LI CREATIVE CURRICULUM GRANT NY State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Decentralization Grant Guidelines Administered by Huntington Arts Council, Inc. 213 Main Street Huntington NY 11743 (t) 631.271.8423 x 18 (e) grants4arts@huntingtonarts.org DEADLINE: Friday, December 4 at 5PM Online Application Friday, December 11 at 5PM School s Letter of Commitment BACKGROUND: Creative Curriculum, formally LI Arts Education Grant, is a local arts-education funding program administered by the Huntington Arts Council (HAC.) Open to partnerships between cultural organizations and teaching artists working with Long Island public schools. Creative Curriculum supports projects that engage students in rich artistic learning experiences in a classroom setting. Creative Curriculum is part of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Decentralization program (DEC), which was established in 1977 by the New York State Legislature as a statewide mandate that encouraged the administration of grant award money at a local level. OPPORTUNITY: Nassau & Suffolk Counties small to mid sized Not-for-Profit organizations Individual teaching artists may apply for $500 to $5,000 working in partnership with a Long Island public school, K-12. Supports in depth classroom opportunities for students to create and experience the arts, through collaboratively planned and implemented units of study. PROJECT TIMEFRAME: January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016 FUNDING NOTIFICATION: February March 2016 PROGRAM PRIORITIES: Emphasis is placed on the quality and authenticity of the creative process through which students learn in and about the arts. Support and develop the capacity of individual teaching artists and emerging cultural Not-for-profit organizations to work in partnership with Long Island public schools to develop high-quality arts-education projects. Clear and concise learning objectives in relation to the NYS Learning Standards for arts education. Appropriateness of lesson plan in relation to grade/level of students. Depth of direct interaction between the students, teachers and teaching artists. Potential to strengthen existing arts curricula or to improve instruction in other core subjects (STEM) through the arts. Proposed activities should be conceived, planned and implemented by arts professionals and educators working together to utilize the resources of both cultural partner and the school. Support Long Island Title One schools districts to ensure arts education is assessable to all children K-12. ELIGIBILTY REQUIRMENTS FOR APPLICANTS: Applications will be accepted from Long Islandbased individual teaching artists or nonprofit cultural organizations partnering with Long Island public schools. Partnerships must meet the following requirements to apply: 1
INDIVIDUAL TEACHING ARTISTS + NONPROFIT CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS REQUIREMENTS: Applicants MUST be a Long Island based individual artist, teaching artist or arts + cultural organization qualified as a non-profit organization. All applicants MUST attend a Creative Curriculum Grant information session in Fall 2015 in order to apply, regardless of the applicant s past funding or information session attendance status. Schools CANNOT apply on behalf of the partnership. ONLY partnerships with public schools are eligible; partnerships with private, parochial, or charter schools are no longer eligible. Proposed school partners CANNOT be engaged in any other partnerships receiving direct funding through NYSCA Arts Education grants. The school partner MUST provide a written letter of commitment from the school partner to the applicant. Collectives MUST designate the lead teaching artist (director, or equivalent) to apply as an individual on its behalf. The lead teaching artist must be a key facilitator of project planning and classroom sessions, and meet the above listed eligibility and application requirements for individuals. Individuals CANNOT apply or receive funds on behalf of any organization. Applicants CANNOT have applied directly to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for a grant in the same fiscal year. Projects MUST take place on Long Island in either a Nassau or Suffolk County school during the typical school day. PROJECT ELIGIBLITY: Creative Curriculum accepts applications for the following types of projects: 1) Sequential, skills-based arts study that incorporates one or more art forms, e.g. dance, theater, music, visual arts, media/new media arts, literature and/or multidisciplinary art forms. 2) Integrated study of arts and non-arts subjects, collaboratively taught by the teaching artist(s) and the classroom teacher(s) as arts-in-education units, in which learning in the arts and non-arts subjects are mutually enhanced. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: Project activities MUST occur during the school day and take place within either the Spring 2016 semester or the Fall 2017 semester. Projects MUST hold at least three (3) contact sessions between the same classroom teacher teaching artist and group of students. 2
Student learning goals should clearly address the New York State Arts Standards. All participating artists MUST be guaranteed a fee, indicated in the project budget. Applicants MAY ONLY submit one (1) proposal requesting support for one (1) project for Creative Curriculum. Note: If an applicant to Creative Curriculum also submits a proposal to HAC s Creative Communities Grant, proposed projects MUST be different and the total funding request between the two proposals CANNOT exceed $5,000 dollars. Applicants MAY NOT be a lead artistic facilitator or key partner in more than one proposal to Creative Curriculum.. Project budget MUST show at least 50% of planned project income in cash from sources other than Creative Curriculum. Additional requirements for integrated study of arts and non-arts subjects: Direct collaboration MUST take place between at least one non-arts classroom teacher and one teaching artist. Project activities and outcomes must be collaboratively designed, planned, taught, and evaluated by the classroom teacher(s), and teaching artist(s). Student learning goals MUST address the New York State Learning Standards for both arts and non-arts subjects, and/or the Common Core state standards (STEM) GRANT RESTRICTIONS: Creative Curriculum Grants are not awarded to the following. Organizations that applied directly to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) in June 2015 NOT supported. Private, parochial, charter, or home schools NOT supported. New York State agencies and departments NOT supported. One time visits to Arts & Cultural Organizations without prior lessons or instruction NOT supported. Single one time assembly programs and/or performances without prior lessons or instruction NOT supported. Projects that attempt to replace traditional arts in education programming NOT supported. Proposals that use the grant funds to replace certified art, music, dance or theater teachers NOT supported. Programs that are exploratory enrichment, recreational, therapeutic or rehabilitative in nature NOT supported. Art therapy is not supported. Programs that are exclusive in nature; instructor-selected, administrator-selected, or self-selected students taken out of regular classes during the school day NOT supported. 3
Aerobics Fitness Jazzercise Zumba Crossfit etc. NOT supported. Partnering artists may NOT be employees of the school or school district. Artist Fellowships NOT supported. Extracurricular activities after school or in the summer NOT supported. REVIEW CRITERIA: Strength of applications will be judged by an independent panel of teaching artists, educators and arts education professionals by the following. Degree to which the proposed project will strengthen learning in the arts and deepen the exploration of the artistic process. Degree to which the partnership will collaboratively plan, implement and utilize resources for the project. Clarity, appropriateness, and feasibility of the proposed project, taking into account the project description, timeline, budget, and evaluation tools. Quality of expertise and appropriateness of proposed artistic and educational personnel School partner s commitment to the arts and to the proposed project, as reflected in the principal s letter of commitment. For integrated study of arts and non-arts subjects only: depth and authenticity of the connection between the arts and non-arts subjects and degree to which the proposed project will strengthen the learning of both. NOTE: The criteria are not listed in order of priority; each is equally important. Please make sure that your application materials are professional, well planned and can be implemented. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: is given to the following. Projects that reach communities that are underserved, underrepresented due to geographic location, lowincome level, ethnicity or are Title 1 schools. Projects involving students with special needs, such as ELL or ESL and others. NOTE: Applying to Creative Curriculum is a competitive process. Proposals should accurately describe the project, the student learning goals and the project s anticipated impact. Project budgets and budget narratives should be precise, reflect actual needs, and demonstrate the ability to raise funds from additional sources. ADDITIONAL FUNDING GUIDELINES: ORGANIZATIONS INDIVIDUALS MAY APPLY FOR UP TO 3 PROJECTS; HOWEVER, THE SUM TOTAL OF THE REQUESTS CANNOT EXCEED $5,000. Organizations may apply for a community project grant and also serve as a sponsor for an individual artist, but the sum total requests cannot exceed $5,000. 4
RESPONSIBILITIES: Organizations and Individual Artists must meet the following requirements 1. The grant award is a contract for arts services; grantees are required to carry out the following during the grant period. 2. Sign and return letter of agreement to HAC. 3. Provide written notice to HAC of opportunities to observe any project-related activities or events (i.e. classroom work, performances, exhibitions, presentations). 4. Notify HAC of any significant changes to proposed project activities, including schedule, key participants, project scope or budget, before these changes are finalized. 5. Submit a Final Report no later than 30 days after completion of the funded project or by Friday, January 13, 2017 whichever comes first. 6. Print the following credit line in all programs or printed materials describing the funded project. This (choose one: event, project, program) is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and is administered by The Huntington Arts Council, Inc. NOTE: Grantees who do not comply with the above requirements will jeopardize their funding status and future grant consideration. APPEALS PROCESS: The Appeals Process of the Decentralization Regrant Program in Nassau & Suffolk Counties exists to ensure that organizations have been provided with full and fair consideration during the competitive funding review procedure. The three grounds for appeal are: Non-representation of Information, Misrepresentation of Information and Improper Procedure. Information about the appeals process will be sent upon request to applicants who have not been awarded funding. The applicant requesting an appeal must telephone the Huntington Arts Council to inform the grants for the arts coordinator of this intention no later than 7 working days after the postmark date of the funding decision letter. If after the initial phone conversation the applicant decides to appeal, a letter stating the grounds for which the appeal is based must be sent to the Executive Director of the Huntington Arts Council. This letter must be postmarked no later than five days from the telephone conversation with the grants for the arts coordinator. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Applications MUST be completed and submitted online. However, certain supporting documents will need to be mailed or delivered in hard copy to complete the application. Applicants must complete both an Online Application Form AND submit organizational documents in hard copy by Friday, December 4, 2015 at 5 PM. In Addition, applicants MUST submit a letter of commitment from the school partner in hard copy by Friday, December 11, 2015 at 5 PM. 5
FOUR STEPS TO APPLY: Step 1: Read Thoroughly read all sections of these program guidelines and view the Online Application Form before starting the application process. Make sure your project is eligible for consideration before you apply. Step 2: Complete + Submit Online Application Form You may preview the Online Application Form PDF at any time. Unfinished applications CANNOT be saved online and resumed at a later time. Application forms are not considered final until all required documents are submitted. The Online Application Form includes the following sections: 1. Applicant Profile: Submit general information for the applicant and the school partner, including: contact information, electoral district numbers, funding history, annual operating budgets and demographic information. 2. Project Profile: Submit important details about your proposed project, including project disciplines and school subjects, project summary, list of teaching artists and other key facilitators of the project, as well as the number of students served. 3. Project Narrative: Describe in detail the essentials of your project and how you plan to carry it out successfully, including the design, partner roles, goals, planning, implementation, and assessment processes. Describe your overall mission, constituents, history, goals and activities, or a teaching artist statement. Include biographies of key artistic personnel. 4. Project Timeline: Submit a timeline for planning & carrying out your project. Be sure to include the anticipated date(s) of your planning and classroom sessions, as well as dates for professional development events and culminating presentations, if applicable. 5. Project Budget: List your project income, expenses, and in-kind contributions. 6. Work Samples: Upload or provide samples of past or current classroom work. Applicants who only have CD or DVD recordings can submit them by mail or deliver in person to HAC. Include written details for each sample. See Work Sample Instructions at the end of this document for complete instructions on preparing your work samples. 7. Certification of Application: Verify the information in the application form and confirm you have attended an information session. We strongly recommend that you view the Online Application Form and instructions in advance and maintain a backup copy of your responses in a separate document offline. Once you have submitted the form, you will NOT be able to make changes, or resubmit. The Creative Curriculum Online Application form will be available on Monday, September 14, 2015. Step 3: Submit + Complete Received Documents (received by December 4, 2015, 5PM) In addition to completing the Online Application Form, you must submit one (1) printed set of documents including each of the following required documents: 6
1. If applicant is an individual teaching artist, one (1) copy of ONE (1) of the following as proof of Long Island address: a. Utility bill (e.g. electricity cable gas etc.) b. Driver s license (address on the driver s license must be the same address provided in the application) 2. If applicant is an organization, one (1) copy of each of the following: Proof of nonprofit status with address in Long Island. Choose ONE (1) of the following options: a. Letter of Determination from the IRS indicating tax exempt status under section 501(c) 3 b. Documentation of charter by the New York State Board of Regents under section 216 of NYS Education Law c. Documentation of incorporation under Section 402 of the New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law d. Current New York State Bureau of Charities (Office of the Attorney General) filing receipt Official authorization as an arm of local government (i.e., a formal letter on official stationary signed by the appropriate county, city, town or village executive) Important Note: Nonprofit documentation must show a Long Island address. 3. Board of directors and staff list 4. Audited financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year or, if unavailable, a copy of the most recently filed IRS Form 990, signed by the organization s treasurer, bookkeeper or accountant. 5. Projected organizational budget for the fiscal year in which the proposed project takes place (i.e. FY15 or FY16) 6. Support materials (maximum 5 pages/items) in the form of sample lesson plans, staff observations of past projects, evaluation materials, completed evaluation forms, student feedback, press clippings, or letters of recommendation. 8. Include work sample CDs or DVDs. 9. Optional self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for the return of work samples (stamps only; metered postage not accepted). If no SASE is included with the application, work samples will not be returned after review. Submit the above documents and work sample disks (if applicable) in ONE package received NOT POSTMARKED by HAC before the application deadline: 5 PM, Friday, December 4, 2015. Step 4: Submit School s Letter of Commitment (received by December 11, 2015) To complete the application process, each applicant should submit: One (1) original of the school partner s letter of commitment to the cultural organization or individual teaching artist, demonstrating the school s support of the project (monetarily and otherwise) and outlining anticipated roles and responsibilities for each partner involved. The principal should sign this letter of agreement and it should appear on the school s letterhead. The school partner's letter of commitment should be received (not postmarked) by HAC before 5PM, Friday, December 11, 2015. 7
WORK SAMPLE INSTRUCTIONS: Work samples are an important element of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that showcases your proposed project. Choose samples from within the last three years, as best represents your project. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit classroom-based work samples, that is, documentation of classroom work or samples of student work that resulted from previous classroom-based projects under the direction of the artist/cultural partner. If classroom-based project work samples are not available, applicants may submit samples of work in noneducational settings by artists who will be involved in the project. Work Sample Formats Submit up to two (2) recordings of past classroom work or projects by participating performing media arts film or other time-based art forms. The selection panel will view each recording for up to 2.5 minutes. However, we encourage you to submit full-length work, if possible. Provide a cue for work samples longer than three (3) minutes. 1. CDs + DVDs received by, not postmarked, HAC offices before the application deadline. Indicate in the Online Application Form that you are submitting CDs or DVDs. Submit your work samples disks to HAC before the application deadline. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) if you want the samples to be returned to you. Label your CD/DVD as "[applicant name]: Sample #". Use a permanent marker. Do not submit stickers on DVDs or CDs as these can jam equipment. 2. MANUSCRIPTS Upload manuscripts: 10 pages maximum. Samples of student writing or past work by participating literary artists may be submitted. Do not include more than ten (10) pages of writing. Unless the sample represents student work, the manuscript must be typewritten, double-spaced on 8 ½ x 11 page formatting. Submit one (1) document in PDF, Microsoft Word or JPEG format. Maximum file size: 15MB. 3. IMAGES Upload images: 10 maximum Photos/reproductions of classroom work, student work or images of past work by participating visual artists may be submitted. Submit a maximum of ten (10) digital images. Images must be in JPEG format, no larger than 800 x 800 pixels at 72dpi. File size for each image should not exceed 2MB. Each filename should be saved as Applicant Name MAIL ALL MATERIALS BY ONLINE APPLICATION MATERIALS: Received by Friday, December 4 at 5PM SCHOOL S LETTER OF COMMITMENT: Received by Friday, December 11 at 5PM TO: Creative Curriculum Attn: Grants for the Arts Coordinator Huntington Arts Council, Inc. Huntington, NY 11743 8