Iowa Arts Council Mini Grant Changes

1. Iowa Arts CouncilMini Grant Changes Thanks for joining us! The webinar will begin in a few minutes….

2. Your Hosts Mary Sundet Jones Iowa Arts Council Administrator Sarah Ekstrand Workshops, Rosters, & Special Projects Coordinator Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

3. Some Basic Info • Your phone line is muted now! • Sit back, listen, and watch • Anytime during session: Click on the “Ask a question” tab and write your question in. • We’ll take questions at the end of the session in the order received, as much as possible. • We may need to ask you to call or email us with more detailed questions after the session. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

4. Here’s What We’ll Cover • Not taking general questions about applying to the IAC – we assume you’ve applied for a Mini Grant before. • Mini Grant application form – where we’ve made changes • Why? To make the process cleaner and clearer both for the applicant and the panel reviewer.   Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

5. Mini Grant Deadlines • Deadlines: FY10 Grants • March 1, 2010: for projects occurring between April 1 and June 30, 2010 • May 3, 2010: for projects occurring between June 1 and June 30, 2010 – OR for projects occurring in July or August of 2010 • Deadlines: FY11 Grants • June 1, 2010: for projects occurring anytime after July 1, 2010 and ending before June 30, 2011 • July 1, 2010: for projects occurring anytime after August 1, 2010 and ending before June 30, 2011 • First business day of each month from then on. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

6. Funding Amount • $1000 maximum for Mini Grants • no longer $1500 • OK to ask for less than $1,000 Note: you may still receive a maximum of TWO Major and/or Mini Grants in 1 fiscal year. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

7. Submission Changes • No more eGRANT (for now) • Application form is online • Download, complete, mail in/deliver • www.iowaartscouncil.org • Supplemental materials in ONE package with application by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

8. Categories • No more categories for Mini Grants! (i.e. Artist, Organization, Public Art, etc.) • Mini Grant projects are simply Arts Project Grants Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

9. Changes to App Form • Looks different, but requests similar information • Narrative section • Clarified language • Up to 3 pages – you decide size of each section • Reduced number of Supplemental Materials Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

10. Profile of the Applicant Why include this section? • So reviewers know about you and the work you do New instructions: • Artists: Briefly describe your artistic career, including your vision for your work as an artist, the type of work you create and/or perform • Organizations: Briefly describe your organization's mission and purpose, primary service area, and constituents served. • Scholars (if applying for a Folk and Traditional Arts Scholarly project): Briefly describe your experience documenting, preserving, and/or presenting folk and traditional arts, including the specific folk art genres. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

11. Artistic Excellence of the Project (was Artistic Excellence) Why make changes? • Artistic goals could get lost in the old format – but they’re the most important thing • Reviewers wanted more details about the artistic qualifications of partners New Narrative Instructions: • Describe the project and your artistic goals for it. What will it look like if it is successful? • If applicable, describe any others with key artistic roles in the project, and detail their roles. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

12. Who Benefits (was Service to Iowans) Why make changes? • Needed specific language for individual artists • Needed cleaner and more direct language • Deal with problems related to “Underserved” New narrative instructions: • Artist Applicants: Describe how this project will benefit your artistic work/career. • All Others: Define the Iowa audience/s being served by this project, and describe how they will benefit. • All: If there are participants or an audience for the project, describe how they will know about the project, and how they will know how to participate. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

13. Project Planning, Management, and Evaluation(was Planning & Implementation) • Why make changes? • To focus on the most basic info reviewers need to know • Link evaluation with goals • Help reviewers believe you have capacity for success • New narrative instructions: • Provide details about how you will make the project happen. Briefly describe the steps you will take to complete the tasks necessary to achieve your goals, and how you will evaluate your success • Briefly describe your experience and/or qualifications to manage a project of the scale and scope you are proposing. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

14. Additional Documents Applications without these attachments will not be considered for funding. • Artist Information (Required if hiring/using independent artists) • Confirmation that artist/s will participate if funded • If artist is NOT on an IAC roster: artist's resume or CV and work samples • If artist IS on an IAC roster: a copy of his/her online roster information page - ONLY if the artist's roster material relates to this proposed project Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

15. Additional Documents, cont’d • Service Contract • Substitute W-9 Form • Minority Impact Form (Required by the State of Iowa) • What’s not on this list? • Timeline • Letters of Support • Additional Materials Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

16. Budget • No real changes • You must still describe what IAC funds & matching funds will support, and source(s) of matching funds Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

17. Underserved • Fundamental change: • Not part of narrative questions • Not something you define (& defend) for yourself • Not scored: information gathered for tracking purposes only • Underserved art forms in Iowa: • Dance • Media Arts • Folk and Traditional Arts • Underserved groups in Iowa: • Small towns/rural areas • New Iowans, especially immigrant groups • People with disabilities Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

18. Review Criteria / Scoring Why make changes? • Clearer method for panelists • Applicants know better what the score is based on • Allows heavier weighting for Artistic Excellence of the Project ----------------------------------------------------------------------- • Artistic Excellence of the Project • 10 points - Primary artists/artistic staff involved in the project are clearly identified, roles are clear, and artistic abilities are excellent. • 10 points - The project’s goals and artistic merit are excellent. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

19. Review Criteria / Scoring (cont’d) • Who Benefits • 5 points - The project will benefit the applicant and any identified Iowa audiences. • 5 points - The project is inclusive and engages appropriate participants • Planning, Management, & Evaluation • 5 points - The plan to implement and evaluate the project is well thought out and achievable by the people involved. • 5 points - The budget is appropriate for the scale and scope of the project. Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

20. Panel Review • No changes • 2-day Panel Review • Reviewed by 2 staff and one non-staff • 1 day to read and score • Panelists read all applications submitted that month • ½ day for panel discussion (not open to public) Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.

21. Questions? Have a question? Click on "Ask a Question" to write it in.