Manhattan Arts Grants FAQ
- What makes me eligible for your grants?
- MCAF and The FUND both have their own eligibility requirements for applicants and for projects. You can find these requirements in each of their guidelines. Please be sure to read the guidelines carefully to make sure you are eligible to apply. If you have any questions, please call our staff. First time applicants are required to attend and information session. In addition, returning applicants who have not attended an information session in the past 3 years (since 2006) are required to attend an information session.
- I’m not based in Lower Manhattan, can I apply?
- Don’t let our name fool you! Both MCAF and The FUND support Manhattan-based artists and arts organizations with projects taking place anywhere within the borough of Manhattan.
- I’m an individual artist, can I apply?
- The MCAF program will consider applications from individual artists.
- The FUND program will consider applications from individual artists only with a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization serving as their fiscal sponsor. Please note, the fiscal sponsor for The FUND cannot be an applicant or a grantee of NYSCA.
- What is a fiscal sponsor?
- A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that acts as a sponsor for a project or group that does not have its own tax-exempt status. Grants are made to the fiscal sponsor who in turn provides the grant funds to the artist. The artist or group that is sponsored usually pays a fee to the sponsor for its services.
- How are grants determined?
- Panels of artists and arts professionals, convened by artistic discipline, will review and evaluate projects using the criteria for each program. Please see the guidelines for The FUND and MCAF to read more about their unique criteria and review process.
- We are a theater company and Equity rules prevent us from videotaping works. What work samples should we submit?
- If you don’t have video, call our staff to seek guidance about submitting appropriate work samples and support materials that could help round out your proposal.
- I’m a filmmaker, can I use this grant for my film’s production costs?
- MCAF and The FUND are open to all artistic disciplines, including film. Please keep in mind that these are grants for the presentation of work not solely for the creation of the work, meaning that all projects must include a public component (film screenings, panel discussions, etc.). You may include relevant film production/post-production costs that are related to the public component (including artist fees). The grant period is one year so we usually recommend that film projects be in the post-production stage so that they can be presented to an audience within the grant period.
- The guidelines mention a need for a “public component.” How is this defined?
- Both MCAF and The FUND are grants that require a public component that benefits Manhattan communities. A public component is an event or opportunity to engage with art that is promoted and available to the general public (e.g. concerts, dance or theater productions, visual art exhibitions, film screenings, etc.).
- Where do I find information about my elected officials required in the application?
- The following website’s interactive map offers information about NYC Council, NYS Assembly, NYS Senate, and US Congress: http://gis.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/
- For your community board number, you can go the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit website: www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_manhattan.shtml
- For your city council member number, you can go to the New York City Council website: http://council.nyc.gov/html/members/members.shtml
- For your New York state assembly member, go to the following link to search by zipcode: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
- For your New York State Senate number, you may search here: www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators
- Are there any extensions on the grant deadline?
- No. All applications must be received by 5pm on September 22, 2009.
- Can I apply to both MCAF and The Fund?
- You can apply for both MCAF and The Fund provided that you meet the applicant and project eligibility requirements of both. These funds come from separate public sources of funding. MCAF is supported through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) while The FUND is supported through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). If you are eligible to apply to both programs, you may apply with the same project or two separate projects.
- I’ve applied to DCA, can I apply to MCAF and The FUND?
- If you’ve applied to DCA and been awarded a grant, you are NOT eligible to apply for MCAF within the same fiscal year. However, if you apply to the DCA and get turned down, you can apply to MCAF. In addition, you can apply for The FUND regardless of whether or not you receive funding from DCA, provided you meet all of the other eligibility requirements for The FUND.
- I’ve applied to NYSCA, can I apply to MCAF and the FUND?
- If you’ve applied to NYSCA, you are NOT eligible to apply for The FUND within the same fiscal year (even if your application is not awarded a grant through NYSCA). You can apply for MCAF regardless of whether or not you receive funding from NYSCA, provided you meet all of the other eligibility requirements for MCAF.
- What are in-kind contributions?
- In-kind contributions are donations of goods or services as contributions, instead of cash. These donations can be values at the market rate. Examples of in-kind donations: a graphic designer’s donated time and services, donated materials, donated rehearsal space, etc.
- How do I value in-kind donations in my budget?
- Account for in-kind services and items that have market value and have a clear basis on valuing the items and services. Example: labor may be valued as a local wage rate per day, materials can be estimated at current selling prices, etc. Please note, you should account for in-kind items as both expenses and income on your budget. Also, be sure to note on your budget in the explanation column if an item is in-kind.
Questions about The Fund for Creative Communities
Contact Liza Green, Program Manager, Grants & Services
212-219-9401 x129 or lgreen@lmcc.net
Questions about Manhattan Community Arts Fund
Contact Prachi Patankar, Program Associate, Grants & Services
212-219-9401, ext. 117 or ppatankar@lmcc.net
To read more about both grants and to download applications and guidelines go to: http://lmcc.net/grants/index.html
