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

The category offers support for professionally-directed exhibition programs in the visual arts, film, and media that take place in or tour communities of color and communities of a specific ethnic character. Priority is given to organizations that pay fees to artists and curators and those that provide ongoing exhibitions that are not available elsewhere in the specific community. Generally, this category does not support single, one-time exhibitions.

Funding may cover fees for artists, guest curators or designers, film/tape rental costs, preparation costs, publicity, catalogues or program notes, and outreach workshops related to the exhibitions that involve professional artists. Organizations may not require or request artists to pay a fee of any kind to participate in exhibition programs.

Organizations that receive exhibition funding through other Council Programs are strongly advised to consult with Special Arts Services staff well before the March registration deadline to describe how the proposed exhibitions differ from activities supported by other Council Programs.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Please complete the Events Schedule form for the current and proposed year as part of this request. Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions

1. Theme and Focus
What is the theme and focus of the proposed exhibitions? Provide a brief summary of the artists, objects/art work being presented. If you are a first-time applicant to the Program, provide a brief exhibition history highlighting any achievements.

2. Mission and Audience
What is the significance of the proposed exhibitions in relation to the organization's mission and the audience served? Include a projection of the demographic composition of the audience.

3. Artistic Staff
Who are the curator(s) and key artistic staff responsible for implementing this project? Describe their credentials and relationship to the community served.

4. Artist's Role
If the exhibitions feature the work of living artists, how are the artists involved or contributing to the program content and design?

5. Artist Payments
What is your financial arrangement with the artists?

6. Finance
Detail your plan for meeting the expenses of the program.

7. Marketing and Interpretation
Describe briefly marketing, outreach and audience development. How will you engage your audience?  

8. Technology
How does this project involve the use of technology? Describe the approach, the technical capacity, and support staff for the program.

9. Time Frame
What is the time frame for the exhibit and gallery hours open to the public?

10. Touring
If this is a touring request, list venues and describe the host(s)'s fiscal and programmatic responsibilities, if any. Include a projection of the demographic composition of the audience.

11. Changes/Developments
If not a first-time request, describe any significant changes or developments since the last Council review.

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. 10 slides or a CD ROM of the work to be exhibited and two to three slides or color photographs of the exhibition space (include slide script)

2. Resumes of exhibiting artist(s), artistic staff, and curator(s)

3. Representative samples of flyers, program notes, publicity materials and brochures on recent and current exhibitions