The program assists professional Maine arts organizations, with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or greater, to present significant and innovative projects such as an exhibition, performance, film or residency.
- Deadline: February 24, 2012
- Maximum grant award: $20,000 (with a required 1:1 in kind and/or cash match)
- Project must take place: between and May 10, 2012 and May 9, 2013
- Funding will be made available: after July 1, 2012
Through Great Work(s), the Maine Arts Commission is able to offer major support for significant cultural programs that will have a lasting curatorial, intellectual, preformative, literary or cultural impact on Maine audiences and will represent the level of commitment to excellence available to an institution with considerable recourses. Support will be provided for productions or exhibitions that are curated, commissioned or interpreted by the applicant organization. Projects are expected to incorporate contextual component(s) such as discussions, master classes, seminars or learning projects, or similar community engagement(s) with educational or community institutions.
Who is Eligible to Apply
A professional Maine arts organization that:
- is nonprofit and legally established in Maine, and
- has tax exempt status 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service, and
- promotes, presents, produces and/or teaches visual, performing, literary or media art(s) as its primary purpose, and
- has an annual operating budget of $500,000 or greater based on the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year, and
- has completed and filed all final reports required for previously awarded Maine Arts Commission grants.
Funding for projects that already exist and and/or support emerging work will have a lower priority.
Priority will be given to applications from free-standing arts organizations although college- or university-based arts organizations may be eligible. While collaborations always make a project richer the budget threshold of $500,000 must be met by the primary applicant.
An applicant must demonstrate a fiscal structure that allows them to legally and responsibly utilize grant funds. The 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 applicant becomes legally accountable for complying with the above eligibility requirements upon submission of this request.
Review Process
TApplications 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 determined on the degree to which the project:
- Presents curated, commissioned or interpreted content of the highest artistic excellence and merit, and
- Articulates a plan for related educational, interpretive, or contextual components, and
- Demonstrates that the project is innovative and ongoing projects demonstrate what makes the current year’s activities different or fresh, and
- Is fully-formed conceptually with evidence of significant planning to ensure broad public/audience involvement.
Applications will be strengthened if issues of accessibility and inclusivity are addressed.
Examples of Successful Grants
Dyer Library/Saco Museum
This grant supported the conservation of the Museum's Moving Panorama of Pilgrim's Progress to make it accessible to worldwide audiences in new and innovative ways.
Portland Ovations
This grant supported Shuffle.Play.Listen, Portland Ovations’ presentation of acclaimed cellist Matt Haimovitz and pianist Christopher O'Riley in an innovative concert that spanned the music of Bach to Radiohead.
Required Application Materials
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
Application Budget Form and Detail (form below) providing evidence of 1:1 cash and/or in-kind match. No substitutions for the budget form are allowed.
- Application Budget Form (form below)
No substitutions for the budget form are allowed (Organizations must provide evidence of 1:1 cash or in-kind match.).
- Profit and Loss Statement
For the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year.
- Application Narrative (form below)
Clear, specific responses to each of the questions, addressed sequentially and numbered. Responses can not exceed four 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.
- Letters of Support
From individuals or representatives of organizations or schools who can speak to their anticipated benefit from the project. (up to three).
- 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.
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.
Each applicant must speak with Donna McNeil, arts policy and program director (207/287-2726 or donna.mcneil@maine.gov), or Kathy Ann Shaw, senior grants associate (207/287-2750 or kathy.shaw@maine.gov), or Kerstin Gilg, Performing Arts Associate (207/287-6719 or kerstin.gilg@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 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.