An applicant is eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

• Has not received a grant from the Maine Arts Commission before
• Is an individual practicing artist
• Is a current Maine resident
• Is 18 years of age or older by the application deadline

Notes:

• An applicant cannot apply for the Artist Project Grant and the Springboard Grant in the same grant cycle.

Eligible Expenses

Awards may be used for the creation of work and the advancement of their artistic goals for things like:

• Materials or equipment
• Productions or installations
• Planning and preparation
• Tours or Exhibition costs
• Residencies
• Hiring other artists or assistants

Ineligible Expenses:

• Debt or loan repayment
• Equipment purchases over $5,000
• Home office or home studio rent and expenses
• Activities for which undergraduate or graduate level education is given
• Projects that support or oppose a particular political party or candidate for public office
• Projects that are exclusive to members of a particular religious faith group

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

1. Merit and Impact (50%) of how the plan will support and positively impact the artist’s goals and practice in meaningful and clearly identified ways.
2. Artistic Excellence (25%) as demonstrated in skills and techniques, the artist's creative process shows a unique vision or perspective, and the work is meaningful to an intended audience.
3. Budget & Planning (25%) as it relates to the proposed project, partners involved, it’s budget, and goals with clear descriptions and details of the outcome; information is provided that helps make a convincing case that this project will succeed.

All applications and materials must be submitted using the online Application Portal. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to carefully review these details and call us with questions prior to beginning an application. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to write a strong application, so be sure to start the process early!

• Create a Maine Arts Commission account. Create Now! Once you start an application, you can make changes anytime before you submit. Get your application going by using the application worksheet!
• Answer application questions (to be competed in the application portal):

1. Tell us about yourself and your creative work. (1,300 characters)
2. Clearly explain your project or the opportunity and how the funding will be used as it relates to your budget. (2,000 characters)
3. Explain how this funding will benefit your artistic goals. (2,000 characters)

• Complete the budget form
• Upload support materials

Required Support Materials:

• Resume, bio or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Artist samples: This includes images, samples, audio, or video materials (max length: five minutes each) prose samples, poetry. Only 5 total artist sample uploads of any type will be reviewed.

Required Support Materials Guidelines:

* In order to ensure equitable consideration across all grant applicants we will NOT accept promotional/marketing videos for review.

** For ANY link submitted for review: 1 Link = 1 Sample. For example, 1 link should go directly to 1 image, 1 video, 1 text sample. 

The Maine Arts Commission may use submitted materials solely for the non-commercial promotion of the artist and/or Maine Arts Commission programs.

Submitted applications are first reviewed by staff for completion, eligibility, and funding guidelines. Applications are then reviewed by a diverse panel of arts and culture professionals. Panelists review each application and submit scores based on the review criteria (see below). These scores help us determine how we will disperse the funding.

Review Criteria

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

1. Merit and Impact (50%) of how the plan will support and positively impact the artist’s goals and practice in meaningful and clearly identified ways.
2. Artistic Excellence (25%) as demonstrated in skills and techniques, the artist's creative process shows a unique vision or perspective, and the work is meaningful to an intended audience.
3. Budget & Planning (25%) as it relates to the proposed project, partners involved, it’s budget, and goals with clear descriptions and details of the outcome; information is provided that helps make a convincing case that this project will succeed.

Award Process

If your application is funded, you enter into a letter of agreement with the Maine Arts Commission, and you must comply with all requirements stated in that agreement. Your award money may take up to 12 weeks from the time you are notified. This means you may need to pay costs upfront with your own money and then be reimbursed when you receive funding from us. Award funds can be used to reimburse past eligible project costs incurred between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

All applicants are notified, whether approved or declined, by email. If you receive an award, you will also receive future emails with next steps.