** All application forms can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. Please read any included application instructions before completing any forms. All application downloads require Adobe Reader software of version 5.0 or higher. Click here for a free download. If you have trouble downloading or typing into application forms, please contact NEFA. **
Overview AMD Reconstruction grants provide funding for the reconstruction or recreating of historically significant dance works that will tour nationally. Funds support a project’s development until the time of its first restaging, covering costs related to developing the work(s). Grant awards range from $10,000 to $100,000. However, they are expected to average from $20,000 to $40,000 and will be awarded to up to 10 projects. Applications are expected to be highly competitive. All grants must be matched at least 1:1 and can only be awarded for up to 50% of the project expenses.
SPECIAL NOTE: Your organization can also apply directly to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for support of this same project while applying to American Masterpieces: Dance (AMD). However, your application to the NEA must indicate a distinctly separate project period and separate costs, and the support that you receive from them and AMD cannot equal more than 50% of your budget.
The purpose of American Masterpieces: Dance (AMD) reconstruction grants are to:
Make possible the reconstruction or restaging of historically and nationally significant work(s) that will eventually tour
Offer the potential to engage and expand dance audiences, by reaching underserved geography and considering projects of all sizes, artistic forms and representing diverse cultures
Involve creative and dynamic partnership with one or more presenters in the presentation of the work(s)*
* Presenter/artist partnerships are relationships between presenters and dance
artists in the reconstruction of work, and often in the touring of work. In the
development process, a presenter may provide a variety of resources, including but not
limited to, residency space, audience for work-in-progress showings, administrative
guidance or support, marketplace advocacy, tour planning assistance, and the
leveraging of additional funds for the project. AMD believes strongly in presenter/artist alliances, which can greatly benefit the development and distribution of dance
projects.
Eligibility To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
Be a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) 3, U.S. organization; unit of state or local government; or federally recognized tribal community or tribe
Have a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
Generally preference will be given to applicants not funded in the prior year of AMD Reconstruction support. However, companies funded during that period are eligible to apply this year.
AMD assumes that work on the proposed project will occur within the season of the grant’s award and that the project will be available for touring in the United States during the following two seasons. If warranted by the project’s development process, the reconstruction phase may be extended and AMD support for touring activity may be deferred.
Criteria AMD Reconstruction Grants are awarded to dance projects based on applications received from dance companies, presenters, and festivals among others to reconstruct and perform significant work(s) of choreography. In selecting projects, AMD considers:
The importance of the work
Ability of company to reconstruct to quality standards
Demonstrated capacity to perform, at the highest level, artistically significant dance work
Documented ability to acquire the necessary permissions to reconstruct or restage artistically significant dance work
Demonstrated capacity to provide students and audiences with contextual and educational components related to American dance works and their history
Application Review The following criteria are considered during the review of applications:
The artistic excellence of the project, which includes
Quality of the artists, arts organizations, and works of art that the project will involve
Artistic significance, with respect to American dance heritage of the work(s) to be performed
The artistic merit of the project, which includes
Potential impact on the artistic and/or cultural heritage of the nation, region, or field
Potential of the project to broaden access to the arts and/or present art that otherwise would not be available
Potential to enhance the educational experiences of the audience or participants
Appropriateness of the project to the organization’s mission, audience, and community
Plans for documentation, evaluation, and dissemination, as appropriate to the project
Ability to carry out the project including the appropriateness of the budget, the quality and clarity of the project goals and design, the resources involved, and the qualifications of the project’s personnel
Where appropriate, the potential to reach underserved populations such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability
Potential of the project to serve as a model for the cooperation among dance artists and presenting organizations to realize reconstruction and touring of dance masterworks
Advisory panels, convened by NEFA in consultation with the National Endowment for the Arts, will review all applications.
The Application requires an attached Project Narrative of up to two single-sided 8.5 x 11" pages with one inch margins and font size no smaller than 11 point. The Project Narrative must answer the questions on the Application Form.
The Reconstruction Grant Application Form MUST be typed. The form located on this site is an interactive PDF, so you can type directly into the form on your computer screen, then print it out and mail it. If you choose to print out the form and use a typewriter to complete it, please use only the front side of the application form, and use either the original form or a photocopy of the original.
Receipt Deadline: March 3, 2008
Applications are accepted through the mail only and must be received by AMD by 5:00 p.m. EST, March 3, 2008. Late applications or those sent by fax or email will NOT be accepted.
Send Letter of Intent and Application to: New England Foundation for the Arts
American Masterpieces: Dance
145 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Deadlines and Calendar
March 3, 2008:
Receipt deadline for Reconstruction Grant Applications.
April 2008:
Notification sent to companies inviting them to develop full proposals for AMD Reconstruction Grants.
May 12, 2008 :
Receipt deadline for AMD Reconstruction Grant Full Proposals.* * We will only be accepting media samples in DVD format.
June 2008 :
Notification sent to AMD Reconstruction grantees with schedule and terms of grant payment.
Reconstruction Grant Proposal If you are asked to submit a full proposal after submitting your Reconstruction Grant Application Form, you will need to download and complete the AMD Reconstruction Grant Full Proposal Packet [294k] by May 12, 2008 (receipt deadline). The Reconstruction Grant Proposal Packet includes the following:
1. Reconstruction Grant Full Proposal Instructions
2.
Reconstruction Grant Proposal Form, which requires an attached Project Narrative of up to two single-sided 8.5 X 11" pages with one inch margins and font size no smaller than 11 point. The Project Narrative must answer the following questions:
Describe the proposed project and include the following:
Scope, collaborators, space requirements, etc... and the proposed process for development
Current status (i.e.- projected, committed, etc...) of the project’s proposed collaborators
Current status in securing the necessary rights and permissions to reconstruct the work (including music, sets, costumes, etc...), if the necessary letters are not attached
If the proposed project was/is in your or another company's repertory recently, explain the need and importance of reconstructing the work again
Timeline for the project’s development, including premiere and touring details
Ability of the project to tour, in terms of scale, company size, reach to underserved populations, and estimated presenter fee
Potential to engage and expand audiences, including details on how this work will be contextualized for audiences
Involvement of creative and dynamic partnerships with one or more presenters in the presentation of the work(s)*
* Presenter/artist partnerships are relationships between presenters and dance artists in the reconstruction of work, and often in the touring of work. In the development process, a presenter may provide a variety of resources, including but not limited to, residency space, audience for work-in-progress showings, administrative guidance or support, marketplace advocacy, tour planning assistance, and the leveraging of additional funds for the project. AMD believes strongly in presenter/artist alliances, which can greatly benefit the development and distribution of dance projects.
3. In addition, applicants should submit:*
Two (2) copies of DVD/VHS media sample of proposed work (5 minutes max/labeled/cued to start)
Two (2) copies of DVD/VHS media sample of performance by company proposing reconstruction (5 minutes max/labeled/cued to start)
* We are no longer accepting media samples in VHS format. Heavily edited promotional media samples are not encouraged. Media samples of an actual performance are preferred.
The Reconstruction Grant Proposal Form MUST be typed. The form located on this site is an interactive PDF, so you can type directly into the form on your computer screen, then print it out and mail it. If you choose to print out the form and use a typewriter to complete it, please use only the front side of the application form, and use either the original form or a photocopy of the original.
Receipt Deadline: May 12, 2008
Applications are accepted through the mail only and must be received by AMD by 5:00 p.m. EST, May 12, 2008. Late applications or those sent by fax or email will NOT be accepted.
Send completed Application to: New England Foundation for the Arts
American Masterpieces: Dance
145 Tremont Street, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Evaluation If you have received an AMD Reconstruction Grant, you will be asked to complete an evaluation form as stated in your award contract. This evaluation is due 3 weeks after the first public presentation of the work(s), or as otherwise stated on your award contract. The completed evaluation is needed before a final payment can be made on the grant. Download the AMD Reconstruction Grant Final Evaluation Form[217k].
Questions If you have questions about AMD Reconstruction Grants, please email amd@nefa.org or call NEFA at [617] 951-0010 ext. 516.
