DAKOTA WEST ARTS COUNCIL
​ The council advances arts and culture in North Dakota’s Capital City
    through advocacy, community engagement, partnerships and collaboration.

INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
This Grant Program is a partnership between the City of Bismarck and Dakota West Arts Council. The Arts Council manages the program. This Individual grant program supports the creative work of individual artists in all disciplines while encouraging interaction between artists and community members. Projects may include exhibitions, site-specific works, installations, performances, or any other events or activities that are accessible to the general public and occurring  during the 2019 calendar year. Visual, literary, media, musical, multi-dimensional, and performing artists are all encouraged to apply. Funding can pay your artist stipend, mileage, site preparation, and any other expenses directly related to the planning, creation, and completion of the project outlined in the grant request therefore supporting the mission of Dakota West Arts Council:

The Arts Council’s Grant program is designed to provide financial support for arts and cultural activities that merit public funding. A review Evaluation Committee consisting of artists and other community members evaluates each application and recommends funding. Evaluation Committee recommendations are presented to the Dakota West Arts Council Board of Directors for review and approval of all funding decisions. The Arts Council's staff does not make funding decisions. Although two board members facilitate the panel meetings, they do not state opinions or make recommendations to the panel. All applicants will receive award notification via email in December. Successful applicants will receive their funds once a signed contract is returned (email is preferred with Grant Contract as the subject) and membership dues have been paid.

2018-19 Grant Schedule
Grant Applications Available Online:  September 17, 2018
Grant Applications Due to Dakota West Arts Council:   October 22, 2018
Arts Council Grant Evaluation Committee Pre-Review Meeting:   November 1, 2018
Grand Application Reviews:   November 29, 2018
Grant Recipient Notification and Contracts Issued by Email:   December 7, 2018

All Grant Contracts Must Be Completed, Signed, and Returned to
Dakota West Arts Council no later than January 4, 2019.

• NEW! Applicants who have received a Dakota West Arts Council grant last year must wait one (1) year to apply again. Successful applicants who did not return an Evaluation Form must wait three (3) years to apply again. 
• NEW! Prior to applying for a grant, applicants who want to do public art in downtown Bismarck must first obtain the permission of the building owner/business to use their space and their approval of the artwork to be used or displayed. Prior to applying for a grant, you must also contact Community Development at the City of Bismarck to learn if the location for your public art requires the approval of the Bismarck Renaissance Zone Authority. If they determine you do need approval of the Renaissance Zone Authority, they will put you on the agenda and give you a meeting date and time. 
• Applicants must be current members of Dakota West Arts Council. MEMBERSHIP can be acquired through this website. 
• Artists apply for a grant must be at least 18 years of age and live and/or work in the city of Bismarck.
• Examples of grant requests could include:
  • Training -- cost to attend a workshop or master class to further develop the artist's career, including the development of artistic, business or marketing skills.
  • Creative process, production or presentation -- costs involved in the creative process, and/or preparation for and/or implementation of an exhibit or performance.
  • Supplies -- purchase of supplies and materials necessary for the creation or production of new work that is pivotal to the artist's career.
  • Equipment -- purchase of specific equipment that is vital to the artist's career development.
  • Services -- rental of facilities for the creation or presentation of new work, including studio or rehearsal space.
• The Arts Council will not fund:
  • Projects whose main purpose is educational, such as development of curriculum plans, teaching materials or teaching programs.
  • Living or travel costs that are intended to provide experiences and not artistic growth,product and/or output.
  • If in doubt, contact the Executive Director of the Dakota West Arts Council at dwac4arts@hotmail.com.
• We accept proposals for established, on-going collaborative groups (usually working under a group name) or for one-time or short -term collaborative projects, provided that the parties agree to stay in a partnership while completing the proposed project. Collaborative groups can have no more than five members in total. All members of the collaborative group must meet the general eligibility requirements; include the names, roles and brief bios of the group members or collaborators in the project proposal. The Arts Council defines "collaborator" as someone who is considered a co-owner/co-creator of the project, not someone who provides services on a "work for hire" basis. Individual members of a collaborative proposal may not apply separately as an individual artist in an 12-month period.
• The award of Grants funds is made at the discretion of the Dakota West Arts Council's Evaluation Committee  and approved by the Arts Council board. The decision of the board is final.
• To apply, you must fill out the ARTIST GRANT APPLICATION and BUDGET FORM below. Please be articulate in your responses. If the fill-able form does not work for you, type your answers on a separate sheet. Please number each response and make sure your organization or individual information is on each page.
• Funds cannot be re-granted or redistributed (e.g. as a pass-through or fiscal sponsorship) to any other person, organization, or entity. However, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations can allow the use of their non-profit status for other projects and programs that help fulfill their mission.
• Funds cannot be used for debt reduction/elimination, student loans, penalties or litigation.
• Grantees must submit an EVALUATION FORM within 30 days after their program/project.  Failure to do so will deem the organization/individual ineligible for future Arts Council grant funding.
• If you have questions, email us at dwac4arts@hotmil.com. Please title your message GRANT QUESTION and flag the email as important. The same goes for when you submit you application, title your message GRAND SUBMISSION and flag it.

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ARTIST GRANT APPLICAITON

EVALUATION FORM