Congratulations to The Steel Yard in Providence for receiving the Silver Medal from the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA).  Founded in 1987, the biennial award celebrates urban places distinguished by quality design and contributions to the social, economic, and communal vitality of our nation’s cities.

Each of the four 2013 RBA silver medalists receive $10,000 to support their projects.

The 2013 RBA selection committee included Mayor Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City; Ann Coulter – Owner, A. Coulter Consulting, Chattanooga, TN; Walter Hood – Principal, Hood Design, Oakland, CA; Cathy Simon – Design Principal, Perkins+Will, San Francisco, CA; Susan Szenasy – Editor-in-Chief, Metropolis, New York, NY; and Jane Werner – Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh (2007 RBA Gold Medal), Pittsburgh, PA. A blog series on Metropolismag.com is currently chronicling the 2013 RBA process and events to come. Later this year, the Bruner Foundation will publish a book of detailed case studies about the awarded projects including highlights from the selection committee’s discussions.

All of us at RISCA congratulation The Steel Yard on its national recognition!  (Not to mention the $10,000 award!)

Application Deadline is May 23, 2013

NEA’s Challenge America Fast-Track Director, Michael Killoren, will present a webinar on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT to help potential applicants navigate the application materials and process. There will be an overview presentation of CAFT guidelines, followed by a Q & A.

The Challenge America Fast-Track (CAFT) category of funding supports primarily small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

The Challenge America Fast Track deadline is May 23, 2013.

How to join the webinar

Please register in advance on the NEA’s webinar page at arts.gov or go to https://events-na7.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/1100909356/en/events/event/shared/1216039387/event_landing.html?sco-id=1238502632&_charset_=utf-8

You may listen using your computer’s speakers or dial-in to 1-877-685-5350 and use participant code: 739587. Attendees will be muted but able to type in questions and comments through a Q & A text box.

An archive of the webinar will be available on April 8th on the NEA’s website.

More information on Challenge America Fast-Track

Challenge America Fast-Track grants:

Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
Are limited to 4 specific types of projects: arts event featuring a guest artist(s), public art, unified promotion, and design.
Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match.
Receive an expedited application review.

To see recent CAFT grants, visit the Recent Grants section at arts.gov. For sample application narratives, go to the Freedom of Information Act Reading Room.

Creative Arts Exchange Grant – U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchange
Deadline- May 6, 2013
Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) initiatives are arts-based international
people-to-people exchanges that support and further U.S. Department of State
foreign policy objectives. Eligible themes under this competition include
Economic Statecraft and the Arts, Arts in Collaboration, Community Engagement
through the Arts, and Professional Development in the Arts. Please see the full
announcement for details. http://www.nalac.org/index.php/opportunitiespage/scholarships-grants/item/225-creative-arts-exchanges-state-department-bureau-of-educational-and-cultural-exchange

Now Accepting Applications through April 4, 2013 11:59 pm CST
The competitive TCR grant program is open to individuals, collectives and
community-based organizations in the United States, Mexico and Central America.
Successful projects demonstrate a continuous and ongoing exchange whereby
artistic activity supports, preserves or extends the cultural practices between
linked communities in two or more of the following countries: Belize, Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and the United
States. To date, the TCR grant program has awarded over $250,000 in 66
communities.

Taking its name from brimstone, the elusive element medieval
chemists believed would transform base metals into gold, this award
focuses on the transformational properties of storytelling, and aims to
increase understanding of the ways storytelling can promote change in
individuals and communities.

The grant supports a model storytelling project that is
service-oriented, based in a community or organization, and to some
extent replicable in other places and situations.   It is our hope that
projects receiving this award will have impact beyond their own
communities, organizations, or clients, inspiring excellence in applied
storytelling work and communicating to new audiences the humanitarian
possibilities of storytelling.

Many different sorts of projects can be considered for the
award, including community, organizational or institutional programs,
curricular activities, short residencies, and projects combining
complementary art forms.  Projects may involve various kinds of stories,
including traditional tales and myths as well as personal and ad hoc
narratives. Although oral storytelling should be central to the project,
the work need not be conducted by professional storytelling performers.
Educators, therapists, naturalists, internal or external
organizational practitioners, etc., personnel appropriate to the
situation may carry out the project, so long as they can draw on
suitable storytelling expertise and experience.  We are looking for
responsiveness to the standards of good practice in the field of the
project.

Note:  In keeping with the intent of the Brimstone
Award to support innovative, service-oriented projects, the Award will
not normally fund honoraria for performances, storytelling festivals,
travel, or the purchase of equipment.

Various fields are appropriate for the Brimstone Award,
including, for example, health care, environmental education/activism,
community development, law, multicultural awareness, organizational
development, leadership, intergenerational initiatives, empowerment of
the disabled, substance abuse prevention, and educational curriculum at
all levels.

Whatever their field or design, proposed projects should be:

• Service-oriented: aiming to make a positive and lasting impact on some community, organization or group;
• Innovative in either method or application;
• Replicable: offering models of design that others can learn from and adapt in new settings;
• Informed by relevant work in the field:
  based on knowledge of what has been done elsewhere and on awareness of
  the broad theoretical framework that underlies the project (expressed in
  jargon-free discussion that relates ideas in existing literature to the
  construction of the proposed project);
• Assessable: designed to include ways of evaluating the effectiveness of the project;
• Well-documented: planned to culminate in
  accurate documentation of the process and design, including the
  difficulties as well as the accomplishments of the project.  Different
  media may be used for documentation and dissemination, so long as the
  end result is clear, accessible communication.

Please look at previous winners’ projects for some idea of
the scope the Brimstone Award Committee is looking for.  You will also
want to review the rubric and criteria the Committee uses for scoring
applications.

Applicants should consider realistically what they can
accomplish with the relatively small award of $5000.  The award could
fund a new project that represents an applicant’s ongoing commitment and
expertise in a particular area.  However, the award could also be used
to enable a project already in motion to come to completion.  In other
circumstances, it could fund effective documentation and dissemination
of a successful project.  We encourage collaborative funding; the
Brimstone Award might support part of a project that is otherwise
sustained by funds from other sources: matching funds, grants and
donations, other revenues.
For more information click here.

Applicants who are not members of the National Storytelling
Network will pay the current membership fee to become an NSN member.

The College Board is now accepting applications for the 2013 College Board Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts.
This annual award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of six
member institutions that have implemented an arts program that promotes
student learning and creativity in exemplary and innovative ways.

Take a look at the 2012 Arts Award brochure for profiles and photos of last year’s winning programs.

One school from each of
the College Board’s six regions will be awarded $3,500 to support the
continuation and growth of their arts programs. Of the six finalists,
one school will be named the national winner and will be awarded an
additional $1,500. Regional winners will be honored at their respective
College Board Regional Forums; the national winner will also be honored
at the College Board National Forum.

Eligibility

The applicant program
must have been in place for a minimum of one year prior to the
application date. Applicants must be College Board member institutions
member or member districts that serve grades 6–12. To find out if your
school is a member, email membership@collegeboard.org

Previous recipients of
the College Board’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts are
not eligible, but semi-finalists, honorable mentions, and schools that
have applied in the past are encouraged to reapply. College Board
Schools are not eligible.

The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is accepting nominations for the 2013 Tom
Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities. The deadline for
application is 5:00pm on April 10, 2013.
Established in 2001 to honor the Council’s founding director, the Tom Roberts Prize is
awarded annually to an individual or group whose work is distinguished by an innovative
approach to the humanities. With emphasis on the arts, the award celebrates creativity
in topics, disciplines and formats that extend the field of the humanities.
The Tom Roberts Prize recipient will be honored at the 11th Annual Celebration of the
Humanities in October 2013. Additionally, they will receive a $2,000 honorarium.
Criteria for review by the panel may include (but are not limited to):
• Blends the wisdom and methods of the humanities in an inventive and
imaginative way, with emphasis on the arts.
• Explores topics, disciplines, and formats not ordinarily associated with
traditional humanities education.
• Reflects the humanities’ ability to inspire us to examine everything, interpreting
what we see and what lies beneath the surface.
• Is distinguished by ingenuity, innovation, and public appeal.
Past recipients include VSA Arts RI Executive Director Jeannine Chartier, WaterFire
creator and Artistic Director Barnaby Evans, and antiques dealer and civic provocateur
Richard Kazarian.
All nominations must be received by 5:00pm on April 10, 2013.
2013 Tom Roberts Prize
Nomination Form
Deadline: April 10, 2013
Award Nominee Contact Information
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________________________________
Email: _____________________________________________________________
Contact person (if an organization/group): _________________________________
Nominator Contact Information
Name: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: ______________________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________________________________
Email: _____________________________________________________________
Contact person (if an organization/group): _________________________________
Please attach a nomination statement (no more than one page) and a resume, if available.
Email or mail completed nomination to the address below.
Nominations must be received by April 10, 2013.
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, Attn: Tom Roberts Prize
131 Washington Street, Suite 210, Providence, RI 02903
Or email nominations to: caroleann@rihumanities.org

Open Dialogue 13: People, Places, and Policy
August 2‐4, 2013
Providence Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance Street ∙ Providence, RI 02903 ∙ 401‐421‐0700
Open Dialogue is presented by TAAC and is hosted by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
The Association of American Cultures, TAAC, was founded in 1985, to convene artists and cultural workers reflective of
our pluralistic society and to inform and advocate for democratic cultural policies.
Open Dialogue 13 will focus on significant and pivotal people, places and policies impacting cultural democracy in
America. Through panels, keynote presentations, interviews, performances, interactive sessions, community
experiences, and animated conversations, we will explore TAAC’s four foundational pillars:
 Equal participation in policymaking
 Equitable funding for all cultural institutions
 Elevation in multicultural leadership
 Essential networks that impact cultural policy
Open Dialogue Audience
200 ‐ 250 arts administrators, individual and teaching artists, arts educators, board members and cultural policy
advocates attend Open Dialogue.
Participants come from communities across the country and abroad, from varied arts backgrounds and levels of
experience. Because it is important that all interested persons feel welcome at Open Dialogue, we routinely ask
presenters to refrain from making assumptions about the politics, values, or backgrounds of participants. We also ask
presenters to remember that participants might be new to the field and to do their best to explain jargon and acronyms
within presentations.
What we are looking for:
Open Dialogue sessions are 90 minutes and should be complete learning experiences with specific outcomes and
learning objectives. Sessions can include multiple speakers, but are limited to no more than four speakers per session.
We will accept proposals from individuals, collectives, and organizations
Proposals should focus on innovative strategies, tested tools, and best practices that relate to the frames of the Open
Dialogue and TAAC’s foundational pillars of equity in policy making, funding, leadership and networks that impact
cultural policy. TAAC is particularly interested in sessions that engage attendees in unique ways that reach beyond the
standard presenter/PowerPoint model. Please be creative in conceiving the format for your session! All sessions should

TAAC Open Dialogue 13 ‐ Call for Sessions focus on what was done, why it was done, how it was implemented, how it was measured, what results were found, and what it cost. Session formats may include, but are not limited to:
 Facilitated Discussions—present an issue or trend as a conversation among experts followed by Q & A.
 Case Studies—describe a program or project in‐depth, focusing on innovative solutions to clearly defined challenges and their implications for the field.
 Research or Data Presentations—help interpret new research or data through practical field applications.
 Skill‐Building and Hands‐On Learning Experiences—encourage participants to use professional skills to explore a scenario and to teach and learn new tactics.
 Experiential —introduce participants to a topic or issue through a creative presentation followed by reflection, discussion, and questions.

Will TAAC Provide Speaker Stipends, Audio/Visual Support or Session Supplies?
The Open Dialogue registration fee will be waived for all speakers. Small honoraria may be available for those traveling
from outside of the greater New England area.
PowerPoint projector, screen, wireless internet, (1) laptop computer, and (2) microphones are standard for conference
sessions. Audio visual needs including flipcharts, hardwired internet connections, additional microphones, and any items
not listed above are add‐ons and will be handled on a case‐by‐case basis in order to control costs. TAAC will make
copies of session materials if materials are provide by the copy deadline, of which selected presenters will be made
aware.
The Review Process
Proposals will be reviewed by members of the TAAC board and members of the local host committee. The following criteria will be used:
 Clarity of proposal;
 Adherence to proposal submission instructions;
 Relevance to the theme and/or goals;
 Potential for engaging participants in meaningful learning experiences.
Please note: If two session proposals are similar, the presenters may be contacted to determine if they will be willing to
collaborate on the session.

How to Apply
Submit a competed electronic application form by March 25, 2013, (email deadline). Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
Applications can be sent to: Mayumi Tsutakawa, TAAC Board Chair, at mtsutakawa@yahoo.com
Applicants will be notified of the status of their proposal on or after March 25, 2013.
INFORMATION:
‐ www.taac.com
‐ or https://www.facebook.com/AmericanCultures

THIS WEDNESDAY
8:30am – 3:30pm
New England Foundation for the Arts
145 Tremont Street, Boston
Registration: $75
Lunch will be provided. Space is limited!
As an administrator of a busy nonprofit, you wear many hats. At the A&BC, we understand that managing the human resource functions of your organization can be challenging—and even treacherous. Join Ipswich Bay Advisors and the Northeast Human Resources Association for a one-day, deep dive into critical human resource topics, including:

Hiring & Culture: Interviewing, job descriptions, and new hire onboarding
Employee Relations: Supervision, leadership, performance reviews, talent management, terminations, and career development, as well as managing the lifecycle talent
Employment Law: Human resource laws and compliance
Compensation and Benefits: Structuring compensation and benefit programs, employee benefit and payroll laws
Who Should Attend:

Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations
Nonprofit Administrators
Future Executive Directors
Members of nonprofit boards of directors
You will come away with:

Tools on how to hire the right candidates
Tips on how to avoid compensation and payroll nightmares
Strategies to retain and engage employees
Opportunities to network with directors and experts in the field
Space is limited!
REGISTER NOW!

We hope to see you there!

RISCA Grants Workshop – 2013 Cycle 1 Organizations & Education

Tuesday, March 12, 2013 from 12:00  to 2:00 PM in Newport, RI

To register, click here.

Those interested in the growth of new work in Theatre should definitely check out – and contribute to – something called the New Play Map at http://newplaymap.org/ Here’s a quote from an article on this new project…

Inspired by these questions and Nam June Paik’s installation Electronic Superhighway, and with the help and feedback from the theater community we created HowlRound’s New Play Map—an open source map that seeks to detail just how a new play moves from the page to the stage. Anyone can contribute to the Map—artists, organizations, and theater advocates alike. Similar to Wikipedia and Ushahidi, the HowlRound New Play Map is only as good as the aggregate of its data.

Let us know what you think…

Greetings, Dance Community!
Many of you know me personally, and some of you I have not yet met. I hope this message finds all of you well in the New Year.
Yesterday, I was speaking with a friend about RI Dance Alliance, and I used this metaphor to describe my personal understanding of the organization’s purpose:
DA is a house that was built 27 years ago by people who wanted to bring our community together to promote dance issues in our state. Since then, lots of folks have moved in and moved out. Some people just crashed on the couch for a little while, and others have taken up running the kitchen. Some have helped patch the roof and the walls. When you decide to stop by, or move in, you can find a role in this house that works for you.

Bottom line: everyone is welcome and we’d love to see some old friends back again! Please, be a part of the community you want to have.

I joined DA in 2004, after graduating from the dance program at Rhode Island College. Since then, DA has provided many great opportunities for me, including professional development, networking, friendships, and opportunities to produce, teach, perform, and choreograph.
We do a lot with this organization, especially considering the small number of individuals who actually contribute to the housework. If you think that this is an exclusive club that won’t have any interest in the way you want to contribute, I urge you to think again. DA is here for you do whatever needs to be done to keep a vibrant dance community in RI. Promote your project. Imagine something new. Connect with others. Support great programs. Expand the experiences of your students. Take a workshop for yourself.
Currently, we are in the process of nominating new directors and board members, who will carry out the vision of DA over the next 2 years. If you would like to see Dance Alliance go in a particular direction, or you know someone who has a lot to offer, I strongly urge you to contact our current president, Tovah Bodner Muro, for more information about the nomination process. president@ridancealliance.org
Also, whether you are a paying member or not, I hope you will follow us on Facebook so that you can see how much information and activity is really out there. https://www.facebook.com/RIDanceAlliance

I hope to see you at our next membership meeting, March 9 at Studio One in Lincoln RI. The meeting is at 1pm, followed by two great workshops in Salsa and Swing. All are welcome.
Please visit our website for more information: http://www.ridancealliance.org/next_workshop.html
Also, I hope you will join us for some part of our upcoming Modern Movement Festival, April 26-28 in Downtown Providence. Sponsorships are available. Please contact me for more information.
http://www.ridancealliance.org/modern_movement_festival.html
Warm regards,
Nikki
ps–I have disabled all links in this message in hopes of avoiding as many spamblockers as possible. Please copy and paste the URLs into your browser to visit the links!

Through its Fund for National Projects, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation awards a total of up to $1 million in grants each year to support key national projects in the professional nonprofit dance, jazz, presenting and/or theater fields. Specifically, the fund supports projects that strengthen the national infrastructure of the nonprofit performing arts and/or improve conditions for the national community of performing artists in professional nonprofit dance, jazz and theater.

Projects eligible for the grants should engage a broad constituency, occur once (or periodically) rather than annually, and have the potential to significantly impact their respective field. Examples include research projects that assess the national health of professional nonprofit arts groups or of individual professional artists; special national convenings for entire professional nonprofit performing arts fields (beyond traditional national annual conferences); and projects that address unique circumstances that affect an entire professional nonprofit field. Highest priority will be given to projects designed to improve the health of priority performing arts fields and that do not duplicate ongoing efforts or existing services.

The fund expressly does not support the following types of activities: projects by single performing arts entities; ongoing annual conferences; individually produced conferences, performances, or symposia; re-granting programs; translations or commissions of new works; production start-up activities/production costs; arts education; avocational arts activities; capital projects; and endowments.

Complete application and submission guidelines can be found at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s Web site.

Contact:
Link to Complete RFP: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=405600015

CIRD works with a geographic cross section of communities that
demonstrate community capacity and strong partnerships, a commitment to
diverse participation and engagement of all the demographic groups
present in their community, and the potential to achieve actionable
results. Each of the communities that has hosted a CIRD workshop has
identified design issues of immediate relevance not only to their town,
but to other rural communities as well.

http://rural-design.org/about

The National Endowment for the Arts announces application guidelines for Grants for Arts Projects for local arts agencies

Arts Works & Challenge America Fast-Track deadlines are March, May, and August 2013

NEA applicants must be nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes with at least three years of programming history in order to apply.

Grant Opportunity: Art Works

The NEA’s Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Within these areas, innovative projects are strongly encouraged.

Organizations referred to as arts councils, departments of cultural affairs, or arts commissions make up the field of local arts agencies (LAAs). LAAs can be private, nonprofit entities; others are public municipal, county, or regional agencies that operate in cooperation with mayors and city managers.

Art Works project types for LAAs include but are not limited to:

·         Marketing.

·         Audience development.

·         Cultural/creative sector planning.

·         Commissions.

·         Lifelong learning.

·         Enhancement of public spaces.

·         Arts journalism (For project examples, deadlines, and webinar date,  please click here.)

·         Arts, science, technology ( For project examples, archived webinar, and related content, please click here.)

Visit the Art Works guidelines for LAA projects on our website for complete information.

Webinar for potential Art Works applicants

The NEA will present a webinar for LAA applicants covering the basics of the Art Works funding category, how to apply to the NEA, selecting work samples, and advice on preparing a strong application. There will be time for Q & A with NEA staff. The webinar will be January 29, 2013 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. EST at arts.gov. To join the webinar, go here.

A sample of recent NEA Art Works grants to LAAs include:

·         A $20,000 grant to the Arts Council of New Orleans will support the Artist as Entrepreneur e-course, a visual arts marketing, self-promotion, and career-planning course for Louisiana artists.

·         A $40,000 grant to the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greater Kansas City (Missouri) will support creation of a regional cultural plan for the greater Kansas City area, including five counties in Missouri and Kansas.

·         A $40,000 grant to Flagstaff Cultural Partners (Arizona) will support a residency program for artists to create and exhibit new work at the Coconino Center for the Arts and teach high school students and at-risk youth.

To see the full list of recent NEA Art Works grants to local arts agencies, visit the Recent Grants section of the NEA website.

Grant Opportunity: Challenge America Fast-Track

The Challenge America Fast-Track category offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations — those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Challenge America Fast-Track grants:

Extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
Are limited to specific types of projects.
Are for a fixed amount of $10,000 and require a minimum $10,000 match.
Receive an expedited application review.

To see the full list of recent NEA Challenge America Fast-Track grants, visit the Recent Grants section of the NEA website. For sample application narratives, go to the Freedom of Information Act Reading Room.

Visit the Challenge America Fast-Track guidelines for complete information.

Deadlines for Arts Works and Challenge America Fast-Track

There are two deadlines for Art Works applications:

·         For projects under the area of creation or engagement: March 7, 2013

·         For projects under the area of creation, engagement, learning or livability: August 8, 2013

There is one deadline for Challenge America Fast-Track applications: May 23, 2013

A sample of local arts agencies -related content from the NEA website including NEA Arts magazine, and the Art Works blog:

·         A blog post on the Seattle’s Office of Art & Cultural Affairs’ new arts jobs program

·         A blog post on the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and its public transit performance series, Exact Change.

·         An interview with Roberto Bedoya, Executive Director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council.

_____________________________________________

If you’re interested in subscribing to the Arts Works blog, please go here. To access our Facebook page, go here, and for our Twitter feed, go here.

CONTACT: Adrienne Petrillo Program Manager 617.951.0010 x527

Elizabeth Bouchard Program Coordinator 617.951.0010 x516

NEFA SUPPORTS ARTISTS WITH GRANTS AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES; ESTABLISHES VITAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ARTISTS, ARTS PROGRAMMERS, AND THE PUBLIC; AND STRENGTHENS THE REGION’S CREATIVE ECONOMY
THROUGH RESEARCH THAT INFORMS PUBLIC POLICY.
Read more about NEFA.

CONNECT WITH NEFA!

Apply for a NEST grant by December 3, 2012.

NEFA’s New England States Touring (NEST) grant program provides support to New England-based nonprofit organizations (known as presenters) for performances and community activities by select New England performing artists.

DEADLINE

Applications are due by December 3, 2012 for projects beginning on or after March 1, 2013.

View grant program details and apply today.

Need travel support to attend the

2013 APAP conference* or other upcoming events?

NEFA’s Presenter Travel Fund supports travel costs for arts programmers or curatorial staff in New England so that they may research new or unfamiliar artists or ensembles.

DEADLINE

Applications must be received by NEFA no later than one calendar month prior to the departure date of the proposed trip. It is strongly recommended to apply early as funds are granted on a first come, first served basis.

View grant program details and apply today.
* Visit NEFA at the 2013 APAP Conference in America’s Hall II, Booth #702!

NEFA’s New England States Touring and Presenter Travel Fund programs are made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

The National Endowment for the Arts has published guidelines and the application for the next funding round of Our Town, the agency’s primary creative placemaking grants program.

Through the program, the endowment will provide a limited number of grants for creative placemaking projects that contribute toward the livability of communities of all sizes in the United States and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core.

The program seeks to invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, seek to improve their quality of life; encourage greater creative activity; foster stronger community identity and a sense of place; and revitalize economic development. Projects may include arts engagement, cultural planning, and design activities.

All Our Town applications must reflect a partnership that will provide leadership for the project. These partnerships must involve two primary partners — a nonprofit organization and a local government entity. One of the two primary partners must be a cultural (arts or design) organization. Additional partners are encouraged and may include an appropriate variety of entities such as state-level government agencies, foundations, arts organizations and artists, nonprofit organizations, design professionals and design centers, educational institutions, real estate developers, business leaders, and community organizations, as well as public and governmental entities.

Grants will range from $25,000 to $200,000.

Complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and information on previously funded projects are available at the NEA Web site.

Contact: Link to Complete RFP

The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States, with a particular emphasis on theater and a secondary focus on dance.

Not-for-profit, professional resident theater companies are the primary recipients of foundation funding, with an emphasis on producing, rather than presenting, organizations. A smaller amount of funding is provided for dance companies. The foundation also makes a limited number of grants to arts-related not-for-profit organizations working to support the development of theater and dance, and to graduate drama departments of private universities.

The foundation awards unrestricted grants for general operating support to U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations only. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.

Grants will be made only to organizations that have an established artistic and administrative track record as well as a pattern of fiscal responsibility. The foundation does not provide funds for project support, audience development, direct subsidies of reduced-price admissions, media (film, TV, or radio), renovation projects, or capital or endowment campaigns. No grants will be made to conduit organizations (agencies that disburse funds to individuals or other organizations).

Applicants may not request a specific grant amount; if the foundation determines that it will fund an organization, it will also determine the amount of the grant.

The foundation has two grant application timetables. The 2012 application deadline for dance, arts-related, and education categories has passed. Theater applications must be submitted by December 3, 2012.

Visit the Shubert Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and application materials.

Contact: Link to Complete RFP

The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, aims to restore reading to the center of American culture. Managed by Arts Midwest, the program provides competitive grants to support innovative reading programs in selected communities.

Community organizations participating in the Big Read develop and producereading programs that encourage reading and participation by diverse local audiences. These programs include activities such as author readings, book discussions, art exhibits, lectures, film series, music or dance events, theatrical performances, panel discussions, and other events and activities related to the community’s chosen book or poet. Activities must focus on a book or poet from the Big Read Library. Previous grantees must select a different reading choice from their previous programming.

The program is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations to develop reading programs between September 2013 and June 2014. Organizations selected to participate receive a grant, educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities. Approximately seventy-five organizations will be selected from communities of varying size in the U.S.

Applicant organizations must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; or a division of state, local, or tribal government; or a tax-exempt public library. Eligible applicants include such organizations as literary centers, libraries, museums, colleges and universities, art centers, historical societies, arts councils, tribal governments, humanities councils, literary festivals, and arts organizations.

Eligible organizations may apply for grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. Grants must be matched on a 1:1 basis with non-federal funds. Grant funds may be used for such expenses as book purchases, speaker fees and travel, salaries, advertising, and venue rental.

Complete program guidelines, application instructions, and an FAQ are available at the Big Read Web site.

Contact: Link to Complete RFP

http://www.artsandbusinesscouncil.org/events-calendar.html

Make board service a New Year’s resolution!
Master social media
Learn the nuts and bolts of incorporating as a non-profit
Get On Board!
December 1
9:30am – 3:30pm
290 Congress Street
Boston, MA
Have you always wanted to serve on a nonprofit board but haven’t known where to start— or what would be expected of you? Make board service your New Year’s resolution and sign up for this highly engaging seminar with Liam Abramson and Jim Grace. Learn about board structures, roles, responsibilities, legal obligations, and more!
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Social Media Clinic
December 8
9:30am – 12:30pm
290 Congress Street
Boston, MA
Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn…oh my! Join social media guru Kate Laurel Burgess-Mac Intosh for a three-hour clinic on social media for artists. Discover the top hashtags on Twitter for Boston-area artists, hear who is accessible via these platforms, and find ways to make social media work for you.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER:
Nonprofit Incorporation Seminar
November 8
4:00pm – 6:30pm
Goodwin Procter
53 State Street
This two-hour seminar is designed to provide emerging nonprofits with the information they need to proceed with the legal process of incorporation. Topics covered include incorporating and structuring, state and federal reporting and regulation, fiscal agency, and the Form 1023. Read More/Register >>