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 22, 2012
- Maximum grant award: $1,500 (Organizations must show an in-kind and/or cash match)
- Project must take place between September 9, 2012 and September 8, 2013.
- Funding will be available after September 9, 2012.
- Deadline: January 13, 2013
- Maximum grant award: $1,500 (Organizations must show an in-kind and/or cash match)
- Project must take place between March 8, 2013 and March 7, 2014.
- Funding will be available after March 8, 2013.
An applicant may apply once during any fiscal year (July 1 - June 30.)
Any individual Maine artist who:
- Has a valid Maine address and has resided full-time in Maine for a minimum of two years at the date of application, and
- 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, and
- has completed and filed all final reports required for previous Maine Arts Commission grants.
A Maine organization that:
- Is nonprofit organization, legally established in the State of Maine, and
- has tax exempt status 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service, and
- promotes, presents, produces and/or teaches visual, performing or literary art(s) as its primary purpose, and
- has completed and filed all final reports required for previous Maine Arts Commission grants.
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)
The applicant becomes legally accountable for complying with the above eligibility requirements upon submission of this request.
Applications are reviewed by members of the Maine Arts Commission's Communications Committee and/or members of the public selected for their expertise in specific fields. The committee will be chaired by a member of the Maine Arts Commission.
Recommendations will be presented to the executive committee, or the full Maine Arts Commission, at its next regularly scheduled meeting for approval of the selection process.
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, so please plan accordingly.
Grant proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:
- 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.
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 your 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 (form below).
No substitutions for the budget form are allowed (Organizations must provide evidence of 1:1 cash and/or in-kind match.).
- Resume(s)
For the applicant and any other artists to be employed by the project.
- 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.
- Assurances Form for Organizations only (form below)
with original signature of an authorizing official. Please mark with name of applicant.
- Vendor Form (form below)
if you are a first time applicant only. 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.
- Work Samples
You can submit up to ten work samples in any of the formats outlined below.
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.
An explanatory document must be included with the work samples 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.
Format requirements for work samples are as follows:
Literary
Preferred format .pdf but .doc or .rtf 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 96 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 an accompanying 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 an accompanying document. 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 document, but .doc or .rtf 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 an explanatory document.
The Maine Arts Commission reserves the right to use submitted materials in the promotion of the artist and/or Maine Arts Commission programs. The material will be used in a promotional manner only and will not be used for commercial purposes.
We recommend that contributors consider licensing their media files under a Creative Commons Attribution/Non-Commercial/Share-Alike license.
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.
Applicants are required to apply through the Maine Arts Commission eGRANT system. An eGRANT application will be accepted until 11:59 pm, on the date of the application deadline, however; agency staff is only available to answer questions until 5:00 pm. 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.