Registration deadline: February 22, 2011
Application deadline: April 1, 2011

Production support is offered annually to an individual artist project for film and video, radio, sound art, or computer-generated art. The project can be a combination of media, including but not limited to, work for tape, installation, single-channel work, or interactive disc formats. Individual Artists supports projects utilizing production methods and tools ranging from the simple to state-of-the-art technologies. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000.

The Council extends equal consideration to a wide range of artists and genres. Electronic media artists or filmmakers who wish to collaborate with artists in other disciplines may apply for production support. Priority is given to projects that emphasize the collaborative process and whose goal is to produce a distinctive work resulting from the meeting of disciplines. Production support is not provided for projects that take another discipline as their major focus or aim to provide straightforward documentation of another art form.

Organizations may not impose a fee on artists for submitting their applications. However, given the responsibilities involved, organizations sponsoring projects in this category may charge up to 7% of the grant to help cover administrative fees and services if a project receives funding. This expense must be reflected in the project budget submitted in support of the application.

Funds from this category cover expenses related to any of the production phases, with the exception of out-of-state travel expenses, and include the following:

Pre-production includes expenses related to research and development, scriptwriting and archive searches. The director must initiate pre-production requests.

Production includes expenses of shooting, equipment rental, stock, crew, field or studio recording, processing, synthesis, creation of software and hardware specific to the artwork, and personnel.

Post-production includes completion expenses such as flatbed or facilities rental, effects, sound mix, captioning for the hearing impaired, and editing salaries that are incurred up to and including the first release print/master tape or equivalent.

Prerequisites

Artists may be involved as principal personnel in connection with only one project request.

Artists receiving support in this category cannot apply for support in the following two years. (e.g., if funded in FY11, you must wait until FY14 to apply again). This allows the Council to reach a greater number of artists with its limited funds.

Artists who receive support for a specific phase of production of a project must complete that phase before re-applying for additional funds for the same project.

Artists applying for a documentary project are only eligible for post-production support. A work-in-progress of a minimum of 15 minutes is required. In addition, a sample of a previously completed work is required. First time directors may still apply, but it is recommended that the work sample should represent a project approaching the rough-cut phase.

Application Instructions

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Project Description
Describe the project for which you are seeking support.

2. Work Sample
List titles of work samples with "WIP" indicating "work in progress." Note the release date for completed works and any awards or special recognition.

3. Work Samples' Relationship to Proposal
Describe the work sample and the relationship between your work sample and the proposed project, noting any stylistic or technical elements that are, in your view, directly related to the proposed project. If the proposed project represents a new direction or departure from your past work as demonstrated in the work sample, please discuss it.

Managerial/Fiscal and Service to the Public

4. Prior Support
If this project received previous support from the Individual Artists Program, indicate year of support and status of project. List any other projects by this artist that were supported by the Program (indicate year and status of project).

5. Artist Credentials
Summarize your work history in relation to the proposed project.

6. Production Schedule
Summarize the production schedule for the proposed project.

7. Principal Crew/Consultants
List names, titles and fees.

8. Budget
The budget form should include both projected and committed financial support. Your budget is important to clarify your fiscal and managerial abilities. In the budget notes, please describe any in-kind support and how you plan to use NYSCA funds. Briefly outline your marketing/distribution plans and any firm commitments for exhibition or broadcast.

Support Materials

9. Support Materials
Please list all of the support materials and/or work samples you are submitting. These materials are critical to your application's assessment.

Support Material

Support material must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or made available online by the application deadline. Please direct them to your appropriate contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or to hcash@nysca.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Refer to the Instructions for Work Samples and Support Materials prior to submission.

NYSCA encourages the submission of Web-based Work Samples and Support Material whenever possible.

1. One or two cued work samples totaling no more than 10 minutes. Each sample should be on a separate tape or disc or single web address. See NYSCA Digital Media/Work Samples Technical Instructions for tips on providing support materials on CDs or DVDs. A work-in-progress is encouraged, and is required for post-production requests. Applicants for post-production must also submit a completed work as a second sample. Applicants for a documentary project are only eligible for post-production support. A work-in-progress of a minimum of 15 minutes is required. In addition, a sample of a previously completed work is required. First time directors may still apply, but it is recommended that the work sample should represent a project approaching the rough-cut phase. (Note: The work sample is the most critical component of the review process.)

2. Résumé of applicant and principal crew and consultants.

3. Applicants for installation work may submit diagrams, sketches or slides of the proposed work in addition to a sample tape or disk.

4. Scripts or treatments may also be submitted in support of the proposal, but are not required.