Montague Cultural Council

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2012

$4,025

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

In 2010, the Council conducted a survey of 163 local residents of varied ages and income levels and diverse races. It used the results to refine its Purpose Statement and Funding Priorities. The Funding Priorities, in the order ranked by survey results, are: 1. Arts activities, workshops, classes, and/or projects in the Gill-Montague Regional schools and Franklin County Technical School, and field trips for students to museums or performances
2. Community-wide public events like concerts, festivals and plays
3. Projects and programs led by local artists, including classes, workshops, activities, exhibits, performances, and residencies
4. Environmental, nature, and science education projects

Generally, the Council seeks to approve grants for applicants that have not previously received an award from the Montague Council. Priority is given to applicants that have secured and confirmed a location for their proposed activity or project. Individuals and organizations are strongly encouraged to contact local venues as sites for performances, residencies, public displays, and other activities. Letters of support from participating venues are useful but not required.

The Council has determined that its allocation of funds is most effective when adequate funding is provided to as many artists and interpretive scientists as possible to maintain the council's capacity to reach a broad cross-section of the Montague community, while at the same time, providing enough support to each grantee to ensure high quality programming.

Local Guidelines

THESE GUIDELINES APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2011, AND WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ALL OUR 2012 GRANTS.

I. Program purpose and review criteria:

The purpose of the Montague Cultural Council is to promote and maintain the vitality of local cultural resources and to ensure these resources are shared within the Montague community. The Council has an interest in supporting projects that creatively address and promote public dialogue.

The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities and art forms. It supports the work of individual artists, environmental education projects, collaborative proposals that bring together art and humanistic agencies, and local cultural groups and organizations, all of which may serve specific populations including youth, elders, people of color, those with low incomes, and individuals with disabilities.

Grant applications are evaluated based on several review criteria: artistic or creative merit; project design; qualifications and track record of the individuals and organizations involved; physical accessibility of any facilities being used; and Montague community benefit and involvement. Montague-based applicants and programs are given preference over those based in other towns. Projects may include the participation of outside professionals. The Council seeks to support new, innovative projects rather than recurring requests. The Council has determined that its allocation of funds is most effective when larger percentages of its limited resources are provided to fewer projects that represent the potential capacity to reach a broad cross-section of the Montague community.

Proposals from schools and libraries cannot include requests for support of expenses that should be or have been part of the municipal budget (i.e. teacher salaries, classroom supplies, school-sponsored clubs and organizations, library books/videos).

II. Eligibility:

Applicants can be: arts, humanities, or interpretive science organizations; individuals, including artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, parents, or community members; or community organizations including, but not limited to, schools, social service organizations, business and civic groups, neighborhood centers, or youth, senior and family associations. Incorporated organizations must have nonprofit status; unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose. Individual applicants are required to be residents of Massachusetts for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state for at least one year.

III. Timeline:

One original, plus six (6) copies of completed grant application and resume of key personnel, plus one set of relevant support materials must be postmarked by October 15, 2011. Send completed application packets to Montague Cultural Council, Montague Town Hall, One Avenue A, Montague, MA 01376-9558.

Application deadline: October 15, 2011
Notification of disapproved applications: November 19, 2011
Final notification of approved applications: on or before January 17, 2012
Grant period: One year from date of approval Notice.
Final reports and payment requests due: by January 15, 2013.

IV. Application process:

All applications must be typed or word-processed. The application form can be completed and printed out at www.massculturalcouncil.org/applications/lccapp.html or www.montagueculturalcouncil.org. Applicants can access the Internet at any Massachusetts public library.

Submit one original, plus six (6) copies of the grant application form and resume of key personnel, and one set of supporting materials such as organizational brochures and letters of support or commitment to the address noted in number III above. Completed applications MUST be postmarked or delivered by hand to the Montague Town Clerk's office by October 15th, 2011.

V. Funding:

Grant recipients are required to complete projects within 1 year of date of their approval Notice. Grant payments are made on a reimbursement basis, which generally take eight to ten weeks to process and disburse. Approved grant applicants are sent a reimbursement form to use for payment request.

VI. Acknowledgment:

Approved grant applicants are required to acknowledge support of their projects in all published materials and announcements. Verbal and written credit statements must note that the activities are supported by Local Cultural Council grant funds allocated by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Additionally, the Massachusetts Cultural Council logo, available at www.massculturalcouncil.org, can be used on written and online notices.