Registration deadline: January 22, 2010
Application deadlines: February 17, 2010; April 12, 2010

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'/curators’ fees and promotional activities.  New applicants are expected to have a track record of one year of programming. Reading series at colleges and universities are eligible to apply, provided they are promoted to and attended by the general public, and provided they are not offered for college credit to students.  All applicants are expected to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to paying writers' fees. (Refer to www.LitTAP.org on writers' fees for updates on suggested minimum fees.)   Applicants in this category may be reviewed in a competitive process.

Please note that NYSCA support may comprise no more than 50% of the total cash expenses for a project in this category.

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 Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet as part of this request. (Click on the link in the green navigation bar to the right of these instructions to access this form). Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Literary Program Overview
A) Describe your curatorial (artistic) approach to the reading series or writing workshops for the request year, including discussion of your artist selection process. B) Provide a one-sentence biography on 4 of the writers/teachers proposed for the request year. (Provide complete roster of names on the Literary Presenters’ Fact Sheet.)

2. Artist Fees
A) Discuss your policy regarding payment of artists' fees. B) Explain any changes or improvements planned.

Managerial/Fiscal

3. Fiscal Overview
A) Describe specific plans, projects and activities for meeting current and future expenses for your literary programs, including income earned from admissions and sales. B) Detail organizational efforts to increase individual and foundation/corporate donations for your literary programs.

Service to the Public

4. Audience/Promotional Overview
A) Describe the audience for your literary programs. B) Describe the specific marketing and promotional efforts that will be used to target and broaden this audience for the request year, including use of online resources. C) Note the names of publications in which you advertise and the size of your mailing and e-mail lists.

Other

5. Fact Sheet
Have you completed the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet? See Support Materials for instructions. 

6. Fieldwide Issues/Technical Assistance
A) What do you see as the principal issues and opportunities facing the field of literature and literary artists at present? B) Beyond its grant-making activities and current technical assistance programs (see Technical Assistance) how might NYSCA assist the field in addressing these?

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

4. Complete the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet and email sheet to lit@nysca.org or mail with support materials. See link in green navigation bar to the right of these instructions.