• Feedback to applicant28

Tips • Review proposals previously submitted • Read instructions thoroughly; contact the

program officer with questions • Prepare work samples early – test them!• Ask someone unfamiliar with your project to

read the proposal for clarity and understanding

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For questions or helpFor questions about the content of the application forms or narrative, please contact:

Kathee Foran, program officerKathee.foran@arts.state.mn.us .............................................(651) 215 -1626

For questions about financial forms please contact:Dave White, director, finance and grants administrationdavid.white@arts.state.mn.us..................................................(651) 215-1622

For questions about the technical aspects of the application forms, or questions aboutelectronic submission, please e-mail the Arts Board at: apply@arts.state.mn.us

Tom Miller, project manager .................................................. (651) 215-1611

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