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FY2009 Guidelines and Instructions

Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship Program

Writers, Composers, Choreographers and
Interdisciplinary Artists

Application Deadline: March 15, 2008

Application to this program must be made via Kentucky Arts Services OnLine (KASOL). The Kentucky Arts Council (KAC) strongly encourages you to read and understand the KAC Values, general guidelines, Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship Program guidelines and each step of the application process before accessing the application at www.culturegrants-ky.org.

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship Program is to support Kentucky artists engaged in creating artwork of high quality and to recognize creative excellence in practicing, professional Kentucky artists.

Goals

Performance Expectations

Your application will be reviewed using the following performance expectations:

1. Artistic Excellence (75%)

2. Professional Achievement (15%)

3. Enhancement of the Artist (10%)

Program Description

The Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowships are $7,500 awards given to Kentucky artists who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work. Applications are accepted annually, on a rotating basis by discipline. In even numbered years, applications are accepted from writers (fiction, non-fiction, play/screenwriting and poetry), choreographers, music composers and interdisciplinary artists. Applications from visual artists and media artists are accepted in odd numbered years.

The Fellowship program utilizes a "blind jurying" process by which the selection panel is not provided with applicants' names; the panel reviews the work samples and applications according to application numbers only.

Applicants may be selected for $1,000 Professional Assistance Awards in lieu of a Fellowship Award. Fellowship and Professional Assistance awards are based primarily upon the quality of the work samples submitted by the artist. Awards are unrestricted and may be used in any way to enhance the artist's career.

Program Support

The Kentucky Arts Council will offer the following support to ensure that Al Smith Individual Artist Fellowship program standards and goals are met:

Who May Apply

Restrictions

For restrictions on the use of grant funds, see the KAC general guidelines.

How to Apply

To access and complete the Performing Arts on Tour Grant Program application, please go to www.culturegrants-ky.org.

Program Timeline

Application deadline March 15, 2008
Deadline for submission of paper copy of the application and attachments Within 7 calendar days of March 15, 2008
Review of applications by panel May, 2008
KAC board reviews panel recommendations June, 2008
Applicant notification As soon as possible after board approval of panel recommendations
Use of grant funds may begin July 1, 2008
Use of grant funds must conclude June 30, 2009
Final Report due July 30, 2009

*Writers, Composers, Choreographers and Interdisciplinary Artists: Application deadlines in even numbered years (i.e., 2008, 2010, 2012, etc.) are for writers, composers; choreographers; and interdisciplinary artists.

*Visual and Media Artists: Application deadlines in odd numbered years (i.e. 2009, 2011, 2013, etc.) are for visual artists (2D and 3D) and media artists (film, video, audio).

**Please note: (Visual Arts ONLY) The Kentucky Arts Council guarantees that all eligible work will be submitted to the review panel; however, the Council reserves the right to approve the work which will be shown at the public viewing.

Application

Completed application forms must be submitted via Kentucky Arts Services OnLine (KASOL) by the deadline. Upon online submission, applicants will receive a confirmation email with your application PDF attached. If you do not receive a confirmation, contact the KAC immediately. Print and sign the PDF and mail/deliver it to the KAC along with the required work samples in accordance with the guidelines. The PDF and materials must be received in the KAC office within seven calendar days of the deadline date. KAC offices will be open until 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (EST). If the application deadline date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a state/federal holiday, the deadline date will be the next following day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a state/federal holiday. If the KAC does not receive these items by close of business on the 7th day, your application will be considered ineligible.

Following the deadline, each application will be reviewed by the program director who may contact the applicant if clarification is needed. Applicants will be notified by email/letter of their status in the application/panel process.

Supporting Materials

Resumes and work samples are required for all disciplines. They must be submitted in accordance with the following instructions:

Resume - Do not include name or contact information.

All applicants must submit a "blind" resume focusing on their career as an artist.

Work Samples

Work samples are the primary way that panelists assess artistic and professional quality. Please consider your choice of work samples carefully in relation to the program Performance Expectations. Be sure to also describe important points about the quality, scope, and depth of your work in the application narrative. Do not send student work or master tapes.

Remember that the Fellowship program uses a blind jurying process (see "Program Description") meaning that applicant's names are not revealed to the panel. Pay careful attention to the specific requirements for submitting work samples, including blocking out your name, address, and any contact information on copies. DO NOT send originals of work samples.

If selected for a Fellowship, work samples will not be returned. Work samples will be returned to those who are not selected for the program.

Work samples should support the selected discipline or medium. All categories, except Media Art, must submit work completed within the past three calendar years (e.g., with application deadline of March 15, 2008 - eligible work should have been created between January, 2005 and March 15, 2008.) Media Artists may submit work completed within the past four calendar years.

For detailed instructions on preparation, formatting and submission of all works samples, see general guidelines.

Choreographers: These samples will be mailed to the KAC. Please note: Affix your KASOL application # to each work sample. Do not include your name or contact information. Label each DVD with the title and running time of each piece. Submit up to three (3) separate samples of performance work. Performances may consist of individual pieces or a series. The three samples may be combined onto one DVD if chapters are provided. Three copies of this DVD must be submitted. If chapters are not provided the work samples must be submitted on three separate DVDs. Three sets must be submitted for a total of nine DVDs. Samples may be completed works or excerpts of no more than ten minutes.

Literary Arts (Poetry, Creative Non-Fiction and Fiction): This document will be a PDF or Word attachment submitted via the KASOL system. Do not include name or contact information. Submit up to 20 numbered pages, double-spaced, of poems, short fiction/non-fiction or an excerpt from a novel or other work. If an excerpt is submitted, it should be placed in context on a cover/synopsis sheet within the 20 pages.

Literary Arts (Play/Scriptwriting): This document will be a PDF or Word attachment submitted via the KASOL system. Do not include name or contact information. Submit up to 40 numbered and typed conventional script pages of a scene or play. If an excerpt is submitted, it should be placed in context on a cover/synopsis sheet (no longer than one page in length) within the 40 pages. Scripts may be for stage, radio, film, television, etc.

Librettos: (Opera or Musical Theatre) See requirements for scripts and include three CDs and/or musical scores according to format for composers.

Composers: These samples will be mailed to the KAC. Please note: Affix your KASOL application # to each work sample. Do not include your name or contact information. Submit up to three (3) separate work samples compiled on one CD. Three copies of this CD must be submitted. Samples may be completed works or excerpts of no more than ten minutes and should demonstrate proficiency in the proposed art form. These CDs will be mailed to the KAC. In addition, four sets of unbound scores or lead sheets, as applicable, must be submitted. If the applicant is also performing on the tape, please identify the applicant's instrument. Label the CDs, scores and lead sheets with the title of the work and completion date.

Interdisciplinary: For works sharing or derived from a combination of writing, choreography and music composition as a central part of the piece. Select support materials from those described above which properly represent your work. Include the corresponding number of copies, all marked with the title of work. Applicants in this category are encouraged to contact Tamara Coffey, Individual Artist Program Director, before applying.

Visual Arts: Submit ten (10) digital images for the corresponding discipline or medium as indicated in the application. These images will be uploaded and submitted via the KASOL system. The submission may not include more than two detail views. Choose the images carefully to show recent work that supports the selected discipline/medium and the purposes of the Fellowship program. When selecting images for submission, please move images up or down, arranging them within your application in the order of preferred viewing.

Media Arts (Video or Film): These samples will be mailed to the KAC. Please note: Affix your KASOL application # to each work sample. Do not include your name or contact information. Submit up to three (3) separate work samples. The three samples may be combined onto one DVD if chapters are provided. Three copies of this DVD must be submitted. If chapters are not provided the work samples must be submitted on three separate DVDs. Three sets must be submitted for a total of nine DVDs. Samples may be completed works or excerpts of no more than ten minutes.

Media Arts (Audio): These samples will be mailed to the KAC. Please note: Affix your KASOL application # to each work sample. Do not include your name or contact information. Submit up to three (3) separate work samples compiled on one CD. Three copies of this CD must be submitted.

Panel Meeting

Out-of-state, discipline-based, peer panels will select fellowship recipients according to the Performance Expectations in an anonymous, blind jurying process. This process means that the application form and all materials reviewed by the panel of jurors will be presented with the applicant's name deleted.

KAC Board Meeting

The panel's recommendations are forwarded to the Kentucky Arts Council's governing board for approval.

Appeals

There are no appeals in this category.

For More Information

The Kentucky Arts Council welcomes all questions regarding this program. For more information, please contact:

Tamara Coffey
Individual Artist Program Director
502-564-3757 Ext. 479
E-mail: Tamara.Coffey@ky.gov


Kentucky Arts Council
21st Floor, Capital Plaza Tower
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40601-1987
Phone: 502-564-3757
Toll-free: 888-833-2787
FAX: 502-564-2839
Send comments or questions to: kyarts@ky.gov

Kentucky Arts Council

Copyright & COPY; 2007 Commonwealth of Kentucky. All rights reserved
URL: http://artscouncil.ky.gov

Revised: December 19, 2007