MAP Fund | Announcement: On-line MAP Application Chat Transcript

MAP: Hello! Welcome to the MAP chat! If you have any application/guidelines questions, please feel free to go ahead and jump in.
damien: Hi - I am applying with an ensemble as a lead artist. On the labels for the DVDs it asks for Org name and Lead artist. Is it ok for them to be the same?
MAP: Yes, its okay if they are the same.
damien: My other question is as a work in progress sample, I am submitting a script. Do we submit only 10 pages of it, or do we follow the playwriting guidelines by submitting 10 pages and the full script?
MAP: Please follow the playwriting guidelines.
redmoon: For visual artist samples, it says "jpeg slides" and I am curious if resolution is an issue (must they be a certain dpi?)
MAP: Its best to send 300 dpi.
ilsa: If the organization has seen substantial growth in FY 06 and those numbers are provided in the notes section, will the reviewers consider FY 06 numbers as well?
MAP: If there has been significant growth and you've noted it in budget notes, yes, they will see and consider it.
nomotime: One agency has changed name--it has 45 yrs experience but not 2 yrs as new agency--still eligible?
MAP : Yes, just indicate that it used to be a different name in the organization bio.
steven: I am the lead artist in a proposed project. As the composer, I will send samples accordingly. But my collaboration with a dance company is one of the main aspects of the show and I'd like to include clips of them as well.
MAP: That's fine. You’ll want to list them as an ensemble and send samples for them as well.
redmoon: As for the "title" and "description" portion of the work samples, if a title is unavailable, is "Untitled" okay, and for description, what is required? Do you need more than the medium used? Thanks
MAP: Yes, untitled is okay. You can just include medium, but if you need to give context for the image, do so in the description field.
nomotime: Can funding be requested for an artistic director of theatre co who may direct a theatre piece?
MAP: Yes.
urgr8: If we are the sponsoring organization and we are planning to team up with several organizations in the development of this project, will it make the grant stronger? If so, how should those organizations be represented in the app?
MAP: Yes, having partnering organizations might make a proposal stronger. You'll want to describe these relationships in the project description.
shagee: We're a music performance ensemble. Does live performance of commissioned music with slam poetry fall within your definition of "multimedia?"
MAP: Are you asking me if that's a MAP eligible project? If so, then yes it is a MAP eligible project.
ilsa: Development of the performance piece will involve workshops open to the public but held at a university and probably well attended by students. Does this conflict with prohibition on educational purpose?
MAP: No this does not.
nomotime: Can collaborating partners each apply for separate funding for the same performance piece?
MAP : Unfortunately, no.
melismo: If our project has multiple components (not all are live performance), should we provide an overview or only discuss the live performance in our proposal?
MAP : In the project description focus on the live performance, but include the other elements. The budget should also reflect all elements.
ilsa: Would a letter of support from the university hosting the project workshops be useful or detrimental?
MAP: Its not necessary, and we cannot include it in the panel's review of the proposal.
urgr8: Funding does not cover touring, however our project will include working with communities in different cities to develop the project. How can we make this clear to the panel that it is not for touring costs per se?
MAP: Just be sure to state this clearly in the development timeline and when listing it in the budget, just list it as "travel" rather than touring.
urgr8: Which discipline has more applicants? Theater or Interdisciplinary?
MAP: In past years, Theater.
nomotime: Are request levels meant to be reflective of last year's agency budget or of the subject production levels. Is the request or potential grant amount linked to either of those numbers?
MAP: Your request should be no more than 30% of the proposed project budget. When determining grant amounts, we look at your project budget (artist fees and production costs, specifically) and we also look at your organization budget.
redmoon: How important are the themes of gender, race, etc. weighted against the artistic elements of the proposal?
MAP: They are all equally important.
mt: What if past work is so different from the original work we are submitting for funding? How does this affect work samples?
MAP: In this case it would be very helpful to have a work-in-progress sample and in the writing of the project description explain this departure to what will be the new work.
damien: I see the number inserts for 2004 and 2005. Is there a place to submit 2007 numbers?
MAP: We only require financial information from 2004 and 2005.
ppst: The playwright we plan to host will be with us during the grant period for work unaffiliated with the proposed project. Would this situation limit available funding for travel/work hours?
MAP: If you were to receive a grant, we would then try to cover other costs with your grant amount, such as artist fees or production costs.
redmoon: How much detail do you require for the "Timeline" section? Do you only need to know when the premiere is, and how long the run of the show is?
MAP: Just a general sense of the development - the premiere date (if known), research period, rehearsal period, etc.
jfiler: Our company uses dance, film, spoken word, and theater,...would I choose the interdisciplinaryas discipline or other?
MAP: Sounds like it will fit in interdisciplinary
cl: If a new play we are considering has been produced previously in a showcase festival-but not open to press--is that eligible?
MAP: Yes, its eligible, as long as it wasn't a premiere production.
mt: Do the samples for the works in progress have to high production value?
MAP: No they do not.
redmoon: Can you be any more detailed with what you would like to see in the artist statement? Can the reasoning have anything to do with the organization itself? (i.e., they enjoy working with the org, they have a history, etc.)
MAP: Panelists in recent years have looked to the artist statement to get direct information from the artist about their connection to the project and maybe a bit about how or why they were drawn to the material/ideas they are working with. And yes, it can have to do with wanting to work with the org itself...that's fine too.
mt: We applied for this grant last year for the same project but did not get it. Is this same project allowed for grant submission?
MAP: Yes, as long as the work will not premiere before Oct. 1, 2007.
ppst: A large component of our project is educational, but the primary purpose is development of a script for first production. Should I simply leave the playwright's involvement in outreach out of the proposal?
MAP: No please include the outreach as well.
redmoon: Under "Role(s)" (for artists) there is a huge black hole of space to fill in what I assumed was a one-word answer. Am I missing anything?
MAP: For most its a one word answer, but some people have lead artists that have dual roles, like writer/director, etc. - we just wanted to make room.
bluelake: In the two-year highlight section, how would you like that structured? Would you like consecutive dates, followed by short descriptions?
MAP: Either a list of dates with short descriptions or in a narrative. Either way is fine.
redmoon: Holy Grail Question: what makes a spectacular proposal? Are there any examples you might be able to provide?
MAP: Hmmm.... spectacular proposal = a perfect meeting of a clear, concise, compelling project description and stellar work samples. I can't give you examples of actual proposals, but reading about the projects of past grantees can sometimes give you a sense of the kinds of projects that have grabbed past panelists’ and evaluators’ interests. I think its important to be able to really be clear about what you are proposing and really demonstrate that you've thought deeply about the ideas and that you've made sure that the project is within MAP's mission.
melismo: are there examples of successful budgets we can look at?
MAP: Unfortunately, no. But you should be sure that your budget reflects the entire project up to the premiere (or as much as you know at this time) and you should keep in mind that MAP prioritizes artist fees and production costs. Also your budget should show that you are looking for funding from other sources for your project (not necessarily already received, but that at least you have pending proposals to other places) or in kind.
urgr8: If our org budget is around $50K (in 04 and 05) and we are requesting $40k, will the panel be concerned?
MAP: Depends on how much you have raised or are trying to raise from other sources and whether they feel this significant leap is something that seems possible given your recent project history.
jfiler: I apologize if this was answered..... You only want to receive 3 lead artists info and work samples, with that said we still are able to speak about strong collaborations with others other than the 3 lead artists correct?
MAP: Yes you are still able to.
ps: Our arts center is a part of a University, and is commissioning a dance piece with original music. The dance component will be done by a professional choreographer, who we assume we can list as lead artist, correct? The music component will be composed by a faculty member of the University of which our arts center is a part. In addition to his University duties, he is a professional composer whose work has appeared on several professional recordings. Is there a problem with listing this University faculty member as a lead artist?
MAP: Not at all, he can be listed. And yes, you should also list the choreographer.
ps: We have an outreach component that is taking place this spring - outside the granting period. Would a discussion of that outreach component strengthen the application or should it not be included on the proposal?
MAP: Yes, I think it would strengthen the proposal and yes it should be included.
ppst: When budgeting a project within a residency that includes work we won't be seeking MAP's support for, would you care for a proposal detailing the entire scope of the artist's work here, or should we separate applicable components?
MAP: Yes you should separate the applicable components
imani: my ensemble recently did a television show that has part interview and part performance. Is this an acceptable format for the video requirements?
MAP: Just the performance element is acceptable, not the interview.
skyler: Will the panel be paying closer attention to any specific application sections for potential first time grantees?
MAP: The panelists and evaluators change every year, so it may not be clear to them that a first time applicant is a first time applicant. That said, no.
jlandau: If I can use 5min DVD and my written sample from another project, must I use the first ten pages or may I submit any ten pages?
MAP: We require the first ten pages
imani: We are a music ensemble (a chamber music group) that does not do any special staging like a theatre group would - should my ensemble submit a recording as the work sample instead?
MAP: Yes you should submit a recording.
mt: In re-reading your guidelines, I noticed MAP does not fund touring...Should we not include this aspect of our development project in the description, budget, etc of our request?
MAP: You can include it in the project description and timeline, to let the panelists know your intentions with the project, but it is not necessary in the budget.
ppst: Does MAP have any preference for the size of an applicant organization or the previous career qualifications of the artists it supports? (well-established institutions/artists or development of early-career artists)
MAP: Size of organization does not matter. Artists can be from any stage in their career, as long as they have at least 2 years of professional experience.
imani: Would you prefer video to a CD for chamber music groups?
MAP: No, we would prefer a CD.

On-line MAP Application Chat Transcript - 2/5/2007