Apply to Creative Curricula
The deadline for 2009–2010 Creative Curricula has passed.
Updated guidelines and application forms for the 2010-2011 school year will be available in March 2010.
The 2010 guidelines and forms remain posted for reference only.
Creative Curricula is a local arts-in-education funding program administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). Creative Curricula provides grant support for collaborations between schools and cultural organizations (or individual teaching artists) that focus on the creation and implementation of arts integrated units of study.
Application Deadline
All applications must be received at LMCC by 5PM on Friday, June 26, 2009.
New Application Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 5PM
Please note: The LMCC office will be closed from Wednesday, June 24 through Tuesday, June 30. We will be unable to assist applicants during this time.
Applicants will be notified by mail in August 2009 whether their projects have been funded. Grant contracts will be mailed by the end of August.
Application Assistance
Information sessions consist of an overview of the Creative Curricula program and guidelines, as well as a discussion of the components of a well-prepared application. First-time applicants are required to attend. Returning applicants are also encouraged to attend to help them develop strong applications.
In addition, applicants are encouraged to seek one-on-one assistance in person or on the phone from LMCC staff to address questions about budgets, project narratives, or work samples.
Applicant Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from nonprofit cultural organizations or schools applying on behalf of individual teaching artists.
- Schools may be public, private, parochial, or charter
- Projects must serve school districts in Manhattan
- Cultural organizations must show evidence of non-profit status
- Partnerships must serve students in grades pre-K through 12
- Individual artists may apply through a school or cultural organization
- First-time applicants are required to attend an information session; if you are unable to attend any of the sessions, you must contact LMCC staff well in advance of the deadline
Project Eligibility
Projects that are eligible for Creative Curricula support will involve a direct collaboration between at least one non-arts classroom teacher and one teaching artist. School arts specialists are encouraged to participate in projects as well. Funding decisions are based on the following criteria and funding priorities:
- Activities must occur during the school day, and must take place between September 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.
- Projects are required to hold at least three contact sessions between the same teacher, teaching artist, and group of students.
- Activities and outcomes are to be collaboratively designed, planned, taught, and evaluated by the participating teacher(s), teaching artist(s), and other school and community members.
- Projects should address the New York State Learning Standards for both arts and non-arts subjects.
Funding Restrictions
Under this program, funding is not available for:
- Home schools
- Extracurricular activities that take place after the school day, in the summer, or during non-school hours
- Programs for which selected students are taken out of regular classes or are self-selected for participation
- College-level courses, scholarships, contests, or student performing groups
- Stand-alone assembly programs, single performances, or one-time visits to cultural institutions
- Projects that focus on non-integrated, sequential arts education
- Projects that appear to replace the role of certified art, music, dance, or theater teachers
- Projects that are currently supported by or under consideration for NYSCA ESP, Partners for Arts Education/School Arts Partnership and/or LMCC's Fund for Creative Communities regrant program
- Multiple applications from a school or nonprofit for the same project
- Previous grantees of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council that have failed to comply with the grant contract or reporting requirements
Budgetary Requirements:
Creative Curricula grants are matching grants. Partnership applicants must show that for every dollar they request from the grant program, they have secured at least one matching dollar in income.
- Example: if a partnership requests $1000 from the grant program, it must show that it has already secured at least $1000 in matching income.
Matching funds may be comprised of a combination of cash and in-kind resources. Proposals that demonstrate a strong cash match, however, may score higher in panel deliberations.
- Examples of cash contributions include money that is spent on materials, busing, payments to substitutes, payments to teachers to stay after school, payments to artists, etc.
- Examples of in-kind contributions include teachers donating time to stay after school, donations of materials from outside groups, etc.
Proof of matching funds in the form of a letter of commitment from the school partner must be provided to LMCC as part of the application.
Review Process
It is the applicant's responsibility to submit a clear, accurate, and complete application.
An independent panel of your peers with expertise in education and the arts will use the evaluative criteria below to determine how your proposed project will support classroom learning and arts integration. These criteria will inform their recommendations for funding.
Panelists include members of the community, educators, education administrators, artists, and arts administrators with expertise in arts and education throughout the borough of Manhattan. Representatives of LMCC's Board of Directors review the panel's recommendations and must approve all grants.
Review Criteria
- Clarity and appropriateness of shared educational and artistic goals and expected student outcomes in relation to proposed project activities and grade levels served
- Degree to which the project will strengthen learning of curricula in both the art and non-art subjects
- Depth and authenticity of the connection between the art and non-art subjects
- Degree to which the project will support the cited New York State Learning Standards in both the art and non-art subjects
- Degree to which the timeline will allow for reflection, further investigation and fine tuning between work sessions
- Appropriateness of professional development activities in relation to project goals and expected student outcomes (If applicable)
- Degree to which certified art, music, dance, and/or theater teachers will participate in the project (If applicable)
- Clarity, appropriateness, and feasibility of evaluation & student assessment plans
- Quality of expertise and appropriateness of proposed artists or professionals
- Appropriateness of the members of the planning and implementation team
- Appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget
Plus Factors
In addition to the evaluative criteria, the Creative Curricula program has certain larger program goals. Priority will be given to applications that address one or more of the following plus factors.
- Artists are residents of New York State
- Contact sessions are separated by enough time for reflection and refining
- The school's certified art, music, dance, and/or theater teachers participate in the project in addition to the non-arts teacher(s)
- Collaboratively designed professional development activities support the project
- Matching funds are comprised of a high percentage of cash rather than in-kind donations
- Project reaches communities that are under-served or under-represented due to geographic location, low-income level and/or ethnicity
- Project involves students with special needs
Grant Requirements
This grant is a legal contract. If you receive a grant, you will be required to comply with the terms of an arts education service agreement, which includes the following:
- Written notice to LMCC of any project-related events (i.e. performances, exhibitions, presentations) including: date, time and location, six weeks prior to the event
- Notification to LMCC of any significant changes to proposed project activities including: schedule, key participants, project scope and budget, before these changes are finalized. Communication of the project's status is encouraged year round
- Final narrative and financial report on the project, accompanied by program documentation within 30 days after project activities conclude
- Attendance at the annual gathering of Creative Curricula grantees in Fall 2008
Appeals Process
Applicants may appeal decisions in writing within 10 days of funding notifications. Applicants must request an appeal in writing, effectively arguing the case for appeals based on the criteria below. Dissatisfaction with either an unfavorable decision or the recommended level of support cannot be used as an appeal.
Grounds for appeals are limited to the following:
- Misrepresentation of information: an applicant's information was improperly presented by program staff in a way that may have adversely affected the review process
- Non-presentation of information: the applicant's information was not presented by program staff prior to or as part of the panel's decision-making process
- Improper procedure: conflict of interest on part of a panelist
Application Instructions
A complete application includes:
1) Eight (8) sets, including one original, of the following documents. One set consists of:
- Creative Curricula application form that has been completed and signed by Cultural and School Partners
- Resume for each teaching artist
- Letter of commitment from the partner school, specifying the source and dollar amount allocated by the school for the proposed project and an overall statement of the school's commitment to the arts
2) One (1) copy of the following, if cultural partner is an organization:
- Brochure or a one-page fact sheet outlining the mission and activities of the organization
- Proof of nonprofit status in one of the following forms:
- Form: BSM 189 from the Department of State
- Certificate from the NY State Office of Charity Registration
- Certificate of Incorporation under NY State Section 402 (Non-profit)
- Charter issued by Board of Regents under NY State Section 216 (Education)
- Letter of determination of 501(c)3 status from U.S. Internal Revenue Service
3) One (1) set of work samples in an appropriate format (see Work Sample Instructions below for more details), each labeled with:
- Applicant's name
- Sample number (e.g. Work Sample #1)
4) Support materials in the form of press clippings, letters of recommendation, brochures, student feedback, and evaluation materials (maximum 5 pages).
5) 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. NOTE: All documents must be on 8.5" x 11" paper. Do not staple, package or bind materials. Incomplete, illegible, emailed, or faxed applications will not be reviewed. Please type your application.
Work Sample Instructions
Work samples are an important element of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that best shows how your work sample relates to your proposed project. During the selection process work samples will be played from a MAC computer. Please test your samples accordingly.
Work samples can be from one or both categories below, as best represents your project. Wherever possible choose samples from within the last three years. Documentation can be from:
i) A school-based project: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit samples of work that resulted from previous school-based project under the direction of the artist/cultural partner.
ii) The artist or cultural partner: Applicants may also submit samples of the work of artists who will be involved in the project.
Work Sample Formats
Submit samples in one of the following formats. Contact LMCC staff for guidance if you would like to combine formats.
- Performing Arts, Film Or Media Projects
- Submit recordings (2 maximum): Audiotapes, CDs, DVDs, Videotapes:
- Recordings must be cued to play or must include a cue time. Please cue to a portion of the recording best represents your work and your proposed project. Do not send marketing clips - send actual work or work in progress.
or
- Literary Projects
- Submit manuscripts (10 pages maximum): Journal Entries, Scripts, Poetry, Prose:
- The sample may be no longer than ten (10) pages of writing. Unless the sample represents student-created writing samples, the manuscript must be typewritten, double-spaced on 8 1/2” x 11” white paper.
or
- Visual Arts Projects
- Submit images (8 maximum): Printed Reproductions, CD of Images:
- A maximum of eight (8) images may be submitted. Printed images should be no larger than 8 1/2” x 11”. Digital images must be in a JPEG format, no larger than 1000 x 1000 pixels. Each filename should be saved as “Applicant Name #” (e.g. ArtsOrg01.jpg, ArtsOrg02.jpg, etc.). CDs must be labeled with applicant name. Please do not send original artwork.
Application Deadline:
All applications must be received at LMCC by 5:00pm on
Friday, June 26, 2009.
New Application Deadline: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 5PM.
Please note: The LMCC office will be closed from Wednesday, June 24 through Tuesday, June 30. We will be unable to assist applicants during this time.
Submit applications to:
Creative Curricula
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
125 Maiden Lane, Second Floor
New York, NY 10038
For specific questions contact Liza Green, Program Associate at 212-219-9401 x129 or lgreen [at] lmcc.net
