2022 Grant Cycle

MAP’s 2022 grant cycle will provide grants of $30,000 to 85 new, live performance projects across all regions of the United States.

Project funds ($25,000) may be used for creation, dependent care, personnel, practice, production, rehearsal, research, rest, residency, travel, and workshop costs. General operating funds ($5,000) are unrestricted.

KEY FEATURESTIMELINEELIGIBILITYSelection ProcessFAQ + Tips

Open and supported application: Anyone may apply on behalf of an eligible new, live performance project that connects with MAP’s mission. The person(s) who create the application (“primary contact” in Submittable) may be an individual artist, ensemble representative, producer, manager, agent, or presenting representative. We expect that all artists have consented to their presence in the proposal, and that the primary contact will share all subsequent communications with the artist(s). MAP aims to make the application process as supported as possible, offering phone call, email, and project description support.

Three-step selection process to mitigate bias: In Step 1, a cohort of 60+ artists and arts workers serving as representatives of the applicant community will complete independent assessments of each proposal. They will cast anonymous votes to advance projects into the next step. In Step 2, an Excel function will randomly draw 85 projects. In Step 3, MAP’s Board of Directors approves the selected projects. MAP staff will send notifications via email.

Granting process foregrounding artists’ agency: Each grantee will receive a $25,000 grant for the creation of a new, live performance project and a $5,000 unrestricted general operating grant. The artist(s) will choose the “grant custodian” best suited to their project’s needs, and must agree to how and when the funds will be distributed. We will move the funds quickly upon completed paperwork.

March 14, 2022
Applicants may begin requesting support.
Form opens for artists and arts workers to serve as a 2022 Reviewer
Submittable application live

April 28, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Deadline to request project description assistance (up to 300 slots)

May 13, 2022
MAP staff return all project description assistance

May 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Deadline to apply for funding or to be a reviewer MAP’s 2022 grant cycle. MAP does not accept late proposals.

June 10, 2022
Applicant experience survey closes

June-September 2022
Selection process takes place

October 2022
Grant cycle results emailed
Contracts and payout processes begin for new grantees

All applicants will complete a short eligibility form in Submittable to ensure that the proposal meets these minimum criteria:

– Applicants intend to spend the grant down beginning November 2022 towards the creation, development, or production of a new, live performance project led by working artists.

– Artists must consent to their presence in the proposal and understand that they will be responsible for choosing the grant custodian in the event of an award.

– Artists on the project team do not need to be US citizens, but the project must take place in the United States (or its territories) and the grant custodian must be US-based.

In addition to the form, MAP staff scan project proposals prior to the review process. Proposals that fall into any of the following categories are deemed ineligible:

– Restaging of work that was originally created by other artists, has already premiered, and/or is considered a “classic” within any cultural context. 

– Requests to support a curated series or festival, arts education curricula, touring, or documentation of a prior, completed work.

Eligible applications move into the selection process.

Step 1

MAP will hire 60+ artist and arts worker voting representatives (“reviewers”). Working independently, their primary task is to look for projects that demonstrate extraordinary potential to exemplify and/or expand upon MAP’s mission through:
– Choice and treatment of content that could advance critical conversations, perceptions, and/or policies;
– Commitment to treating all project collaborators with care, respect, and awareness of power dynamics;
– Investigation of and/or experimentation with performance forms.

Projects can demonstrate potential in a multitude of ways. Rather than impose rigid parameters on what the artistic work must be like–which can in no way serve as an appropriate requirement for every project, nor encourage the variety of exploration that MAP champions–we invite reviewers to consider each applicant’s own standards, definitions, and goals for artistic expression and the presence of disruption in their work.

Taking in that breadth across the applicant pool, reviewers draw upon their own knowledge, expertise, and commitment to MAP’s values to complete the following questions:

1) Have you experienced the work of any artists listed on this application?
– I haven’t experienced any of their work.
– I’ve experienced some of their work.
– I’ve experienced most or all of their work.

2) Do you know any of the artists listed on the application?
– I didn’t know any of the artists prior to this proposal.
– I know of one or more artists, but don’t have a relationship with them.
– I’ve worked with one or more of the artists.
– I have a close personal and/or professional relationship with one or more artists.

Selections to #1 and 2 have no bearing on whether or not an applicant moves forward. The data helps us assess the degree of familiarity reviewers have with the applicant pool. As reviewers cast votes, we ask them to notice if they tend to recommend that “familiar artists” move forward more often than unfamiliar artists. It could be an indicator of unconscious bias.

3) Do you need to declare a conflict of interest?
– Yes
– No

A reviewer is considered to have a “conflict of interest” if they have a relationship with the artistic team as:
– An employee;
– A fundraiser or public relations person;
– An independent contractor who has received fees or payments in the past 12 months;
– Has had and/or is having a relationship of an intimate nature with the grant applicant;
– Will benefit directly or indirectly from the grant applicant’s funding from MAP Fund.

In the event of a conflict of interest with an applicant, the reviewer will not participate in any aspect of the decision-making process in connection with any matter that involves the applicant directly or indirectly. Proposals are not adversely affected by the declaration of a conflict of interest. In those instances, the proposal will receive one automatic FOR vote.

4) Based on my understanding of the proposal, this project’s intentions:
– exemplify and/or expand upon MAP’s funding focus
– satisfy MAP’s funding focus
– are for artistic expression outside of MAP’s funding focus
– were not clear enough for me to make an assessment

5) Please select one of the following:
– I vote FOR this proposal to move forward to Step 2 (random selection).
– I’m unsure but inclined to vote FOR.
– I’m unsure but inclined to vote AGAINST.
– I vote AGAINST this proposal moving forward to Step 2 (random selection).

Step 2

Projects with the highest degree of consensus will move into this step. An Excel function will randomly draw 85 projects. Our experience shows that grant review panels tend to favor more resourced artists. This selection method eliminates subjective arbitration, risk aversion, and groupthink that can surface in human decision-making processes.

Step 3

MAP’s Board of Directors approves the selected projects. Upon notification of the grant, artists will be asked to:
– Identify and provide contact information for a grant custodian with a Social Security Number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or 501(c)(3), LLC, or S-Corp organization that will receive and distribute the funds;
– Share financial projections for the project;
– Approve or generate materials for a press release, including high-resolution images to represent the project;
– Report demographic information for 1-4 individual artists with overall project responsibility;
– Complete a brief final report by October 31, 2024 (format for this grantee cohort is TBD).

Grant custodians will be asked to:
– Ensure that artists are aware of any administrative fees, and how and when funds will be distributed
– Execute digital contracts and choose payment method (electronic transfer or physical check)

I’m eligible. Should I apply to MAP?
While we actively fundraise to support as many artists as possible, MAP is unable to fund every proposed project–in 2019, only 4% of applicants received funding. For that reason, we have only included those questions in the application that are absolutely necessary for distributing resources. We also aim to reduce the amount of time it will take to complete each question. This year’s application has a recommended length of 600-800 words, in addition to short answer questions (name of project, artist location, etc.), single and multiple-select questions (discipline of project, etc.), and a work sample.

As Lauren Slone, MAP’s Director of Grants & Research, noted in her presentation at the Dance/NYC 2021 Digital Symposium, “For any resource opportunity, if the odds are not in your favor, but the potential return is high (you could receive much more than the time it cost you to apply), and you have the energy to submit, we strongly suggest applying and setting your expectations accordingly.”

I'm a recent MAP grantee. Can I still apply for this grant cycle?
Yes; being a past grantee does not prevent you from applying for MAP’s 2022 cycle.
Can my collaborators and I fill out this application together?
MAP has enabled collaborative submissions on Submittable, in which multiple people can work on a submission at the same time. For information about how this process works, please refer to Submittable’s website. Please note that all collaborators on an application will be notified in the event of a grant.
Can I apply with multiple projects?
Yes; artists are not limited to applying with a single project. If you are interested in seeking funding for multiple projects, please submit a separate application for each project.
Does MAP fund adaptations?
MAP’s funding focuses on the creation of new performance work. Projects may be “inspired by” or reference classical literature or existing works in the global performance canon, but may not seek to reproduce existing content.
Does MAP have requirements around funding a certain career stage?
The funds are available to artists at every career stage and are explicitly present and future-focused. The grant program is not set up to reward past work or to acknowledge lifetime achievements, but rather to invest in the potential of current ideas, processes, collaborations, and organizing efforts.
In the event of a grant, how long do I have to premiere the project?
MAP does not require projects to premiere by any specific date. Upon receipt of the funds (November 2022), grantees are asked to spend down the grant towards the development of the project within two years. Exceptions to that timeline are possible on a case-by-case basis.
Should I address changing conditions around the COVID-19 pandemic?
Applicants may speak to contingencies if they wish. MAP understands that the pandemic has added further complications and unknowns around many aspects of making performance, and that the content, themes, additional collaborators, timelines, or production plans of a project might shift from the time of the application.
How much do reviewers weigh certain aspects of the proposal over others?
Reviewers’ votes account for the application as a whole. No single component should unduly influence voting more than any other component.
How do I know my application was received?
After clicking “Submit”, the primary contact will receive a confirmation email indicating that MAP successfully received the application. Check your promotions or spam folders if you don’t see it in your primary mailbox. A confirmation record is also available in Submittable’s “Activity & Messages” tab.
Is MAP providing feedback?
Because of how the selection process is structured, there will not be any feedback to deliver.
Where can I find examples of projects MAP has funded previously?
See a list of previously funded projects under the menu option “Past Grantees” under “Grants.”

PROJECT INFORMATION

Are any of the options around producing structures preferred?
No; MAP funds both self-producing artists and those who have a producing partner.
How do I list my creative partner/commissioner/producer?
In general, we would not recommend naming a creative partner/producer as one of the artists. When filling out the application, we recommend selecting “The artist(s) have confirmed one or more institutional producing partners” under the question “Which option(s) most closely resemble the infrastructure that will support the creation of the project?” so that you can name your creative partner/producer.
Do projects need to have a confirmed premiere venue?
No; having a confirmed premiere venue at the time of applying is not an eligibility or assessment criterion.
I am an interdisciplinary artist making an interdisciplinary project. Which discipline(s) should I select?
MAP understands that artists may not feel accurately or adequately represented within these categories. Please select the discipline(s) that most closely describe your practice or performance work in this project.
Why do you ask whether the music in the project is jazz?
We ask this question for data collection purposes on behalf of our funding partners. Reviewers will not be using the question as part of their selection criteria.

WORK SAMPLE

How should I select a work sample?

Whether you choose in-process documentation or past work, the goal is to use the sample to make a connection to the proposed project. For example, if an artist proposes to choreograph a dance, it’s best for them to submit a sample of choreographic work. We encourage you to submit what you already have, rather than generate something solely for the purposes of applying. The only exception is marketing reels, which are not successful in MAP’s process.

Which formats does the application accept?
You may upload a file (.pdf, .jpg, .m4a, .mp3, .wav, .avi, .mov, .mp4) or provide a link and, if applicable, password. A field for cue points or page ranges is available so that you don’t have to edit the sample to a particular length.
Is there a size limit if I upload a file?
Yes; Submittable accepts files up to 400mb.
What should I include in the work sample description?
Assert what you want reviewers to notice about your work, especially any elements that will help them imagine the proposed project.
Can I see an example of a work sample description?

– Example for those submitting in-process documentation: “These are the first 9 pages of the play’s second act. The cast will collectively devise the dance on page 43. We’ll use techniques that our company has developed over the past two years, which draw from the influences noted in our bio.”
– Example for those submitting a past work: “These are the first 3 minutes of a 45-minute composition. Please focus particularly on the instrumentation and rhythmic choices. These are good indicators of my compositions generally, and this section highlights some phrasing choices that I plan to investigate further in the proposed project.”

ARTISTS

Which artists should go in which section?

MAP needs to know which artist(s) hold the greatest degree of artistic and financial responsibility because we will work with them directly in the event of a grant. Artists who do not hold these responsibilities should be listed in “Additional collaborators.”

There are up to three entries available in the application, which may be individuals or ensembles (an ensemble counts as one entry). We assume that each entry holds a similar level of leadership or decision-making authority.
– Example A: Entry #1 is an individual artist who is writing the script for this project. Entry #2 is an individual artist who is directing and choreographing the project. They both hold equal decision-making power.
– Example B: Entry #1 is an ensemble of 4 artists who are collectively devising the script and performing the project. Entry #2 is an individual artist who is composing all music and lyrics for the project. All ensemble members and the individual artist hold equal decision-making power.

For information on how to list a creative partner/producer, see “PROJECT INFORMATION” above.

The role I hold in this project is not in the list of options. What should I select?
Please select the option that most closely describes your role. If you wish to elaborate further, use the bio or project description fields.
What information should I include in my bio?
We recommend providing context about the proposed project’s relationship with practices, themes, questions, and/or interests that you’ve been investigating during your artistic career.
What information should I include in the Additional collaborators field?
A simple list of the names of collaborators, the roles they hold in the project, and a digital presence (one link to a website, a social media account, etc.).

DEMOGRAPHICS

Would you provide an example of how I might fill out the demographics section?
MAP respectfully requests that you only report demographic information for the individual artists and artist ensembles listed as having the most decision-making responsibility, and do not include artists listed under “Additional collaborators.”

– Example A: Entry #1 is an individual artist who identifies as Thai American. Entry #2 is an individual artist who identifies as Afro Cuban. For the question “Which option(s) best describe how the artist(s) would define their race/ethnicity or races/ethnicities,” the artists might select “Asian, Pacific Islander,” Black, African American,” and “Latina/o/x/e.” For the question “How many artists identify as people of color/people of the global majority/BIPOC,” the artists would select “All of the artists (100%).”
– Example B: Entry #1 listed is an ensemble of three people, one who identifies as straight and two of whom identify as lesbian. For the question “How many artists identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, two spirit, and/or queer+,” they would select “Most of the artists (more than or equal to 50%),” as ⅔ of their team would fall under the lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, two spirit, and queer+ umbrella.

We acknowledge that these categories will not reflect the nuances of everyone’s identity. Applicants who wish to share more may do so in the final question.

Why is MAP collecting demographic data?
MAP collects demographic data to track who is and is not represented among eligible entrants. Any data that MAP collects will only be shown in the aggregate. Demographic data is not visible to reviewers.

Banner: 2021 grantee Jean Appolon Expressions. Photo by Olivia Moon Photography through Boston Center for the Arts Dancemakers Residency.