Registration deadline: March 3
Application deadlines: May 1, July 1, September 5

Funding is available to support year-round folk arts programs that serve a particular county or multi-county region. The category offers support towards a staff folklorist position and direct program costs. Staff folklorists funded through this category document local traditions, develop and produce public folk arts programs, assist individual folk artists, and advise other organizations interested in developing folk arts activities.   Organizations that are not principally devoted to folk arts but have developed a distinctive folk arts program that is consistent with their mission may apply through this category.

Support in this category is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have received support from the Folk Arts Program for the past three years

Staff folklorist must have experience organizing folk arts public programs and academic training in folklore or a related field

The folklorist must be employed for a minimum of three days a week. W ork plans should include time for field research

Programs organized by the folklorist should be based to a significant extent upon the folklorist's field research

Documentation materials collected must be maintained in a locally accessible archive

Staff folklorists must organize a minimum of four significant public programs each year

The programming and documentation of the folklorist should deal with diverse traditions and multiple forms of folk art, and occur in multiple venues within the organization's service area. Folklorists are expected to directly assist individual folk artists through such activities as initiating apprenticeships and assistance with promotion and marketing.

Applicant organizations are expected to have a long-term commitment to folk arts services and programming. Program income should come from a variety of sources.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions

1. Program Overview
Describe the core folk arts activities, including public programs, field research, and services to individual folk artists and other organizations.

2. Folklorist
Who is the staff folklorist, and what are his/her qualifications and experience? Describe the responsibilities of the position. If the folklorist has additional, non-folk arts responsibilities, describe how the tasks relate, and how much time per week is devoted to them. If you are currently recruiting for this position describe the recruitment process, summarizing the status of the search.

3. Changes/Developments
Indicate any significant changes in your folk arts program and organization as a whole since the program was last reviewed by the Council. Describe new programming, documentation activities, and services to individual artists and other organizations initiated during the past year and planned for the next two years.

4. Program Context
How does the folk arts program relate to your organization's mission? Describe the relationship of the folk arts program to other programmatic areas in your organization. Describe the impact of your folk arts programs and services to the artists and the communities you serve.

5. Planning and Program Development
Describe the involvement and role of your organization's board, folk arts advisory group (if any), and staff in the planning and the ongoing assessment of programs and services. How is the folk arts program incorporated into the organization's long-range plan? If there is an advisory group, please list the members' names and their organizational affiliations.

6. Audience Development
Who are the intended audiences for your public folk arts programs? Provide an overview of your folk arts program's educational and interpretive programming. Summarize strategies used by your staff folklorist to expand and diversify audiences through promotion and marketing of its programs.

7. Finances
Describe plans for meeting current and future expenses of your folk arts program, including any new fundraising projects and initiatives. Describe the organizational fundraising efforts expended on behalf of your folk arts program.

8. Facilities
Briefly describe the facilities used for folk arts programming and services.

9. Documentation
Describe the archive receiving field research materials, including materials in the collection, storage equipment, accessibility, location, description and cataloguing methods, and   policies pertaining to access by the public.

10. Context and Collaboration
What other folk arts programs or organizations are providing similar or complementary arts services to your community? How are you collaborating with them?

Support Materials

Support material must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the program by the application deadline. Please complete the Events Schedule form as part of this application. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

1. Up to 10 slides, CD-ROM, or up to 5 minutes of audio tape representing recent programs. Complete a slide script to accompany your images.

2. Up to 10 slides, CD-ROM, or up to 5 minutes of audio tape. Complete a slide script to accompany your images.representing recent documentation undertaken by the staff folklorist.

3. Resumé of the staff folklorist. If you are currently selecting a new staff folklorist, provide a job description.

4. Sample brochures or other printed materials used for public programs (2 copies per item)

5. Sample data sheets and release forms used for interviewees in documentation