Registration Deadline: March 3
Application Deadlines: July 1, September 5

The Public Programs category offers project support to organizations that present professional writers to the public as part of a reading series. It also offers support for other public literary programs including workshops, book discussion groups led by published writers, lectures by writers, writers' tours, and literary programs involving electronic media. This category serves new applicants and organizations whose primary focus is not literary. Funding in this category is directed toward writers' fees and promotional activities. New applicants are expected to have a track recod of one year of programming. All applicants are expected to de3monstrate an ongoing commitment to paying writers fees. (Refer to LitTAP on writers' fees for updates on suggested minimum writers' fees.)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants offering literary programs to the public should present a minimum of four literary readings per year. Writing workshops should offer a minimum of eight consecutive sessions per year taught by professional writers and be open to the public.

Artistic Evaluation

The Council must be able to evaluate an applicant's artistic quality on an ongoing basis. It is the responsibility of all current and prospective applicants to inform the Program of events or workshops at least four weeks in advance of the event date so that staff, advisory panelists, or program auditors may attend and evaluate the events. See instructions for requesting an artistic audit prior to your first application in this category.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Complete the Events Schedule and/or, if applicable, the Workshops/Classes form as part of this request. (Click on the "supplemental form" link on the left navigation bar of your NYSCA home page to access these forms.) Please include the name of the writers presented at each event. Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions

1. Literary Program Overview
Briefly describe the curatorial (artistic) approach to the reading series or writing workshops. Indicate the number and type of events for the past and proposed years. List writers/teachers proposed for the request year, including a one-sentence bio for each.

2. Fiscal Overview
Describe specific plans, projects and activities for meeting current and future expenses for your literary programs. Detail organizational efforts to increase individual and foundation/corporate donations in the budget notes section of the project budget.

3. Audience/Promotional Overview
Describe the audience for your literary programs. Describe the specific marketing and promotional efforts to target and broaden this audience. Note the names of publications in which you advertise.

4. Admission
If you charge admission to your public events, what is the charge?

5. Artist Payments
List average payments to writers and workshop teachers for the previous year, the current year, and the proposed year. Explain any changes or improvements planned.

Support Materials

Support materials must be postmarked, e-mailed or hand-delivered to the program by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

1. Three copies of a representative promotional brochure/calendar, listing literary programs produced in the current year

2. Three copies of resumés of key literary personnel, including literary coordinator or curator

3. One copy of sample of anthology or publication produced by the writing workshop