Chelmsford Cultural Council

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2012

$8,446

Applications for field trips are accepted. (Formerly known as PASS applications.)

LCC Program Guidelines (PDF)

The postmark deadline for applications is October 15

Funding Priorities

Priorities include: New ideas in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences. Collaboration with other artists, cultural groups, or community organizations, especially programs and projects that bring two or more diverse groups of participants together.

Local Guidelines

Confirmation letter for venues and partnerships with local contracts are now required. We are, once again, open to accepting Field Trip Applications, however, we will continue past policy of not considering paying transportation fees.

2009 - 2010 CHELMSFORD CULTURAL COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Links to forms are at the bottom of this page

Our Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities. We support a variety of art forms, ongoing works of local artists, environmental education projects, and collaborative proposals that bring together artists, organizations, and local cultural groups in projects that serve Chelmsford residents.

The following information has been developed to assist you in preparing your Grant application. Please note that this information can change from year to year. This information has been formatted as checklists for you to use as you complete your application package. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Chelmsford Cultural Council Co-Chairs: Jay Lee (978-621-7086) and Kathy Cryan Hicks (978-256-5521, x109).

A. Review Criteria
There are many criteria used in the evaluation of grant applications. It is important to the Council that applications demonstrate as many of the following as possible:

*New ideas in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences

*Collaboration with other artists, cultural groups, or community organizations, especially programs and projects which bring two or more diverse groups of participants together

*Benefit to the community

*Potential to promote excellence, access, and educational opportunities in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences

*Thorough project planning and/or high qualifications of the individuals involved

*Artistic and/or creative merit

*Financial need

As in prior years, proposals from schools and libraries must not request support for activities that should be, or used to be, part of the municipal budget.

The Council will carefully evaluate requests for repeat or ongoing projects. Such proposals should show other sources of support which prove that the project is not dependent exclusively upon council funding.

B. Eligibility In order to be eligible, applicants must meet the one or more of the following criteria:

*Arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences organizations

*Individuals applying for grants may include artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, community members, etc. Please note: Individual applicants are required to be a Massachusetts resident for at least one year.

*Community organizations applying for grants may include schools, social service organizations, business and civic groups, etc. Please note: Incorporated organizations must be non-profit and unincorporated associations must have a non-profit purpose.

C. Application Process The following checklist outlines the details of the application process which must be followed.

*Applications are available at the Chelmsford Town Hall and the Chelmsford Public Library. Applications also may be printed out from the following web site: www.massculturalcouncil.org.

*Confirmation letters for venues and related contracts must be provided.

*Applications for capital expenditures require additional paperwork. See the MCC web site (http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/programs/lccguidelines.pdf)

*Applications are for projects taking place between OCtober 15, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

*All applications must be typed.

*Applications submitted without supporting documents (resumes of key personnel or performers, brochures, letters of support/commitment, artist samples, etc.) will not be reviewed.

*Due to the limited funds available and the high demand for support, the Council may award a smaller amount than is requested. Please indicate on the grant application how this may affect your project. In cases where a project is partially funded, the Council may request a written explanation of how the project will be modified.

*All school-related grant projects must have written approval from appropriate school officials. Please note: The Council will be accepting field trip grants this cycle. Field trips grants are available for children by subsidizing the cost of admission to attend programs in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences (including performances, educational tours and exhibits).

*Applications for grant awards must be sent to the following mailing address: Chelmsford Cultural Council, Town Offices, 50 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824

*Applications for grant awards MUST be postmarked by October 15th, 2009. Alternatively, applications may be hand-delivered to the Town Manager’s Office by 5:00PM on October 15th. Please note that late submissions cannot be considered.

Applicants are highly encouraged to attend the two review meetings. These meetings will be held on 11/5/09 at 6:30 p.m. in the McCarthy Room at the main library and on 11/17/09 at 7:00 p.m. at the main library (lower floor meeting room). The first evening allows applicants the opportunity to speak on behalf of their request and Council members can seek clarification and ask questions of the applicants. The second meeting is reserved for voting and is not a forum for speaking about grant details.

*All projects must be completed and reimbursement applied for by January 1, 2011.

*Applicants should not implement any project or publicize receipt of any award until official notification is received from the Council.

D. Funding Information Payments are made on a reimbursement basis only.

Reimbursements generally take 8-10 weeks. Grant recipients are sent a reimbursement form to use for their payment request. Progress or interim payments may be requested in writing to the Chelmsford Cultural Council, understanding that final reimbursement will not be made until the project is completed.

Requests for extensions beyond the grant period will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be requested in writing before the end of the grant cycle.

E. Acknowledgment In all published materials and announcements regarding activities supported by Chelmsford Cultural Council funds, the sponsoring individual or group must acknowledge this support with a written and/or verbal credit statement or by using the MCC logo. This credit is required by the MCC and failure to comply may jeopardize funding.

Credit Statement:
“This program is supported in part by a grant from The Chelmsford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by The Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.”

Logos: The MCC logo can be downloaded from the MCC web site (www.massculturalcouncil.org/contracts/logos.html) OR can be requested from the MCC on a camera-ready slick sheet, or on a diskette (Mac or PC).