Track 2: Individual Artist Project (IA-Project) Overview

Deadline:

• eGrant application submission: 5:00 pm, Friday, September 14, 2012
• work samples and other required materials:
  • If hand-delivering – 4:30 pm, Friday, September 14, 2012
  • If sending via USPS or other mailing service: postmarked September 14, 2012

​​Focus: Completed project culminating in a public release, presentation, performance or exhibition by a creative/originating artist.

Examples of projects that IA-Project Track will support:

• costs associated with marketing and distribution of a manuscript/book published within the past twelve months,
• exhibitions / exhibition catalogues, 
• media arts (for films post –production),
• Music studio recording,
• performance/staged readings,
• web-based artist project.

IA-Project Track will not support:

• applicant compensation (payment to yourself),
• apprenticeships or mentorships,
• capital purchases, capital improvements, construction, or purchase of permanent equipment,
• enrollment in higher education classes or programs,
• presentation of classes or workshops,
• vanity press publishing,
• website development for artists,
• Projects and activities which take place outside the United States

Grant Period: IA-Project activities must take place between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013.

Grant Amounts: Artists applying for an IA-Project grant may request either $1,500 or $2,500 only.  Grants will be awarded for the full amount requested.

Cash Match: Artists applying for an IA-Project grant must provide a cash match equal to 25% of request amount.

• $375 cash match required for a $1,500 request
• $625 cash match required for a $2,500 request

Definition of Cash Match: Dollars (cash) from sources other than the IAC or other state of Illinois revenue sources that support the proposed project. Additional sources of a cash match may include: proceeds from expected ticket sales, other grant sources, and applicant’s personal income.

Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the following:

• Clarity of activity as indicated in the application narrative;
• Impact - Potential of the proposed activity to advance the applicant’s work and career as indicated in the application narrative, artistic resume, and artist/cultural statement;
• Feasibility - Evidence of the applicant’s ability to carry out the activity, as indicated in the application narrative, budget, and artistic resume;
• Quality of the applicant's work as demonstrated by the work samples submitted.

Review Process: Applications will be reviewed in two rounds, first by discipline specific panelists who will make selections to forward to a multi-disciplinary panel of in-state experts who will make final recommendations. These recommendations will be approved by the Council. 

Collaborative Applications (allowed in IA-Project Track only):
An artist may submit an application for support of a project that involves the joint creation of a single work of art or a body of works of art by the applicant artist and up to two (2) other artists. Only one artist of the collaborative team may be the applicant. The applicant must play a principal artistic role in the proposed project and is responsible for all legal and contractual issues related to the grant (including taxes). All other collaborating artists must meet the requirements listed in the “Eligibility” section. Any artist who indicates they are part of a collaborative team must demonstrate an ongoing record of collaborative work with the collaborating artists as named in the application.

Submission Notification: eGrant provides an electronic notification of application submission. In addition, applicants will receive notification via email of receipt of their application and required materials from the Illinois Arts Council within four weeks of the application deadline. Receipt of application will not be acknowledged by phone.

Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified of the Council's decisions on their applications via email by late December 2012.

Impact of the state's fiscal crisis of fiscal year 2013 IAS Grants

As you should be aware, the state of Illinois is experiencing an ongoing fiscal crisis. This crisis may affect the amount of funding available for grant awards. Since Fiscal Year 2010, the state’s financial situation has impeded the timely payment of its bills and obligations, including Illinois Arts Council grants and we expect this to continue for FY2013.

Although payments from the State Comptroller’s Office will, more than likely, run several months behind schedule, grantees are legally obligated to complete their proposed activities as outlined in their grant agreements. Activities must be completed within the time frame and by the manner specified in the grantee’s application even if the grantee has not received the IAC funds awarded for this activity.

While we believe this is a valuable individual artist support program and we want artists to take advantage of these resources, we strongly advise potential applicants to thoroughly understand the possible implications for them of the verities of this initiative.

If you are awarded an IA-PD or an IA-Project grant you need to be aware of the significant delay in receiving grant funds. For example, in the last three fiscal years many grants to individuals were delayed up to six months.

Therefore grantees should ensure they have access to available resources (monetary and otherwise) with which to fully complete the funded activity in the timeframe and manner specified before they receive the actual grant award.

Taxability of Awards

The Internal Revenue Code provides that the full amount of an Individual Artist Support Initiative award is taxable to its recipient. If applicants have any questions about their own income tax liability, contact the Internal Revenue Service or tax counsel.