Lift Grant Guidelines Revised 2/2108 · Web viewSubmit the Lift Grant Application (Word document or Google doc), Lift Grant Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet or Google Sheet), artist

Lift Grant GuidelinesRevised February 2019

ARTISTIC GOALSLift Grants fund art projects that are new and exciting for the applicant - not a typical or recurring project. These projects also evolve the artistic practice, advance the careers, and enhance the reputations of the applicants. Lift Grants focus on the art itself and the impact of a successful project on the applicant’s career and reputation. Social change and/or community impact are not necessary or relevant for Lift funded projects.

ELIGIBILITYLift Grants fund three types of applicants: Artists Collaborations between, or a collective of, multiple artists or organizations Organizations must either be a 501(c)(3) or apply through a fiscal sponsor

and must have an annual budget under $750,000 Artists and collaborations/collectives do not need a fiscal sponsorAll applicants must be based in one of the following 10 counties of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Westmoreland, and Washington.

Each project must designate a lead artist: The Lead Artist is the artist who will answer questions from GPAC staff about the project and the application. The Lead Artist, for purposes of this application, is not necessarily the person responsible for the creative decisions. For organizations, the Lead Artist will be the staff member implementing the project.

Each project must be publicly shared during the grant funding period: The project must be shared in one of the following 10 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Westmoreland, or Washington. You can charge admission, sell tickets, and/or share the work online.

Lift Grants cannot fund: Programs, general operating support or regularly occurring projects Projects that are part of art-in-education programming either in or out

of school Art projects created for credit by students enrolled in art degree

programs Community art workshops, community art projects, community art

programs Fundraising projects or events Purely commercial expenses

1 of 16 Questions? Email [email protected] .

mailto:[email protected]


DEADLINES and GRANT REVIEW PROCESSThe grant review process encourages discussion about the project and grant application. GPAC staff may contact the Lead Artist with questions about the project and application at any point in the review process.

Grantees have eight months to complete the project.For applications due April 29, 2019 the funding period begins September 1, 2019 and the project must be complete by April 30, 2020. If your project cannot be completed within eight months, please email [email protected] before submitting your application to determine if an extension is possible.

LIFT GRANT REVIEW PROCESS: Stage 1: April 29 – July 3, 2019 GPAC staff review all applications for eligibility. All eligible applications are

submitted to the panel for review. Panelists meet and select the applications that will move on to Stage 2. 15 applications will advance to Stage 2. All applicants will be notified if their project has advanced to Stage 2 by

July 3, 2019. Note: Applications not moving on to Stage 2 will not receive funding.

Stage 2: July 4 – August 1, 2019 GPAC staff contact the Lead Artist of the Stage 2 Applicants to schedule

an interview and assist the applicants in preparation for the interview. GPAC staff facilitates all Stage 2 interviews and prepare interview

summaries for the panelists to review. Panelists meet to select and award grants. Stage 2 Applicants will be notified of the grant award decisions by August

1, 2019.





HOW TO APPLY1. READ THIS DOCUMENT WITH CARE and contact GPAC

([email protected]) with any questions or concerns.

2. Download and complete the Lift Grant Application.

3. Download and complete the Lift Grant Spreadsheet. This spreadsheet has three sections:

Expenses Income Plan

4. Gather Appropriate Work Samples: The work sample should represent the stage of development of your

project (see more details on p. 4 of these guidelines). PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS AND REVIEWS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. A work sample should take 2 - 3 minutes to watch, listen, read,

and/or view. Work samples can be images, text, video, audio and/or any other form

that is appropriate for your project. Upload your work sample to any online platform that allows you

to share a link to access work sample. Examples include: Vimeo, YouTube, any Google platform (Docs, Photos, and/or Slides).

Please select the sharing settings that allow anyone with the link to view the work sample.

Any link-accessible platform is fine as long as the file is viewed online and does not require the viewer to download an app, file, or software or to create an account.

5. Gather Resumes of Key Artists: You must submit a resume for each person listed as a Key Artist on p.

3 of the Lift Grant Application. Resumes are strictly limited to 2 pages per artist. Do not submit bios; they will not be accepted.





6. FOR ORGANIZATIONS ONLY: In addition to all of the above materials, organizations must submit: IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter for the organization or the fiscal

sponsor A complete and current list of:

Managerial staff (paid and unpaid) Board of Directors

Total annual budget for the current fiscal year

7. Submit the Lift Grant Application (Word document or Google doc), Lift Grant Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet or Google Sheet), artist resumes, and, for organizations, the documents listed in number 6 above, to [email protected] no later than 11:59 pm on April 29, 2019.

THE APPLICATIONPAGE ONE: APPLICANT INFORMATIONThe first page of the application asks basic questions about the applicant, the title of the project and the amount of your grant request. TIP: Only request the amount needed to complete the project. GPAC strives to fully fund successful applications.

In addition, you must identify the stage of development of your project as of the application deadline of April 29, 2019. The stage you select is important because it determines how the panelists will evaluate the application. Please refer to the chart below when you select the stage of development of your project and prepare your work samples. STAGE Definition Work Sample Expected

New Idea

The project has been outlined, the concept tested, and you have a plan to implement the project. The Lift Grant would fund early creative work and possibly the remainder of the work needed to complete the project.

Examples of past work most like the new project

In Development

Work on the project is underway but much (50% to 75%) of the artistic work remains. The Lift Grant would fund much of the remaining work on the project.

Rough examples of the project you would like to fund that will convey your vision for the final product.Examples: concept sketches, rough drafts of poems/scripts/chapters, camera phone video from a rehearsal.

Nearing Completion

The creative work for the project is close to completion (75% or more of the work is done.) The Lift Grant would fund remaining work and the

Work sample should be of the current state of the project. Examples: camera phone video from a rehearsal, current drafts of





presentation of the project. a script, or photos of the art completed to date.

Complete

The project is complete. This category is used for presenting completed work for the first time or an additional presentation of a completed work without major artistic changes.

A work sample from the completed project.

Rework/Revise

The project has already been presented but the Lift Grant would fund a different iteration of the work with substantial artistic changes.

The most recent iteration of the project.

PAGE TWO: CONTACT INFORMATIONThis page asks you to identify and provide the contact information for the Lead Artist. For the purpose of the Lift Grant Application, the Lead Artist is the person who can best answer questions about the project and application – not necessarily the artist responsible for the creative decisions. For organizations, the Lead Artist will be the staff member implementing the project.

PAGE THREE: KEY ARTISTSIn addition to the Lead Artist, each project may also identify up to three artists who are crucial to completing the project. All four of these artists are considered KEY ARTISTS for the application. Page 3 requests the names, disciplines, and how each artist identifies: gender expression, race/ethnicity and, if they would like, ability.

You must submit a resume for each artist listed on p. 2. Resumes are strictly limited to two pages per artist. No bios will be accepted.

Applicants that are artists or collaborations/collectives should skip p. 4 of the Lift Grant Application and move on to p. 5.

PAGE FOUR: ORGANIZATIONS ONLYOn p. 4, organizations must:

Share a mission statement




Share the organization’s total annual budget for the current fiscal year

Describe the leadership of the organization by filling out the table on p. 4 of the Lift Grant Application with:

the number of people on your board of directors the number of people in your managerial staff (paid and unpaid) the gender expression and race/ethnicity of the individuals on

your board of directors and managerial staff Organizations applying through a fiscal sponsor should describe the

leadership of the applicant, not the fiscal sponsor.

All organizations must also submit: a copy of the IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter of the applicant or fiscal

sponsor a complete and current list of the Board of Directors and Managerial

Staff included in the table on p. 4 of the Lift Grant Application




PAGES 5 - 8: THE ARTIntroduction:Lift Grants strive to fund high quality art. The panelists will determine the quality of the art by reviewing work samples, artist resumes, and answers to Questions A1 – A4.

For Lift Grants, high quality art is defined by the following five attributes1. Funded projects are not required to embody all five criteria. However, all funded projects must demonstrate cultural integrity.

COHERENCE: Strong ideas expressed with clarity advance artistic goals Is there a meaningful connection between medium and message? Is there a clear artistic point of view? Is there a clear relationship among multiple artistic perspectives?

DISRUPTION: Effective disruption is mindful and intentional. A work can disrupt artistic conventions, concepts of beauty, or how the audience engages with the art. In what ways does the work break away from artistic practices? Does the artwork offer new ways of thinking about form or medium? How does the artwork influence new directions for artistic practice? Does the artwork experiment with new means of expression? What is the point of the disruption? Does the art advance a meaningful purpose or idea?

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE: The emotional and sensory impact of the work How does the work challenge sensory expectations? How does the artwork engage the imaginations of audience members? Does the artwork elicit emotional responses?

OPENNESS: The work deepens impact by welcoming people of all abilities and backgrounds. The work offers multiple points of entry for people with varied

expectations, backgrounds and abilities.

CULTURAL INTEGRITY: The creative work demonstrates integrity and ethical use of material with specific cultural origins and context. Did the applicant clearly identify the discipline and genre of the project? What is the artist’s connection to the content or subject of the project? What is the artist’s connection to the cultural context of the art?

1 These attributes were adapted from Aesthetic Perspectives.


http://www.animatingdemocracy.org/aesthetic-perspectives



THE QUESTIONS

A1: A Two-Part Question about Cultural Integrity

Introduction: GPAC is committed to funding projects that demonstrate high standards of cultural integrity. This two-part question requires applicants to specify the discipline, genre, and content or subject of the project as well as the applicant’s connection to those aspects of the project. (For a definition and sample answers for this question, see pp. 6-8 of the Lift Grant Guidelines.)

A1: Part 1 List the artistic discipline, genre within that discipline, and subject or content of the project in the table below. If the project involves more than one artistic discipline, please list all the disciplines and corresponding genres in the table.

PROJECTDiscipline

GenreSubject or Content

A1: Part 2Describe how the applicant and the key artists are connected to the discipline, genre, and subject, content of the project. 3,000 Characters TIP: Connection can be found in personal or professional history and experience, formal education, and self-directed study.

SAMPLE ANSWERS:Below are four abbreviated sample answers based on previously funded projects. The answers below are much shorter than should be submitted in a Lift Application. These sample answers illustrate the type of information the panelists need to evaluate the cultural integrity of a project.

GARBAGE is a collaboration between an experienced European filmmaker and an African-American writer creating his first screenplay. The film’s style originates from the European tradition of creating films that not just entertain but provoke thought and introspection. The filmmaker spent the early years of his career steeped in

this tradition while living and working in his home town of Madrid. The content of the film comes from the daily experiences of the film’s African-


PROJECT: GARBAGE Discipline Film

Genre Short/drama

Subject or Content

What would happen if white people needed to come to black people to survive



American screenwriter who also has creative authority on how the relationships between the white and black characters are portrayed. This creative authority requires that the writer remain deeply engaged in the film throughout production – including during casting and filming.

Both curators creating this exhibit proudly identify as queer, outsider artists of color. As graffiti artists the curators also understand the impact of gentrification in the City of Pittsburgh. The Glow Up, a two-day exhibit in the Ace Hotel uses the location of the exhibit to highlight, not just to work of

outsider artists of color, but also the displacement of those artists as a result of gentrification.

Surround is a collaboration between composer Federico Garcia-DeCastro and harpist Natalie Severson. Both musicians have formal education, including post-secondary degrees, in music focusing on the European classical tradition. Ms. Severson is currently completing her MFA in Harp Performance at Carnegie Mellon University. Since

completing his education, Mr. Garcia-DeCastro has focused on contemporary chamber music both as a composer and as the founder and artistic director of Alia Musica, a new music ensemble that presents the Pittsburgh Festival of New Music every other year since 2012.

Vilaya is an Indian Classical Dance Festival created and produced by Nandanik Dance Troupe. Founder and artistic director Nandini Mandal has formal training in several styles of Indian Classical Dance

beginning when she was a young woman growing up in India and continuing after immigrating to the United States. In addition, Ms. Mandal has continued to learn throughout her dancing career with mentors who are experts in


PROJECT: The Glow Up Discipline Visual Art

Genre Curation/ExhibitSubject or Content

Exhibit featuring the work of outsider artists of color

PROJECT: Surround Discipline Music

Genre Contemporary Chamber Music

Subject or Content

A composition for six harps surrounding the audience that explores the location of the sound as an additional element of the composition

PROJECT: Vilaya Discipline Dance

Genre Indian Classical DanceSubject or Content

To showcase the diversity found in regional styles of Indian classical dance



various regional styles of Indian Classical Dance. Vilaya will, for the first time in North America, bring dancers specializing in seven different regional dance styles to perform back to back highlighting the breadth and diversity of Indian Classical Dance. All performers will be experts in a specific regional style some coming from India to perform in the United States for the first time.

A2:What will you create? 3,000 Characters TIP: Describe the end artistic product of the project with enough specifics for the panelists to form a mental picture. Example: “A collaborative multi-disciplinary performance created by a musician, a choreographer, and a visual artist” is not sufficiently specific. That description could apply to: Contemporary ballet performed to a solo piano recording while a video is

projected behind the dancers; OR An aerialist performing on a stage set created by a sculptor accompanied by a

live brass band.

A3:How will you do it? 3,000 Characters TIP: Describe the work completed to date, work that still needs to be done, and what activities this grant would fund. TIP: Include the roles and responsibilities of each key artist, any significant partners involved with the project, and, if the applicant is an organization, the roles and responsibilities within the organization.

A4:How will you share your work? 1,000 Characters TIP: All projects must be shared but you can sell tickets or charge admission to patrons. Please include potential or confirmed venues or platforms for sharing the work.

THE WORK SAMPLES

Each applicant must share links to no more than three work samples that reflect the stage of development of your project. Refer to chart on p. 4 of these guidelines for more details.

The work sample should represent the stage of development of your project (see more details on p. 4 of these guidelines).

PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS AND REVIEWS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.




A work sample should take 2 - 3 minutes to watch, listen, read, and/or view.

Work samples can be images, text, video, audio and/or any other form that is appropriate for your project.

Upload your work sample to any online platform that allows you to share a link to access work sample. Examples include: Vimeo, YouTube, any Google platform (Docs, Photos, and/or Slides).

Please select the sharing settings that allow anyone with the link to view the work sample.

Any link-accessible platform is fine as long as the file is viewed online and does not require the viewer to download an app, file, or software or to create an account.




PAGES 9 - 10: THE ENERGYIntroduction:Lift Grants strive to fund projects that promote artistic success by:

evolving a creative vision or artistic practice enhancing artistic skills advancing the careers of the artists and/or the professional reputation

of the organization

The panelists will assess the energy of the project by reviewing the answers to Questions E1 and E2 below to determine: Is this project artistically new, different, and exciting for the applicant? Will the applicant acquire new or enhance existing artistic skills? Does the applicant have a realistic plan to leverage the success of this

project to advance the careers of the artists and/or the professional reputation of the organization?

THE QUESTIONSE1:How will this project evolve your creative vision, technical skills, and/or artistic practice? 2,000 CharactersTIP: Include new artistic skills needed to complete the project, how the project will enhance or expand existing skills, expand an artistic practice or develop new artistic collaborationsTIP: Explain how this project fits in the artists’ careers by describing how the project is new, exciting, and different but also a natural progression for the artists and organizations involved. Keep in mind that Lift Grants cannot fund regularly occurring projects or activities.

E2: Describe your plan to leverage the success of this project in a way that that will advance the careers of artists and/or enhance the professional reputation of the organization.2,000 CharactersTIP: Share how you will use the momentum generated by this project to sustain and enhance the careers of the artists and/or the reputation of an organization.

Note: GPAC acknowledges that barriers (systemic, cultural, and/or institutional) exist that can impact an applicant’s ability to build on the momentum of a successful project. Applicants should articulate a realistic plan that demonstrates a desire to enhance their career or reputation by leveraging a successful project.




PAGE ELEVEN SIGNATURESWho must sign the application?

ORGANIZATION: CEO/Executive Director of organization and Lead Artist● ARTIST: Lead Artist and any other artists that are key to completing the

project● ARTIST COLLABORATION/COLLECTIVE: All primary artistic collaborators

LIFT GRANT SPREADSHEET: THE PLANIntroduction:Lift Grants strive to fund organized projects created by people with the necessary skills and experience to complete the project.

The panelists will review the Lift Grant Spreadsheet and artist resumes for answers to the following questions:

Do the people and the plan support the project? Is the budget complete and reasonable? Is the implementation plan complete and achievable?

THE LIFT GRANT SPREADSHEET

Expenses (include the total cost of the project)1. Divide the project expenses into the following five broad categories:

Artist Fees: Artist applicants should include their own fees (PAY YOURSELF!)

Rent, Materials, Supplies and Equipment Consultants/Professional Services Travel Everything Else

2. Break down the expenses in each of the five categories in a way that makes sense for this project.

3. For example, if the project requires dancers and musicians, share how many dancers are needed and what they will be paid. Do the same for the musicians.

4. If the budget includes purchasing equipment, please use the “Notes” column to explain why the equipment is necessary to complete this project.

5. Provide a total for all expenses within each of the five categories.6. Provide a grand total of all project expenses. 7. Use the “Notes” column to share any important information about a

particular expense. Income

1. Divide project income into five broad categories: Grants received and/or submitted




Earned income from ticket, merchandise, advertising, and concession sales, etc.

Individual donations Cash support from the artists or organizations creating the artwork Everything else

2. Break down the project income in the five categories in a way that makes sense for the project.

3. For example, if patrons must purchase tickets for the event and may also purchase food and drink at the event, share a realistic estimate for ticket revenue and provide a separate realistic estimate for the money made from selling food and drink.

4. For each source of income please indicate if the income is: Secured (a grant has been awarded to support the project) OR Pending (you have applied for a grant to support the project but

do not know if you will get it) INCLUDE THE LIFT GRANT AS PENDING INCOME THE LIFT GRANT CAN BE THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME

5. Please include the value of any confirmed in-kind support as income: In-Kind support means that a major project expense is being

provided to the applicant for free Examples include: a caterer donating the food for an opening

reception or the value of discounted rent for a venue or rehearsal space

In-kind support is confirmed only if the donor has agreed to provide the support for this specific project

6. Provide a total for income for each of the five categories.7. Provide total project income.8. Use the “Notes” column to share your Plan B if pending income

does not materialize.

Plan1. Share your plan for implementing this project by listing the project

tasks/goals to complete during each month of the funding period.2. Examples include: finalize choreography, hire director, or frame

artwork.3. For each task, share the name or job title of individual

responsible for completing the task and indicate if that person has committed to the project.

4. It is OK to write “No Activity” in the “Task/Goal” column for any given month.

5. Use the “Notes” column to share important information about any particular task or goal.




LIFT GRANT SUBMISSION CHECKLIST Lift Grant Application: Completed and signed (Word document or

Google Doc) Lift Grant Spreadsheet: All three sections completed (Excel

Spreadsheet or Google Sheet) Applications and spreadsheets submitted on Google platforms must allow

editing access to anyone with the link. PDFs of Lift Applications and Lift Spreadsheets will not be

accepted. Resumes for all key artists listed on p. 3 of the Lift Grant Application

(Word document, Google Doc or PDF) ORGANIZATIONS ONLY:

Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter (PDF) Complete and current list of board of directors and managerial staff

(Word document, Google Doc or PDF)

All materials must be attached to one email submitted no later than

11:59 PM on Monday, April 29, 2019 to [email protected]

IF SUBMITTING THESE DOCUMENTS ELECTRONICALLY IS A

BARRIEROR

IF YOU CANNOT SUBMIT THESE DOCUMENTS IN THE FORMS 15 of 16 Questions? Email [email protected] .




REQUIRED,PLEASE CONTACT GPAC’S GRANT TEAM FOR ASSISTANCE

Anne 412.391.2060 ext.238Shaqui 412.391.2060 ext. [email protected]




Documents

Lift Grant Guidelines Revised 2/2108 · Web viewSubmit the Lift Grant Application (Word document or Google doc), Lift Grant Spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet or Google Sheet), artist