Grant Application Form
 
Artists in the Schools Projects

Fiscal Years 2008-2009
July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2009

 

DEADLINES

August 1, 2007
February 1, 2008
August 1, 2008
February 1, 2009

 

Northwest Minnesota Arts Council
Northwest Regional Development Commission
115 South Main
Warren, MN 56762

(218) 745-6733

www.nwrdc.org

mara@nwrdc.org

Instructions for Completing the Grant Application Form

1. Before filling out this form, read the Artist in the Schools guidelines at the end of this page.

Please print out and read the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s Program Guidelines for more information on compliance requirements, the Council’s review criteria, and other important information about all our grants programs.

2. The information requested in this form is needed for the Arts Council to adequately review your request for grant funds. Please answer, as completely as possible, all questions.   The applicant is responsible for the quality and scope of responses.

Suggestion for working with on-line application:  Print out all the application pages first.  Fill in the entire application with pencil as a draft.  When satisfied, type your final information into the form and print.  Make sure you send the completed form and all attachments to our office by the deadline date.  (You will not be able to save your information into the form for future use.)  

3. If space on the application form is inadequate, attach additional sheet(s), do not attempt to make the boxes larger than they appear on the form .

4. Send in the mail to our office one original of the grant application.

5. Applications must be postmarked by the deadline dates listed on the cover above to be eligible.  Remember that it takes our office two months to process the grant application so your activity dates must be two months after the deadline in order to qualify.

6. E-mail your grant questions to mara@nwrdc.org or call Mara Wittman at 218-745-6733.  Remember that only schools with official addresses within our seven county service area are eligible to apply, they include the Minnesota counties: Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.

Artists in the Schools Grant Application Form

Artists in the Schools Guidelines

Introduction • • •

The mission of the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is to support and enhance the development of the arts in northwest Minnesota. The following counties are included in the Art Council’s service area:

Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council’s goal is to insure that the arts play a significant part in the welfare and educational experience of the residents of this region. The Arts Council assists the growth and excellence of the arts through several programs which are available to sponsoring and/or producing organizations in the region.

Arts activities in all disciplines are supported by the Arts Council, including:

Theater
Film/Video
Architecture and Design Visual Arts
Dance
Multi-disciplinary Projects
Literature
Music
Folk Arts

The Artists in the Schools Grant Program is in its successful fifth year! In this program, public schools can apply to request a residency in their school with an artist(s) of their choice. This program is funded with State of Minnesota legislative dollars, therefore, private schools are not eligible for the program. Priority for residency or sponsorship projects will be given to groups that are using an artist(s) they have not used in previous grants.

Remember that the Northwest Minnesota Directory of Artists and Arts Organizations is available as a free publication from our office. This Directory contains a listing of area artists who might be interested in working in the schools as artist in residencies. Call and request a copy of the directory if you are having trouble locating artists. Parts of the Directory will soon be in the Arts section of the Northwest Regional Development Commission web site www.nwrdc.org check it out!

Eligibility and requirements • • •

To be eligible for funding, the grant applicant must:

• Be a public school.

• Provide at least 25% of the total project cost by cash resources, or 50% if more than half of the activity happens outside of regular school hours or in the summer.

• Limit artist fees paid with grant funds to a maximum of $250.00 per artist per day.

• Not have received an Arts Project Grant from the NWRDC for the same project.

• Limit receipt of Artist in the Schools Grants to $3,000.00 in total per fiscal year for each school district (including community education requests).

• Not be requesting funding for an artist(s) that has participated in a similar activity supported by NWRDC grant funds in your school for the past two years.

• Not be requesting funds for your school personnel as project directors or artists, and not be requesting funds for school building rental or utilities usage.

Funding • • •

For Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009 (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009), the Artists in the Schools Program will be funded to the extent of available funds. The maximum amount granted for any one approved application is $2,000.00, providing at least 25% of the cost is borne by the school with cash match. (If 50% of the projects activity occurs outside of regular school hours or in the summer then you must provide 50% cash match.) The maximum amount of Artists in the Schools Grant funds a school district can receive in a fiscal year is $3,000.00.

Application Guidelines • • •

Application Deadlines, Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009

Grant applications must be postmarked by the deadline date as follows. Applications submitted by electronic transmission (i.e. FAX) will not be accepted. Late applications will not be considered.
DEADLINE ARTS COUNCIL REVIEW NWRDC ACTION EARLIEST STARTING DATE
Aug. 1, 2007 Sept. 6, 2007 Sep. 27, 2007 Oct. 1, 2007
Feb. 1, 2008 Mar 7, 2008 Mar. 28, 2008 Apr. 1, 2008
Aug. 1, 2008 Sept. 5, 2008 Sep. 26, 2008 Oct. 1, 2008
Feb. 1, 2009 Mar 6, 2009 Mar. 27, 2009 Apr. 1, 2009

The review dates are based on regular meeting dates of the regional Arts Council and the Northwest Regional Development Commission. The Arts Council has designated $7,500 to the first deadline and $2,500 to the second grant deadline. If all funds are not requested or awarded in March an additional deadline of May 1st may be announced. Consult the regional Arts Council Director regarding the availability of funds and for potential changes from the regular meeting schedule.

Earliest Project Starting Date • •

The project starting date is when a financial commitment has been made toward the project. Examples of financial commitments include but are not limited to: ordering supplies and materials, making a deposit to sponsor a group of artists, signing a contract, etc. Projects for which there has been any kind of financial commitment prior to that grant round’s "Earliest Starting Date" on the Application Deadline Schedule will not be eligible for funding.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council office early in the planning process at which time the Arts Council Director can provide the most assistance. Prior to the deadline date, staff are available to pre-review applications for completeness and accuracy.

Application Procedure • • •

An application must include the following for consideration for funding:

  1. Application Form: The applicant must submit a complete and accurate application providing all requested information. The proposed budget must be accurate, detailed, and appropriate to the purpose of the project. Incomplete applications are not eligible for review.
  2. Resume’s: Schools must submit a complete resume from the artist(s) or a brochure/flyer listing qualifications of a group of artists. Also please submit resume's or the qualifications of key teachers or project personnel, especially list items that influence the success of the project.
  3. Activity Plan/Schedule/Timeline: The artist(s) and project director should work together to develop a preliminary list of activities that the artist will accomplish, and the timeline and class schedule to complete them. This should include at least one core group of students with multiple exposures to the artist if the activity occurs after school or in the summer those who sign up will be the core group.

Review Criteria • • •

The following review standards will be used to determine funding:

• Merit and artistic quality, and the degree of service to the arts.

• Ability of the school to accomplish the project.

• Demonstrated demand or need for the project.

The Regional Arts Council will review the application and make a funding recommendation to the Northwest Regional Development Commission.

Compliance Requirements • • •

The grant recipient must:

  • Expend the granted funds only for the project as described in the grant application.
  • Be responsible for completion of the project and for proper management of grant funds. This includes showing evidence of the income and expenditure amounts of all funds.
  • Maintain records showing evidence of grant and matching funds.
  • Submit a final report on the form provided within 60 days of completion of the project.
  • Not limit access to the project on the basis on national origin, race, religion, age, or sex.
  • Include the following credit line in all advertising, news releases, printed programs, and promotional materials:

"This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Northwest Regional Development Commission with funds provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature."

A more detailed account of the Review Process, Terms of Grant/Grantee Responsibilities, Grant Monitoring and Evaluation, and the Appeals Policy and Procedures is available in the Arts Project application guidelines.

DEFINITIONS:

"Project Director" is the person designated by the school as responsible for overseeing the implementation of the proposed project and dealing directly with the artist. This person is responsible for the timely submission of all required forms and reports to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council. This person should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the proposed project, as the Arts Council may need to contact this person with questions specific to the application, the budget, or the project itself.

"Authorizing Official" is that person empowered to enter into contracts for the school.

"Artist Information"

  • maximum of $250 per day per artist
  • maximum of 4 contact hours per day (flexibility exists with the artist's permission)
  • multiple day residencies over a short period of time will receive priority

Reporting Requirements:

These forms will need to be completed and returned if your school receives a grant.

  • Contract
  • Cash Request
  • Final Report

Please call or email if you need more information on these reporting requirements.  218-745-6733 or mara@nwrdc.org

Contact the Regional Arts Council office if you have questions on the application!!