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

The Presentation category offers support to experienced presenters of live professional performing arts. Funding is directed toward costs of specific professional performing arts presentations.

Applicants must present a minimum of five performances by five different professional artists. The Program considers a festival day to be a single performance even when several artists are presented throughout the day. Festival-only presenters must present a minimum of three multiple performance days.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Required support materials are listed below. Also complete the Events Schedule Form on the left navigation bar.

Application Narrative Questions

1. Programming Vision
Describe what the organization intends to accomplish programmatically through presentations and supporting activities and detail the program selection process. Explain how the presenting activity relates to the organization's mission.

2. Updates/Developments
If you are a returning applicant, describe any significant changes and challenges in the organization and your presenting activity since the last review. How will these challenges be addressed?

3. Proposed Presentations/Artists
List the roster of artists you will present. Provide a brief biography (about 3-5 lines) of each, and include, where possible, a description of the program content. Highlight some of the lesser-known artists you intend to present.

4. Marketing
Describe the marketing strategies, including appropriate demographic information and highlight changes and new initiatives. Indicate the proposed range of single ticket/subscription prices, and how they differ from the last Council review. Provide a rationale for the admission policy even if there is no charge for admission to the event.

5. Finances
Describe fundraising strategy, plans, projects, and activities for meeting the expenses of the proposed presentations.

6. Performance Venue
Briefly describe each performance venue, including location, stage dimensions, and seating capacity.

7. Co-Presentations
If applicable, identify each partner and describe the delineation of roles and responsibilities among each partner. Articulate the financial and marketing commitments for each party. What joint planning was done?

8. Context
Identify some other organizations that provide professional performing arts activities in your market area and tell us how their activities support or differ from yours.

Support Materials

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

1. Copies of available contracts or letters of agreement or intent dated and signed by the presenter and the performing artists. Signatures by artist representatives must be clearly identified in print and by signature. These documents must include the dates and location of projected performances and agreed upon guaranteed minimum artist fees.

2. 2 representative marketing pieces for current presentations (8 copies each)

3. Representative sample of house programs (2 copies)

4. Artists' resumés – one to two pages of background information on each artist

5. For co-presentations – a signed and dated agreement in which each partner shares in the costs of the artist's fee, marketing, and physical presentation, along with a budget detailing the financial responsibilities of each partner.