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

Support is offered for performances of professionally-directed, community-based dance, theatre, and music organizations. Support is also available for performing companies of color or other ethnic companies to tour communities of color and/or other ethnic communities throughout the state. Such activities must serve audiences of color or other ethnic audiences and be performed in community-based venues serving the relevant ethnic groups.

Requests for performances not as described above should be directed to the other NYSCA disciplines. Organizations that receive funding for performances from other NYSCA discipline areas are strongly advised to consult with Special Arts Services staff well before the registration deadline to describe how the proposed performances differ from activities supported by other Council discipline areas.

Application Instructions

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Program Overview
Describe the proposed program, its rationale in terms of artistic vision, history of service to community-based audiences and special features such as guest artists or new works. Include title(s), number of productions and number of performances. Note whether the program marks a new direction. In addition, if this is a touring request, please describe history and relationship with host sponsors. List venues and projected dates at each site.

2. Facilities
Provide a description of the community-based facilities in which the activities will take place. Detail their suitability in terms of production values, including lights, sound, floor, and other performance requirements. Note challenges, if any, and plans to address them.

3. Changes/Developments
Returning applicants should describe highlights and changes or developments since your last Council review. First-time applicants should provide a brief history of programs and achievements that relate to this request.

Managerial/Fiscal

4. Staff
List individual(s) responsible for administration and artistic programming, their duties, and qualifications.

5. Governance
Describe your board's committee structure, diversity, meeting schedule, and approach to staff and fiscal oversight. How do you ensure that your board is reflective of your community?

6. Finances
Describe plans, projects, and activities for meeting the expenses of the proposed programs. Highlight revenue that is confirmed and/or secured. Please utilize the Budget Notes section of the Project Budget to indicate sources of contributed income and to itemize principal expense items, including personnel, marketing and remaining operating expenses.

Service to the Public

7. Audience
Who is your primary audience? Describe your efforts to be responsive to community needs and demographics and list the results. Detail the ethnic composition of the audiences served.

8. Marketing
Briefly describe marketing, outreach and audience development strategies, including use of the Internet and social media, ticket pricing etc., and list a recent achievement.

9. Community Context
What other similar arts programs serve your community and in what ways do they support or differ from your programs and services?

Support Materials

10. 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 deadline. Please direct them to your appropriate contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or rbaron@nysca.org or bbrown@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. Representative samples of program brochures and calendars.

2. For touring requests, letters of invitation or copies of contracts with local sponsor(s).

3. Brief résumés of all key personnel.

4. Brief synopsis of the production(s), including use of translations, etc.

5. Audio or video examples of representative performers, provided on a Windows compatible CD, DVD, or reference to a website. Examples of dance or theatre performers must be on a DVD or website. Complete an eScript for Work Samples to accompany your audio or visual examples. Audio or video documentation samples should be cued to the excerpts you would like the panel to see or hear. The total length of audio or video samples may not exceed 5 minutes. See the Instructions for Work Samples & Support Materials for tips on providing support materials on CDs or DVDs.