American Masterpieces
The following guidelines are designed to assist professional, Maine arts organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or greater to present a major project such as an exhibition, performance, residency or educational programs that feature American master works, movements or artists.
Originally developed by the National Endowment for the Arts to fund projects with a national stature and scope, the Maine Arts Commission offers American Masterpieces as a major initiative to acquaint Maine people with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. Through American Masterpieces, the Maine Arts Commission has the opportunity to provide significant support for exhibitions, performances, tours and educational programs across all art forms that will reach large and small communities throughout Maine. Projects must be accompanied by related educational, interpretive, or contextual components. These may include discussions, master classes, seminars, exhibitions, program material, or cooperative learning projects with educational or community institutions. Curriculum-based educational components for children and youth must ensure the application of national or state arts education standards.
Note: During the first two rounds of the program visual arts programs only were eligible. Beginning with the March 7, 2008, deadline, applications will be accepted in all disciplines.
Deadline
The application deadline is April 3, 2009 , for projects starting after July 1, 2009.
E-GRANT will accept applications until 11:59 pm, E.S.T., however; agency staff is only available to answer questions until 5:00 pm, E.S.T. Because of the volume of e-GRANT submissions on the day of any grant deadline, we strongly recommend you give yourself a 24 hour buffer.
The agency is unable to accept late applications under any circumstance.
Examples
Examples of projects may include but are not limited to:
- Development of visual arts residencies that focus a course of study around one or more significant works of American visual art to illuminate the cultural, historical and artistic era in which the work was created.
- Presentation of panels, discussion groups, docent orientation, public workshops and lectures, master classes, etc., that contributes to a greater understanding of an artist and or artwork.
- Touring a curated exhibition.
- Presentation of a chamber music performance with several community, residency activities.
- A restaging of an American theater or dance work that are artistically, historically and culturally significant.
Who is Eligible to Apply
A professional Maine arts organization that:
- is nonprofit and legally established in Maine, and
- has tax exempt status 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service or is a unit of local, county, state or tribal government, and
- promotes, presents, produces and/or teaches visual, performing or literary art(s) as its primary purpose, and
- has an annual operating budget of $500,000 or greater based on the organizations most recently completed fiscal year, and
- has completed and filed all final reports required for previously awarded Maine Arts Commission grants.
The National Endowment for the Arts has made a significant investment in the American Masterpieces program and therefore looks for broad reaching visibility for projects funded at the state level. Projects currently being funded by a direct, American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts may not be funded by the Maine Arts Commission’s American Masterpieces program
Priority will be given to applications from free-standing arts organizations although college- or university-based arts organizations may be eligible.
An organization, or a program of the same organization, may apply only once in any fiscal year.
Grants will range from $10,000 to $20,000 with a maximum grant of $25,000.
Review Process
The Maine Arts Commission will appoint a committee of individuals who have expertise in the appropriate arts discipline to review applications.
Recommendations will be presented to the Maine Arts Commission at the June 2008, meeting. The Maine Arts Commission approves the selection process.
Funds will be available after July 1, 2008, at the earliest and are dependent on funds received from the National Endowment for the Arts. Please plan accordingly which may mean that grant funds are used to reimburse costs incurred for the project.
Review Criteria
All grant proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:
Degree to which the project:
- is fully-formed,highly visible and shows evidence of significant planning, and
- presents American master works, movements or artists in a manner that is of the highest artistic quality, and
- articulates a plan for related educational, interpretive, or contextual components, and
- is collaborative to ensure broad public appeal/audiences, and
- has a statewide or regional impact, and
- shows evidence of planning to make the project accessible for people with disabilities, and
- meets the goals of the National Endowment for the Arts to support home-based or touring exhibitions of American masterpieces, develop educational activities that convey the significance of American visual arts or present programs that recognize a particular style, movement or traditional relevant to the state or regions.
For exhibition funding preference will be given to exhibitions that are curated on site. Rental fees for traveling exhibitions will have a lower priority.
How to Apply
Guidelines are available in large print format by request. All Maine Arts Commission programs are accessible; all programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.
Defining e-GRANT
Applicants are now required to apply through the Maine Arts Commission e-GRANT system. Forms to accompany e-GRANT applications can be downloaded on your computer, filled out and electronically uploaded to the e-GRANT system. Applicants who have a compelling reason that they are unable to apply through the e-GRANT system must discuss an alternative at this time.
e-GRANT provides the following advantages over the standard application format:
- e-GRANT allows applicants who apply for multiple grants to supply contact information only once. Only one copy of the electronic application is required.
- e-GRANT guarantees that an application will be received by the deadline. Applicants are notified as soon as the e-GRANT application is downloaded.
- e-GRANT will not allow an incomplete application to be submitted, but rather will identify missing materials. Complete applications are guaranteed to be reviewed.
- e-GRANT allows an applicant to submit narrative, budget information and resumes, letter of intent, etc. by attaching word processed documents.
- e-GRANT applications may require an original signature or artist materials that can not be submitted electronically. These must also be postmarked by the deadline as well.
Please review the following guidelines carefully in preparing your application materials. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in disqualification of your application. Only complete applications will be accepted.
Before developing the final application, discuss the idea or project contact Donna McNeil, director at 207/287-2726, 877/887-3878 – 
TTY/NexTalk or donna.mcneil@maine.gov. This is required.
Applicants who have been encouraged to proceed must submit:
- e-GRANT Application Forms: Applicant Information and Project Information.
- Assurances Form with original signature of authorizing official.
- Application Budget Form providing evidence of cash or in-kind match or volunteer resources (a cash commitment strengthens the application.) No substitutions for the budget form are allowed.
- Budget Narrative that provides descriptions of the items in the budget as well as any additional details, especially information on sources and amounts of other anticipated income, anticipated revenues from ticket sales, etc.
- Vendor Form (this is information used by the Treasury to generate a check if the grant is awarded. Applicants should be sure to indicate the address the check should be sent to.)
- Up to three letters of support from potential stakeholders.
- Resumes of those responsible for carrying out the project.
- Resumes for the artists involved with the project.
- Up to five digital images representing a sampling of previous art activities that can be used later to publicize the program. Include a list that describes each image, the date and photo credits. If students are included please complete a release form for each one.
- Application Narrative. Please provide responses to the following seven questions. Do not substitute a text that has already been developed for another source but rather answer each of the following questions sequentially and by number. Answers should not exceed a total of four (4) pages. Do not use type fonts below 12 point.
- Describe the organization’s history of developing arts programs of highest artistic quality. Please provide an outline of activities over the last five years. Which if these programs, if any, have featured an American masterpiece(s)?
- Describe the project and document evidence of significant planning.
- Describe the steps that have been taken to make the project highly visible.
- List any collaborators. How does this project serve broad audience, including people with disabilities or other special needs audiences?
- Describe the project’s statewide and/or regional impact.
- Describe a plan to develop and present related educational, interpretive, or contextual components. Submit any related materials such as brochures, CDs or DVDs or curriculum plans.
- Outline a specific, comprehensive plan for crediting the Maine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts for supporting projects that are funded.
Please include one original application with all related materials. Please do not submit applications in elaborate file folders or packaging or use fonts below 12-point print. Make copies of all forms and other application materials for your records prior to submitting them to the Maine Arts Commission.
