pod lead: Erik P & Steven T - email: artgrants at recompression dot com

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There are two different grants you can apply for:

1. An interactive art project grant - up to $300.  Your grant proposal must demonstrate that it is an "Interactive Art" project.  For definition of Interactive art, please read below.
   
   
2. Microgrant - up to $100.  This can be for any project you want to to bring to Recompressio that may not be defined as  "Interactive Art."
   

Please fill out a grant application form and submit the form along with the following documents:

• a 1-2 page detailed project description (including visual materials if needed)
• detailed budget (include all the items you intend to spend money on)
• bios of all key creators
• safety requirements (if necessary)

Please email everything as attached documents and not in the body of an email to artgrants at recompression.com.  Please follow up if you do not receive a confirmation of receipt.

If submitting large images or video, please post them to a website and send the link.

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What kind of art do we fund?
We fund interactive art. We fund art that is accessible to the public, civic in scope and prompts the viewer to act. We like art that can be experienced in more ways than visually. We are fans of art that is meant to be touched, heard or experienced, as well as viewed. We prioritize funding art that involves the audience in its creation and presentation.
We are hoping for a variety of interactive art including performances (dance, music, theatre, performance art), visual (painting, drawing, sculpture), media (sound, film, video, new media) and combinations of all art disciplines.

What is Interactive Art?
Art that belongs to the public and exists for the benefit of all.

-Art that requires human interaction to complete the piece.
-Art that prompts people to interact with one another.
-Art that responds to participants and to its environment.
-Art that causes people to reflect on the larger community.
-Art that challenges the viewers’ traditional perspective on art.
-Art that summons a culture around itself
-Art that provokes actions.
-Art that directs attention to the surrounding world.
-Art that transforms participants into active contributors to your creative process.
-Arts that transcends the static conception of an art object that is contemplated by a detached audience.

Interaction may be achieved in variety of ways. Sometimes, the mere act of encounter is sufficient, as in the case of artwork spread out within a special field of space that participants explore. Artwork may impart a gift or token. Likewise, works may be designed to receive something from people. Works may be activated by participants or by forces of nature, or they may function as social environments. Interactive artworks may also be made mobile, bringing an experience to passers by.

There will always be a place and time within the sphere of art for the perfect object-- something so astonishing in itself that the simple act of contemplation is reward enough-- and this, in a way, defines the essential nature and value of art. However, with planning, we have found nearly any form of conventional art can be engendered with an interactive aspect.

Amount of grants given

For the 2010 Recompression, there is $5,000 in funds available for Arts Grants. $3,500 has already been earmarked for the first round of grants.

$1,500 has been earmarked for the 2nd round of grants which are due March 1st. This will be for grants up to $300, and for micro-grants.  We expect we can fund 3-4 larger grants (depending on request amount) and 3-5 Microgrants.

What will the grant cover?
The grant will pay for a portion of production costs. It will cover some or all material and transportation costs, but not for time/labor. As a matter of principle, it is preferred that you develop various kinds of non-monetary resources, such as support from friends and reuse of equipment and recycling of supplies. This effort on your part encourages collaboration and cooperation within our extended community.

As a proposed policy, the art grants are available to assist you in bringing your art to Recompression. As such we will consider funding your proposal based on the following factors:

1. Materials – This is ideally what the art grant is for and as such we may fund up to 100% of materials based on the proposal.
2. Transportation costs – We may consider covering up to 100% of transportation costs to bring materials and work to Recompression, and a portion of personal transportation costs depending on justification.  Please note that we will also try and arrange to have your items transported on a truck rented for Recompression.
3. Assets – (items you will keep and reuse) We would expect you to try to cover the cost of desired assets through fund raising first. If you are unable to cover the cost of the asset you may still apply to have an art grant help you purchase it.

Note: The Grant will not cover costs for food, beverages, or the cost of your ticket. We are a non-profit event and since EVERYONE is a participant, everyone is expected to buy a ticket, even those who are involved with organizing. However, we do have subsidy tickets you can apply for if your are financially challenged.

How will decisions be made/what is the criteria?

All proposals will be vetted by the GVIAS Grants Jury which shall be composed of members of the GVIAS Grants committee.

Any member of the grants committee or director who is submitting a proposal, or a member of a group submission, will not be allowed to sit on the Arts Jury.

Decisions will be based on the following criteria:

-The creativity of your project.
-The interactivity of your project
-The thoroughness of your proposal.
-The team. Do you have an adequate crew to build, install and clean up your project?
-The Budget. Is the budget realistic?
-Reusability of your art at Burning Man or at other events or locations.

How will grants be paid?

75% of the grants will be paid in advance, with the final 25% paid upon receipt of a final cost reports and copies of all receipts.

A failure to execute your proposed art project at Recompression may result in you either repaying the art grant or having to install it at another GVIAS event upon the discretion of the GVIAS Grants Committee.

How do I apply?

On or before March 1st, 2010 at 6pm, you must submit the following:

1) Completed application form

Follow the link to download application form: grant application form

2) A proposal (2 pages max.) that includes:

-Physical Description: including the final vision, materials, and the intended interactive component (if any).

-Philosophical Statement: What the art means to you and what you are trying to communicate to participants.

-Interactivity: Interactive art projects are most encouraged. If your project is interactive, please describe how people will be able to interact with your proposed project.

-Proposed team: Do you have an adequate crew to build, install and clean up your project? Please describe your support team as it relates to the creation of the art, playa support and dismantling/cleanup. Describe the roles and skills needed even if you do not have a complete crew at this time.

-Timeline: pre-event construction schedule which reflects your budget e.g., when materials will be purchased, when stages of construction will be completed. Please include an onsite arrival and construction plan.

-Leave No Trace: A well thought out breakdown and clean-up plan and schedule. You may not leave anything behind.

3) Itemized budget

-list in detail all expenses for material and transportation costs. Research your costs carefully and be specific. Do not list "contingency costs" or "artist's fee" as we do not cover those expenses. You must total your costs and give us a final number.

4) Your Bio and/or CV

plus Bio and/or CV of any other participants involved, not to exceed one (2) pages each.

5) Visual materials (if applicable)

Detailed drawings, sketches, and plans, hand-drawn or computer generated. You may also send photographs with your proposal. Materials must directly support your proposal and are limited to maximum of twelve (12) images and/or video. Video submissions should not exceed a total of three (3) minutes in length.

6) Safety Requirements, if required (1 page max.)

-Burning Artwork: If your artwork utilizes open fire such as candles, torches, fire barrels, or raised containers, please describe in detail. If artwork is to be engulfed in flames, please describe your ground protection. Include a detailed drawing showing how the art will be situated on it.

-If your artwork utilizes flame effects, flames that are automated, switched, pressurized or having any other action than simply being lit on fire, including propane or liquid fuels, describe in detail. Include a detailed drawing of fuel lines and tanks.

-Details of any safety measures required and in operation – fire extinguish placement, shut off value labeling, signage, and fencing

How do I submit my proposal?

All of the above mentioned materials must be sent to grants@gvias.org on or before January 25th, 2010 at Midnight. The subject line must be the name of your project, in CAPS. Do not cc anyone; all members of the grant committee are on the art grants address.

You must submit your proposal electronically. Please use Word or PDF files for documents. Please do not send attachments without contact information. For larger files (over 1MB) please put your proposal on a URL and send us one URL for all of your files. Do not send a separate attachment for each component. A PDF with your complete proposal on it is the preferred way to apply. A website with all info on ONE page is also acceptable. Send your completed proposal only once - wait until it is final to send. Do not send multiple iterations with revisions, additions, etc.

Only one proposal per person and/or group will be accepted.

If you cannot submit your proposal as specified above, any non-digital drawings/material can be hand delivered to Erik Paulsson by appointment only. Email Erik at grants@gvias.org to arrange and appointment a minimum of two (2) days prior to the application deadline and the materials must be delivered within three (3) days from the initial contact.

If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt of your proposal within 48 hours, please call Erik at 604-764-1346.

Cost reporting and receipt of final grant amount

Final cost reports will be due no later than 2 weeks after the event. By April 20th, 2010. You must provide copies of all receipts in order to receive full grant amount. If your final cost report or receipts provided do not add up to the full grant amount, the amount of the grant awarded will be reduced to reflect actual costs.

Cost reports and submitted receipts will be reviewed within 1 week of the final submission date with final grants paid no later than April 27th, 2009.

A blank cost report will be provided to all grant recipients.

Art Placement

When you arrive at the event location, prearranged volunteers MAY be available to assist you in placing your art at its assigned location. Although we prefer that you remain completely self-sufficient, we will do our best to assist you with your art if needed. All requests for this support should be included in your proposal.