This program supports Maine’s artists and arts organizations by providing the means with which to increase the visibility of specific artistic projects. An application that supports an individual artist or organization through increased visibility of specific artistic projects is eligible for the grant.

• Deadline: June 21, 2013
• Maximum grant award: $1,500 (Organizations must show an in-kind and/or cash match)
• Project must take place between September 13, 2013 and September 12, 2014.
• Funding will be available after September 13, 2013.

An applicant may apply once during any fiscal year.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

A profession Maine artist is eligible to apply if s/he has a valid Maine address and has resided full-time in Maine for a minimum of two years at the date of application, is 18 years of age or older at the time of the application, and is not enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and the application is not a required part of their course of study.

or

A professional Maine arts organization is eligible to apply if it is a nonprofit organization, legally established in the state of Maine, and has tax exempt status 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service.

All applicants must have completed and filed all final reports required for previous Maine Arts Commission grants.

An organization applying must demonstrate a fiscal structure that allows them to legally and responsibly utilize grant funds. This applicant must provide a minimum of 1:1 cash or in-kind match. This demonstrates the applicant’s ability to take on the project. This match must be documented as part of the application package.

The types of projects that might be funded under an Arts Visiblity Grant include but are not limited to:

• Support for the creation of various promotional materials for a particular event
• Support to hire a web designer to provide new web features for a particular project
• Support for an organization promoting a group of artists

The types of projects that would not be funded under an Arts Visibility Grant include but are not limited to:

• Support for professional development
• Support to purchase technology equipment and software
• Support for infrastructure (e.g. creation of a digital editing center)

An organization applying must demonstrate a fiscal structure that allows them to legally and responsibly utilize grant funds. This applicant must provide a minimum of 1:1 cash or in-kind match. This demonstrates the applicant’s ability to take on the project. This match must be documented as part of the application package.

Artists do not need to submit a budget form.

Any applicant becomes legally accountable for complying with the above eligibility requirements upon submission of this request.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a committee of public members who are selected for their expertise in specific artistic fields. The committee will be chaired by a member of the Maine Arts Commission.

Grant recommendations will be presented to the executive committee or the full Maine Arts Commission, at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The approval of the review process, making the grant official, takes place at that time.

The review process and delivery of funds may take up to four months. This means that grant funds may be used to reimburse costs incurred for the project after the grant has been approved. Please plan accordingly.

Review Criteria

Grant proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:

• Highest artistic excellence and merit
• Evidence that the funding will increase the visibility of the artist's or organization's project.
• Artistic excellence of project subject matter.
• Ability to demonstrate the capacity to complete the project.
• Evidence of the use of Maine vendors.
• Evidence of efforts to reach persons with disabilities. (For organization applicants only)

Examples of Successful Grants

Dyer Library / Saco Museum

This grant supported the presentation and promotion of the 2012 Mill-ennial, the second presentation of the biennial juried exhibition of contemporary art connected to the Cities on the Saco

Daniel Sonenberg

This grant supported a recording project to expand visibility of The Summer King, an opera documenting the life and considering the legacy of Negro League baseball player Josh Gibson

Required Application Materials

Please review the following required materials carefully in preparing your application materials. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification of your application. Only complete applications will be accepted. Make copies of all application materials for your records prior to submitting them.

The preferred format for text files is .pdf, but .doc or .rtf files will be allowed. No other format will be accepted. Failure to save a document correctly may limit its ability to be uploaded through eGRANT and jeopardize the application. Instructions for submitting artistic work samples, if required, can be found below.

• eGRANT Application  Applicants are required to upload all supporting documents through eGRANT.
• Application Budget Form FOR ORGANIZATIONS ONLY. Artists need not submit the budget form (form below).  No substitutions for the budget form are allowed (Organizations must provide evidence of 1:1 cash or in-kind match).
• Application Narrative (form below)  Clear, specific responses to each of the questions, addressed sequentially and numbered. Responses can not exceed two pages. The project description is the central element of the grant request.
• Resume(s)  For key staff members involved with the organization. Artists to be employed by the project may be included as well.
• Vendor Form (form below)  To be provided by a first time applicant or those who’s contact information has changed. This is information used by the Treasury to generate a check if the grant is awarded. Applicants should be sure to indicate the address the check should be sent to.
• Assurances Form for Organizations only (form below)  Form must include the original signature of an authorizing official. Please mark with name of applicant.
• Work Samples  As outlined below. Please pick one format only for submitting your samples.

Artist Work Sample Submission Guidelines

There are up to ten opportunities to submit work samples with your application, although not every application will ask for ten samples. Work samples are a crucial aspect of your application and it is essential that they are of professional quality and appropriate representations of your current abilities.

Naming of all files should use the following convention: last name_title_year of work (Eg: Doe_Untitled_2010.jpg). There is a maximum of 72 characters file name limit and the name should NOT contain spaces or characters other than letters, numbers, underscores and hyphens.

A Description of Work Samples must be included to provide an additional reference for the submissions. Information on this document should list the work and include artist name, title, medium, size (if applicable), year of creation, and any other (brief) information that will better inform the reviewers about the artwork.

Represented work must be current; preferably within the past three years.

For Individual Artist Fellowship applications only: The review process is anonymous therefore there should be no evidence of your name anywhere on your actual samples. You are asked to submit a work sample description with your name that only staff will see during the review

FORMAT REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK SAMPLES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Literary

Preferred format PDF, but WORD documents will also be accepted. Literary samples should be examples of an artists literary creation(s), submitted in the way that corresponds to the application. Manuscripts should include works of prose or up to five poems. Script and playwriting applicants should include one act or scene. Manuscripts in all genres must not exceed 20 pages. Selections from a longer script or work of prose may be accompanied by a synopsis of the complete work. All materials must be legible in 12-point or larger type and double spaced.

Images

Preferred format JPEG, but PDF images will also be accepted.Optimal image size is 1920 pixels on the longest side (to accommodate HD viewing) at a resolution of 72 dpi and a file size under 5mb. Images can be a digital photograph or a digital scan.

Audio

Preferred format MP3, but WAV or AIFF files will also be accepted.Optimal audio submissions should be an audio file under five minutes in length in a file size under 10mb. If the audio file is longer than five minutes listening points should be indicated on the explanatory document about how to listen to the work sample(s). Links to audio files that are housed online can count as audio submissions.

Video

Preferred Format MPEG-4, but MOV and AVI files will be accepted.It is preferred that time-based works submit at least one video work sample. Optimal video submissions should be a video or video clip under five minutes in length in a file size under 20mb. If the video file is longer than five minutes viewing points should be indicated on the explanatory document about the work samples. Links to a video URL that is housed on a hosting site such as Youtube, Vimeo, or the artist’s website can count as a video submission.

If you are unable to upload your materials or you wish to submit files that are copy-protected you may submit the work samples on a CD or DVD. If you do this you must send six copies of the material. Please write the appropriate information to identify the application on the disc itself (not on the case).

Web

Website URL address in a PDF, but WORD documents will also be accepted.If the artist has their materials in an online resume or some other networked means of exhibition they can direct reviewers to the material by providing a URL. The URL should link to a specific page containing the work sample. An applicant should not assume the reviewers will navigate into the site if directed to the home page. The applicant may suggest preferred web browsers for optimal viewing of submitted materials in the explanatory document about the work samples. Mail or fax (207/287-2725) the assurances form and vendor form (if required) to the Maine Arts Commission, 193 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04333-0025.

Stop!

Each applicant must speak with Darrell Bulmer, senior communication director at 207/287-6746, darrell.bulmer@maine.gov, about the project before submitting an application. Failure to do so will disqualify the application.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to apply through the Maine Arts Commission eGRANT system. An eGRANT application will be accepted until 5:00 pm, on the date of the application deadline. Because of the volume of eGRANT submissions on the day of any grant deadline, we strongly recommend you give yourself a 24-hour buffer.

Applicants who are unable to apply through eGRANT must contact Kathy Ann Shaw at 207/287-2750 or kathy.shaw@maine.gov to discuss an alternative prior to applying. Alternative submissions will not be accepted without prior authorization.

 The agency will not accept late or incomplete applications under any circumstance.

Grant information is available in large print format by request. All Maine Arts Commission programs are accessible to people with disabilities. All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.

Apply Now!