Apply to Creative Curricula
The application deadline for Creative Curricula has passed.
The information below is provided for reference purposes only.
Applicants will be notified by mail in late August 2010 whether their projects have been funded.
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 Manhattan schools and cultural organizations or individual teaching artists that focus on the creation and implementation of arts integrated units of study.
How Creative Curricula Works
Creative Curricula makes matching grants for up to $5,000 to partnerships between Manhattan schools and teaching artists or cultural organizations. Funding is provided for in-classroom projects that focus on the integrated study of arts and non-arts subjects developed by collaborating classroom teachers and teaching artists. Funding decisions are based on the proposal’s ability to meet the program criteria and local funding priorities as they are outlined in these application guidelines.
Application Assistance
Each Spring, LMCC staff members lead information sessions in different locations in Manhattan to introduce the Creative Curricula program. Information sessions consist of an overview of the 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 in order to develop competitive applications.
- Tuesday, April 13, 4PM at LMCC
- Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 6PM at Children's Museum of the Arts
- Thursday, May 13, 2010, 4PM at Manhattan Neighborhood Network
- Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 6:30PM at Dwyer Cultural Center (hosted by Harlem Arts Alliance
- Monday, May 24, 2010 6:30PM at LMCC
Our information session schedule is complete for this cycle of Creative Curricula, however, we encourage you to seek one-on-one assistance from LMCC staff, in person or on the phone, with specific questions about your proposal.
Application Deadline: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
All applications must be received at LMCC by 5:00pm on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
Applicants will be notified by mail in late August 2010 whether their projects have been funded.
Application forms can be downloaded and saved to your computer as a Microsoft Word document; however, applications cannot be submitted online. The application can be found on the right in the sidebar.
Applicant Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from nonprofit arts and cultural organizations or from schools applying on behalf of individual teaching artists. You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Schools may be public, private, parochial, or charter
- Projects must serve school districts in Manhattan
- Arts and cultural organizations must show proof 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 to determine if other arrangements are possible
Project Eligibility
Projects that are eligible for Creative Curricula support must involve the following:
- Direct collaboration between at least one non-arts classroom teacher and one teaching artist. School arts specialists are also encouraged to participate in projects.
- Activities must occur during the school day, and must take place between September 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
- Projects are required to hold at least three (3) contact sessions between the same teacher, teaching artist, and group of students.
- Activities and outcomes must be collaboratively designed, planned, taught, and evaluated by the participating teacher(s), teaching artist(s), and other school and community members.
- Student learning goals 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
- Stand-alone assembly programs, single performances, or one-time visits to cultural institutions
- Projects that appear to replace the role of certified art, music, dance, or theatre teachers
- Projects that focus on non-integrated, sequential arts education
- 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
- Projects that are currently supported by or under consideration for NYSCA Empire State Partnership Program (ESP) 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 plan to secure at least one matching dollar in income.
Example: If a partnership requests $1000, it must show that it has plans to secure at least $1000 in matching income. Income sources must be named in the budget.
Generally, the school partner contributes some cash toward the matching income for the project. The more the school is able to contribute, the higher the proposal may score during panel deliberations. The school contribution must be secured at the time of application.
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.
A letter of commitment from the school partner outlining any cash or in-kind contribution to the project must be provided to LMCC as part of the application.
Review Process
An independent panel of your peers with expertise in education and the arts will use the review criteria and plus factors outlined below to evaluate how well your proposed project will support classroom learning and arts integration.
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.
Funding decisions are based on the following review criteria and funding priorities (plus factors).
Review Criteria
- Clarity and appropriateness of the student learning goals in relation to the proposed project activities and grade levels served
- Degree to which the proposed project will strengthen learning in both the arts and non-arts subjects
- Depth and authenticity of the connection between the arts and non-arts subjects
- Degree to which the planning sessions will allow for reflection, further investigation, and fine tuning between work sessions
- Degree to which certified arts teachers will participate in the project, if applicable
- Appropriateness of professional development activities in relation to the student and adult (teacher/artist) learning goals, if applicable
- Clarity, appropriateness, and feasibility of evaluation and assessment plans
- Clarity and appropriateness of plans for parental and community awareness and involvement
- Quality of expertise and appropriateness of proposed artists or professionals
- Appropriateness of proposed changes or improvements to the project, if project was supported in the past
- Appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of the proposed budget
Plus Factors
In addition to the review 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
- The school partner contributes cash to 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
Creative Curricula grants typically range from $750–2500. The grant award is a contract for arts services; grantees are required to carry out the following during the grant period:
- Sign and return letter of agreement to LMCC
- Provide 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
- Notify LMCC of any significant changes to proposed project activities including: schedule, key participants, project scope or budget, before these changes are finalized.
- Submit final narrative and financial report on the project, accompanied by program documentation within 30 days of the conclusion of project activities
- Ensure a representative of the project can attend an annual gathering of Creative Curricula grantees
Appeals Process
We encourage applicants who are not funded to contact our staff for a summary of panel comments and feedback on their applications.
Applicants may appeal decisions in writing within 10 business 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
It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a clear, accurate, and complete application.
A complete application includes:
- Eight (8) sets, including one original, of the following documents. One set consists of:
- Creative Curricula application form, including Project Narrative, completed and signed by all partners
- Resume for each teaching artist involved in the project
- 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
- One (1) copy of the following, if arts or 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
- Work samples, preferably of classroom work, in the appropriate format. See Work Sample Instructions below for more details. Label samples with:
- Applicant’s name
- Sample number (e.g. Work Sample #1)
- Support materials in the form of sample lesson plans, staff observations of past projects, evaluation materials, completed evaluation forms, student feedback, press clippings, and letters of recommendation (maximum of 5 pages/items).
- 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: Submit your application in one package. All documents must be on 8.5” x 11” paper. Use paperclips: please do not staple or bind materials. Pocket folders, cover sheets and elaborate packaging are not necessary and will be discarded. Late, 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 Macintosh computer. Please test your samples accordingly.
Work samples can be from one or both categories below, as best represents your project. If possible choose samples from within the last three years. Documentation can be from:
- A school-based project: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit documentation of classroom work or samples of student work that resulted from previous school-based project under the direction of the artist/cultural partner.
- 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, up to the maximum number accepted in that format. Contact LMCC staff for guidance if you would like to combine formats. Please do not send original artwork.
- Recordings
- Submit 2 maximum, CDs, DVDs, VHS
- Recordings documenting past classroom work or past projects by participating performing, media arts or film artists must be cued to play or must include a cue time. Please cue to a portion of the recording that best represents the proposed project. Do not send marketing clips—send documentation of actual work or work in progress. Label but do not place stickers on disks as this often jams equipment. LMCC uses Macintosh computers to play work samples.
- Manuscripts
- Submit 10 pages maximum, Journal Entries, Scripts, Poetry, Prose
- 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 1/2 x 11” white paper.
- Images
- Submit 8 maximum, Printed Images or CD of Images
- Photos/reproductions of classroom work, student work or images of past work by participating visual artists may be submitted. Printed images should be no larger than 8 1/2 x 11”. Digital 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 1000 pixels. Each filename should be saved as “Applicant Name #” (e.g. ArtsOrg01.jpg, ArtsOrg02.jpg, etc.). Label but do not place stickers on disks as this often jams equipment. LMCC uses Macintosh computers to play work samples.
Work Sample Information Sheet
Be sure to provide written context for the work sample in the Work Sample Information Sheet provided as part of the application form. This will help orient the panel to what they are about to see/hear.
Submit applications to:
Creative Curricula
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
125 Maiden Lane, Second Floor
New York, New York 10038
Questions?
Contact: Haowen Wang at 212-219-9401 x129 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
