Manhattan Arts Grants - FAQ

Fund for Creative Communities (The Fund) & Manhattan Community Arts Fund (MCAF)

What makes me eligible for your grants?
MCAF and The Fund are designed to support art projects for Manhattan communities. Each program has its 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 an information session. In addition, returning applicants who have not attended an information session in the past 3 years (since 2009) are also required to attend this year.
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 who reside in Manhattan.
The Fund program will consider applications from individual artists who reside in Manhattan working in partnership with a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization, either as a community-based project partner or a fiscal sponsor. Note: the community partner and the fiscal sponsor cannot be a current applicant or a grantee of NYSCA.
For full details and requirements for applying to MCAF and The Fund as an individual artist, please refer to the program guidelines.
We are an unincorporated artist collective, can we apply?
Collectives must designate the artistic lead (director, or equivalent) to apply as an individual on its behalf. The artistic lead must meet the eligibility and application requirements for individuals.
The MCAF program will consider applications directly from the artistic lead or an artistic lead applying with a fiscal sponsor.
The Fund program will consider applications from the artistic lead working in partnership with a Manhattan-based nonprofit organization, either as a community-based project partner or a fiscal sponsor.
What is a fiscal sponsor?
A fiscal sponsor is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that extends its nonprofit status to an artist or group project 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.
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 programs. These programs are supported by separate public sources of funding and therefore have different eligibility requirements.
I’ve applied to New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), can I apply to MCAF?
MCAF is supported by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). If you have applied to DCA and have 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 are not funded, you can apply to MCAF.
I’ve applied to New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), can I apply to The Fund?
The Fund is supported by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). 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).
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 for the public to access and 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.).
How long will it take to complete the online application?
The Online Application Form consists of 7-8 sections including the narrative. Completion time may vary. Unfinished applications can be saved online and resumed at a later time through a user email and password system. We encourage you to refer to the ‘Preview Sample Application Form’ found on the ‘Apply’ pages for each program. The sample form allows you to preview the sections & questions in the Online Application form for The Fund and MCAF.
I don’t have reliable Internet access and I am having trouble filling out the Online Application Form. What should I do?
Contact our staff to discuss alternatives. Appointments are available with our staff to use one of LMCC’s computers to fill out the Online Application Form. Our staff can help guide you through the form and assist you with technical difficulties.
What are in-kind contributions?
In-kind contributions are donations of goods or services, instead of cash. Examples of in-kind contributions: a graphic designer’s donated time and services, donated materials, etc.
How do I value in-kind contributions in my budget?
In-kind contributions should be valued at their market rate. Account for in-kind services and goods that have a clear basis for determining their market value. Example: professional labor may be valued as an hourly wage rate per day or according to a standard fee scale, materials can be estimated at current selling prices, etc. Track in-kind contributions separately from cash income & expenses in your project budget, using the box provided at the end of the budget form.
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.). Your project budget should reflect the presentation costs for the public component of your project. 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.
Where do I find information about my elected officials required in the application?
We are a theater company and I’m worried about Actors Equity rules on video documentation. What should I do regarding work samples?
Please note that Actors Equity Union has recently changed their union contracts to allow for video recordings for archival, documentary and promotional purposes. If you don’t have video, call our staff to seek guidance about submitting a combination of samples and support materials that could help round out your proposal. If you do have video, when uploading your video on Vimeo or YouTube, make sure to set it to private and to include the password before submitting the link to our online application. Please refer to your Actor’s Equity contract or contact them directly with further questions. .
How do I upload my work samples to Vimeo, YouTube, or SoundCloud?
For help with Vimeo, visit the Help Center and read the section on uploading:
http://vimeo.com/help/faq/uploading
For YouTube, examine their Help page for uploading instructions:
http://tinyurl.com/7kmvkj7
You can also view this useful video tutorial:
http://tinyurl.com/cloe7lr
For Sound Cloud, view this video tutorial:
http://soundcloud.com/upload
You can also take a look at their Help page:
http://help.soundcloud.com/
If you don’t want your sample to be publicly accessible, you will need to make it “private” for Vimeo and SoundCloud and “unlisted” on YouTube. If you choose to not make your video public, please be sure to include all applicable passwords on the grant application.
When uploading videos, the conversion process may take several hours. The conversion process for Vimeo tends to be longer than YouTube as it allows for higher resolution uploads on the site. We strongly suggest that you upload your videos days in advance of completing your application to avoid unexpected wait times.
We are available to assist you:
July 30 - September 8, Wednesdays from 2-5pm. Please contact the appropriate Program Manager, below, to make an appointment.
Are there any extensions on the grant deadline?
NNo. All applications must be received by 5pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012.

Questions about The Fund for Creative Communities

Contact Haowen Wang, Program Manager, Grants & Services
212-219-9401 x129 or hwang@lmcc.net

To read more about Fund for Creative Communities and to download applications and guidelines go to: http://www.lmcc.net/grants/thefund/apply

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 Manhattan Community Arts Fund and to download applications and guidelines go to: http://www.lmcc.net/grants/mcaf/apply