CITY ARTS PROJECT GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS

Purpose:   To encourage individual artists to undertake projects that enhance the artistic offerings within the City of Alexandria and/or advance the artist’s development.

Description: Project grants to individuals support specific and separately budgeted arts activities which are performed or presented to benefit the citizens of Alexandria.

Funding Limitations:

• The artistic event or program to be supported by the grant must take place within the City of Alexandria.
  
• Grant funding cannot exceed 50% of the total project budget.  Funding from this source must be matched dollar for dollar by other cash income. In-kind services may not be used to satisfy the matching requirement.
  
• While there is no predetermined upper limit to project grant funding the Commission takes into account the prevailing levels of funding of other grant types as well as the overall availability of grant funds.
• Only one Project grant may be applied for in any single grant cycle.  Individuals are ineligible for Operational Grants.

Eligibility:  In addition to the general eligibility requirements noted in this Guide to Funding, City Arts Project grant to individual artists:

• Must have been a resident of the City of Alexandria for at least one year prior to the application deadline.
• Must maintain residency in the City of Alexandria during the grant period.

Individual applicants may:

• May be artists, art professionals (e.g., presenters, producers) educators and those with experience in community service.
• Must have only one Project Grant pending within a single grant cycle. 

GRANT REVIEW CRITERIA:  The following criteria are used during the Grant Review process by the Resource Panel members.  These criteria act as a guide for evaluating the grant applications. 

Impact on the City of Alexandria

• Will the project enhance the artistic experience of the citizens of the City of Alexandria?
  
• Has effort been made to include outreach to, and participation by, the diverse audiences and communities of the City?
• Does the project provide an opportunity to develop local talent?
• Are means to ensure reliable and accurate attendance figures in place?
• Does the program provide an impact to citizens of Alexandria and to the visibility of the Alexandria arts community?

Artistic Excellence

• Do participating personnel have the artistic skills and technical resources needed to accomplish the proposed project?
• Does the proposed project demonstrate artistic quality? Has artistic quality been demonstrated (and supported by adequate documentation) in previous programs or projects? 
• Will the proposed project provide the individual with the opportunity for continued artistic development and innovation?

Management Ability

• Do proposed key personnel (leadership, volunteers) have the necessary skills and experience to carry out the project?  Is attention paid to staff professional development?
• Has the individual previously demonstrated (and supported by adequate documentation) the ability to carry out such a project?
• Have realistic goals with a related time-line been presented?
• Has the individual developed procedures by which to measure the effectiveness of this project? 

Financial

• Is financial integrity demonstrated by an accurate, realistic, and logical project budget?
  
• Is the proposed project planned in a financially sound and business-like manner?  Is the project dependent upon requested grant funds?
• Does the budget include reasonable compensation for the artist for his/her services and talent?

Marketing and Fund Raising

• Is there a marketing plan?  Are a variety of marketing methods used? (i.e., advertisements, mailings, web site, etc.).
• Are fund raising plans being directed to a variety of sources?  Are both financial support and in-kind services being sought?
• Are special events planned to raise funds and cultivate the audience/donor base?

GRANT SPECIFIC REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS:--City Arts Project Grant for Individuals:
Please follow this outline when preparing the grant.  The program outline acts as a guide for writing the grant and articulates grant specific attachments.  Collate the grant packet in the exact order of the grant outline. 

1. Individual’s Background (1 page maximum)

A Please attach a brief resume outline education and artistic experiences.
B. List the names and dates of courses, seminars, workshops and similar programs related to professional and artistic development taken in the last 3 years.
C. List any professional organizations to which you belong.

2.  Planned Season or Program ( 2 page maximum)

   A. Describe briefly all arts activities proposed in this grant application.
   B. Describe the means in place to ensure reliable attendance figures.
   C. Describe the artistic and technical skills needed to complete this project.
   D. Provide a complete Program Calendar Sheet.

3. Impact on the City of Alexandria ( 1 page maximum)

A. How does the program enhance the artistic experience of the citizens of the City?
B. Describe the organization’s outreach to the diverse audiences of the City?
C. Does the program provide an opportunity to develop local talent?
D. Are complementary or reduced price tickets being offered to specific audiences in the City?  If so, to which audiences and to what extent? Does the organization provide an opportunity in which local talent can be developed?
E. Does the program provide an impact to citizens of Alexandria and to the visibility of the Alexandria arts community?

4. Artistic Experience. ( 1 page maximum) Describe the artistic effectiveness in terms of:

   A. List artistic credentials of the proposed principal participants (if other than the applicant).
   B. Have you demonstrated the ability to carry out previous projects of comparable scope and complexity?
   C. Will the proposed program provide the opportunity for continued artistic development and innovation?

5. Management (1 page maximum, plus course and professional organization lists) Describe the management structure of the project terms of:

   A. List number of full-time and part-time paid employees.
   B. Please attach a project time line (if not adequately covered by the calendar above).

6. Finances (1 page maximum for narrative, attach budget) Describe financial planning associated with this project/program:

   A. Does the success of the proposed activity depend upon grant funds?

7. Marketing/Fund-raising (1 page maximum)

A. Provide a marketing plan with a variety of marketing methods for promoting program/project (i.e., newsletter, advertisements, mailing, web site, etc.).
B. Provide fund-raising plans which are directed to a wide variety of funding sources.
C. Provide information about financial support and in-kind services being sought for the program/project.
D. Provide information about special events planned to cultivate the audience/donor base.