Brockton Cultural Council

Brockton Cultural Council Local Guidelines

(updated September 2012)

Effective FY2013 beginning with projects executed between September 1, 2012 – December 31, 2013.

Please read these guidelines as they have changed since the last grant cycle.

I. Program Purpose

The purpose of the Brockton Cultural Council (BCC) is to promote and maintain the vitality of cultural activities within the Brockton community. The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities.

We support a broad variety of art forms with an emphasis on collaborative projects and programs. Included but not limited to: the ongoing work of individual artists and writers, and environmental and historical education projects with that bring together artists and other types of organizations, local cultural groups and projects that serve specific populations, i.e., youth, elders, low-income, disabled.

II. Eligibility Requirements

The project must have a Brockton sponsor and/or substantial community support demonstrated in a letter that accompanies the application. Priority will be given to projects (exclusive of school field trips) that have demonstrated tangible benefits to Brockton citizens. BCC gives funding preference to local artists who live or work in the city. New projects and programs will also be given preference. Unchanged projects will not be funded for more than three years. As a general rule, the Brockton Cultural Council does not provide funding for operating support.

Applicants can be considered as one or more of the following: A) arts, humanities or interpretive science organizations; B) individuals including artists, science educators, historians, musicians, writers or other humanists, parents, community members, etc.; C) community organizations including but not limited to schools, social service organizations, civic groups, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations, etc.

Incorporated organizations must be nonprofit; unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose.

Funds may only be used to support programs in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences.

Qualifying Project Categories :

Arts: The creation of work in the crafts, performing, visual, media, folk, design, literary and inter-disciplinary arts. Presentation, preservation, and education about works in the disciplines are included.

Humanities: Types of learning that deal with human values, aspirations, thought and culture, language, and creativity. Some examples are history, social studies, philosophy, criticism and literature.

Interpretive Sciences: Educational programs that engage people of all ages in learning ways nature, science and technology relate to human lives.

III. Areas of Consideration

There are five major areas considered by council members in evaluating each grant application:

• 1) Quality of Project
• 2) Community/Public Benefit
• 3) Planning
• 4) Collaborative/New Projects
• 5) Budget/Marketing/Funding Support

The criteria used to evaluate these areas include (questions below are for consideration, responses are not required):

1. Quality of Project – Do the applicant’s/partner’s credentials meet the minimum guidelines of the Mass Cultural Council? Do the qualifications of the artist, humanist or interpretive scientist leading the activity meet the MCC minimum guidelines? Does the project enhance the cultural life of the city? Is this a collaborative project?

2. Community/Public Benefit – Does the project serve and involve the community, serve a particular segment of the community, or benefit an under an underserved population? Is the applicant a city resident? Does the project address a community need, and/or play a unique role specific to the community? How many city residents will benefit from the project?

3. Planning - Are there well defined goals/targets? Is this a single event or an on-going project? If an ongoing project, is there a culminating event, activity or product that can act as a benchmark for evaluation? Is it clear that project planning has already taken place? Is there a specific date(s) and partner(s)/”entertainment” provider listed? Is the public program portion of this project accessible to individuals with disabilities? Has the promotion, publicity and marketing plan detailed and appropriate for the project and has it been budgeted? Does the plan include publicity after the project happens? If a school-based project, is there evidence the planners will publicize this project to the greater community?

4. Collaboration/New Projects- Does the leadership/staff have experience, meet the MCC one year minimum requirement? Do personnel qualifications match the project needs? Is there evidence of past success in executing a similar project?

5. Budget/Marketing/Funding Support - Does the budget balance? Does the budget follow guidelines? Is the budget appropriate and clear? Are there other sources of funding or is BCC the sole source of funding? Is the project budget specific? Has this project been funded previously by BCC? Is the amount of the request appropriate? Does the project attempt to find multiple funding sources? Is the addition correct? Should this project be part of the city budget? Can the project be successful if partially funded? Will the project take place without council help?

IV. Field Trip Grants for Schools (formerly PASS Program)

Up to twenty percent (20%) of total available grants funds will be set aside for the purchase of tickets only for cultural field trips for children (pre K-12) in public, private and parochial schools, as well as those in special needs, afterschool programs. Activities, which include performances, educational tours or exhibits and museum visits, must take place outside of the school setting. Due to limited funding, only one field trip per school may be submitted. Applicants MUST include date, time, location and name of performance or program to be attended on the application. We do not fund transportation for field trips. The MCC may provide separate $200 transportation grants via its Big Yellow Bus program http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/programs/bigyellow.asp.

V. Timeline

Completed applications must be postmarked no later than the October 15th deadline stipulated by the MCC. All grant applications must be mailed to: Brockton Cultural Council, P. O. Box 999, 120 Commercial Street, Brockton, MA 02303. Unfortunately, hand delivered applications cannot be accepted.

The BCC reviews all grant applications in November - December and determine which projects to fund. Notifications of unfunded applications are sent in December. The approval letters announcing the award of grant money are generally sent in January.

VI. Application Process

In addition to the general state guidelines for LCC grants and cultural field trip grants, we have specific local guidelines and an application form. Applicants can access the form at www.massculturalcouncil.org.

A separate application and budget for each proposed event/project must be submitted or the application will be rejected. Please include ONE original grant application and eight collated and stapled photocopies, along with eight sets of supporting materials such as: single-page résumés(s) of key personnel, organizational brochures, letters of community support/commitment, artist samples.

Only one video, set of Power Point slides, writing example, portfolio, etc. need be provided. A photocopy of your organization’s federal tax exemption status and/or federal W-9 form should accompany the application, if applicable. Answer questions clearly, simply and as completely as space allows. One additional 8-1/2” x 11” page to complete questions is allowed. Describe the project, any collaborators and address the review criteria. Projects with a secured venue and/or a local sponsor, date and time will be given preference over other applicants. You must show that you have made specific plans to hold your event or activity in Brockton. That means including a specific letter of support from the organization which controls the local venue. For example, if you plan to hold your event at the Brockton Public Library, you must include a letter of support from the Brockton Public Library saying that they want to host your event. We do not fund applications which show no sign of specific local planning.

We encourage applicants to partner with a Brockton group or organization for the project. Written documentation confirming their commitment to the partnership must accompany the application. In the case of performance groups, include a letter from the venue provider confirming the location and date, and if your grant is approved, send two (2) tickets for the event to the Brockton Cultural Council. Audience size does not determine public benefit, but to the degree possible, full participation and integration of people with disabilities must be ensured.

Applications will state what other financial support the project will request/obtain to prove that it is not solely dependent on council funding. The budget information section is divided into Project Expenses and Revenue (income). These must equal. You can include in-kind donations, such as, services, materials or facilities that are provided at no cash cost to you.

PLEASE NOTE: Incomplete Applications will not be considered for funding and please remember to SIGN the application. We review all grant applications using the state and local guidelines and our scoring sheet. We also balance the amounts granted to different sorts of projects and different audiences so our grants can best serve the entire community. If the project involves a public performance or exhibition, grant recipients are required to send an announcement of the event to the Council two months prior to the event so that the Council can attempt to publicize it and have the option of attending the event. We encourage you to send us digital photos of events we’ve funded that we can use on our web site. We have a rotating gallery of images on our MCC webpage. This is a great way to help us promote Brockton as a community with many arts and cultural activities. Send photos (or links to online photos) to brocktonculturalcouncilinfo@gmail.com

• Reimbursement

Payments are made on a reimbursement basis only. Projects and payment requests need to be completed within a year of the award notification. Final reimbursement will not be made until the project is completed. All LCC grants are reimbursement based. Grant recipients submit a reimbursement form accompanied by documentation that the project occurred (invoices, receipts, cancelled checks, program books, proof of credit acknowledgement, etc.) to the Council, the request is reviewed and then forwarded to the city for processing and payment. Due to the high demand for support, the Council may award smaller amounts than requested and ask that applicants seek out matching funds or scale back their projects. Requests for extensions beyond the grant period will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted in writing before the end of the grant period. The council will review and vote on the request and notify applicants in writing of its decision.

VII. Acknowledgement

In all published materials and announcements regarding the activities supported by LCC funds, the sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge this support with a written and/or verbal credit statement or by using the MCC logo.

The credit statement is “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Brockton Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.”

The logo is available on the MCC web site www.massculturalcouncil.org. This credit is required by the MCC and failure to comply may jeopardize future funding. Proof of your credit acknowledgment must be provided when you request reimbursement from the Council.

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For more information visit the MCC web site at www.massculturalcouncil.org and click local cultural council, or email us at brocktonculturalcouncilinfo@gmail.com or call 617-947-8324 or 508-208-5770.