The Fortunate Islands at Thomas Paine Park,by Seth Weiner, a 2005 Art in Public Spaces Grantee
This program was offered in 2005, 2006 and 2007 as part of a 3-year, $5 million initiative to support and sustain the cultural community downtown. The third and final round of grants have been awarded and LMCC will no longer be accepting applications for the program.
This webpage is provided for reference purposes only.
Guidelines
Introduction
Lower Manhattan is one of New York City’s oldest neighborhoods, rich in sites of historical, cultural, and architectural significance. The presentation of public art projects and cultural events in the area further enriches the cultural life of downtown, encouraging a vibrant street life and engagement with the urban environment in new and unexpected ways. As rebuilding continues, LMCC will encourage the presentation of unique artistic and cultural perspectives downtown through direct support for the presentation of art projects in public spaces, from Battery Park City to Tribeca, and from Chinatown to the Financial District.
This program is made possible by the generous support of The September 11th Fund.
General Program Description Grants for Art in Public Spaces will enable the creation and
presentation of art in the myriad public spaces of Lower
Manhattan, including parks, plazas, building lobbies and atria, and construction sites. Grants of up to $20,000 will support artists and arts organizations producing public art projects. Public art projects should reach beyond the typical arts audience, engage the public in unusual ways, and take place in contexts outside the gallery, performance hall, or theater space. Often these works will be presented in contexts where they will be encountered and experienced by unintended viewers such as pedestrians, workers, and passersby.
We seek projects that engage with their sites as a context, taking into account specific communities, the built environment, or the political and social histories of the site. Priority will be given to new work or to work that has not been previously presented in New York City.
Program Goals
To foster a vibrant, growing cultural community that will connect residents, workers and tourists to new artistic and cultural experiences
To engage artists and arts organizations to create and present work in public spaces
To encourage the presentation of public art and cultural events in Lower Manhattan
Applicant Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from individual artists, arts groups, or 501(c)(3) organizations with a significant history of creating and/or presenting arts or cultural programming.
Individual artists must be working at a professional level, with a minimum three-year history of presentation in arts/cultural venues, or must demonstrate a record of prior accomplishments on a scale comparable to the proposed project.
Organizations must have been in existence for at least three years, or must demonstrate a record of prior accomplishments on a scale comparable to the proposed project.
An organization or individual may not submit more than one application.
Applications will not be accepted from political organizations.
Applications will not be accepted from organizations incorporated under or operating primarily as religious institutions.
Project Eligibility
Proposed projects must take place in the area south of Canal Street or in Chinatown. For the purposes of this program, Chinatown is bounded by Canal, Broadway, Delancey, Essex, and Rutgers Streets.
Project-related activity must begin after April 1, 2008 and be completed on or before June 30, 2009.
Projects should involve the presentation of work in the visual arts, performing arts, performance art, film or video, literature, or new media.
Eligible expenses for grant funds include direct costs related to the presentation of artwork and performance events in public spaces. Project costs may include but are not limited to artist fees, design and technical fees, pre-presentation rehearsal costs, equipment rental, transportation, production/exhibition consumables, liability insurance, permitting and licensing fees, and administrative costs that represent up to 15% of the total amount requested.
Project proposals must identify site(s) for presentation and demonstrate an awareness of, and plan for, the steps to secure necessary permission and/or permits to present work at the site(s).
If proposed project represents the Lower Manhattan component of a larger project, proposals must demonstrate the significance of the Lower Manhattan component.
If the project is a competition, open call project, or curated project, participating artists must be identified in the application.
Funding Restrictions
Under this program, funding is not available for:
Cultural activities restricted to an organization’s membership
Payment for purchase of capital equipment
Religious or political activities
Expenses incurred prior to or extending beyond the specified grant period
Hiring of additional salaried personnel
Art fairs or street exhibitions held solely to promote the sale of work
Award Amounts
Requests may be submitted for up to $20,000; support will generally range from $7,000 to $15,000
LMCC anticipates that 10-12 grants will be awarded
Review Criteria
Artistic excellence and professional record of applicant, including history of past public projects or related work
Quality of project proposed
Ability of project to reach its intended audience
Project feasibility, taking into account the project budget, timeline, personnel, and groundwork laid for securing a site in Lower Manhattan
Review Process
An outside panel of artists and arts professionals will review applications using the above criteria, and will make recommendations for support. During the proposal review period, LMCC may contact applicants to clarify information or pose further questions.
Applicants will receive written notification of the status of their proposals during the week of April 7, 2008.
LMCC may accept and review proposals for projects falling outside of the existing program timeline in cases where projects will significantly address one or more program goals. Artists and organizations with confirmed projects taking place before April 1, 2008 must contact LMCC to discuss the project prior to submitting an application.
Grant Requirements
Grant recipients will be required to submit a final narrative and financial report upon completion of the project.
Online Public Art Resources
Information pertaining to selecting a site for your public art project, insurance for public art, site permissions, and other artists’ resources are available on LMCC’s website at www.lmcc.net/grants/downtown/grantpubspaces/resources/index.html.
Information Sessions
Dates: Tuesday, November 13, 5:30pm; Thursday, January 10, 2008, 5:30pm
Location: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, 125 Maiden Lane, 2nd Floor
Registration required: please visit www.lmcc.net to register.
Potential applicants are encouraged to attend an information session. Grants for Art in Public Spaces guidelines and application requirements will be reviewed in detail and LMCC staff will be available to answer questions. Application Deadline and Submission
Applications and work samples must be received (not postmarked) by standard or express mail service, messenger, or hand delivery by 5:00pm, Tuesday, January 29, 2008.
Submit applications to:
Grants for Art in Public Spaces
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
125 Maiden Lane, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10038
Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered. The program will not accept applications by fax or email.
Application Instructions
Art in Public Spaces Grant proposals should include all information listed below in a single narrative format (except where specifically noted), with supporting materials attached as requested. Please use the application checklist to ensure that your proposal is complete. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
Submit all information in the order provided below, on 8 1/2 x 11” paper, minimum 11-point font. Please do not staple your materials.
1. Completed Application Cover Sheet
Fill out and sign the Application Cover Sheet.
2. Work Sample Cover Sheet
Fill out the appropriate Work Sample Cover Sheet.
3. Applicant information: organizational overview or artist’s statement
For organizations or arts collectives, a one (1) page overview with mission, history, and description of core activities. For artists, a one (1) page artist’s statement outlining professional accomplishments, and describing approach, techniques, materials, and themes.
4. Project description
Two (2) page description of the proposed project. Please describe your project, from initial concept and artistic goals to materials, scale, and execution.
5. Project site(s)
One (1) page description of your site(s). Please list the steps you have taken to secure permission to present work at the site(s).
6. Project audience
One (1) page description of your project’s intended audience and your plans for engaging them.
7. Project timeline
One (1) page outline of the activities and steps you will take to realize this project and the timeframe within which you will accomplish them.
8. Project personnel
One (1) page with brief bios of key artistic and project personnel. Please do not submit resumes.
9. Project budget
Provide the total anticipated project expenses and sources of income, specifying if income is pending or confirmed, and indicating the specific use of requested LMCC funds.
10. Attachments
Please attach one copy of each of the following:
a. Work samples in the appropriate format (see work sample guidelines), with SASE.
b. For organizations only: Evidence of 501(c)(3) status: IRS determination letter.
c. For organizations only: Total operating budget for the most recently completed fiscal year.
d. For individual artists only: resume
e. Letters of support from community members, if available.
f. Copies of site permits or other correspondence pertaining to site permissions, if available.
Work Sample Guidelines
Work samples are a critical element of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that best represents your work and/or the proposed project. The grant review panel will have approximately five minutes to review your work samples.
Submit samples of work created and/or presented in the last three years. Please do not submit edited promotional or interview materials.
Do not submit original artwork.
Work Sample Formats
Submit your work sample in one of the following formats:
Recordings (2 maximum)
CD, DVD, CD-ROM, Videotape
Recordings must be cued to play or must include a cue time. Please cue to a portion of the recording that best represents your work and your proposed project. Do not send marketing clips—send actual work or work in progress.
Samples should be labeled individually with the applicant name and numbered in order of preference.
Manuscripts (20 pages maximum)
Poetry, prose, plays
Submit up to 20 pages of writing, typewritten and double-spaced on 8 1/2 x 11” white paper. Minimum 11-point font.
Images (10 maximum)
CD, DVD, or CD-ROM
Submit up to 10 digital images. Images must be in a JPEG, GIF, or TIFF file format. Each file should not exceed 300K and should have a maximum height x width of 1000 x 1000px. Disks should be labeled with the applicant’s name.
Submit work samples with your application for receipt by Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 5:00pm to:
Grants for Art in Public Spaces
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
125 Maiden Lane, Second Floor
New York, New York 10038
Provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of your work samples. Stamps only; metered mail will not be accepted. Work samples submitted without a SASE will not be returned.
