Expeditions Tour Planning Grant
Expeditions Tour Planning grants provide resources for projects that need additional planning time to build interest among presenters, leading to an application for Expeditions Touring support.
Eligibility
The application must be submitted by a nonprofit organization which plans to present the project and will eventually serve as the lead partner for the Expeditions Touring grant application.
To be eligible for Expeditions Tour Planning funding, applicants must:
- Be a nonprofit, school, or government entity. (Nonprofits do not have to be arts organizations. Organizations that do not have a federal tax identification number may apply if part of an official government agency.)
- Be based in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
- The federal government now requires that all NEFA organizational grant recipients supported by federal funds register for DUNS numbers. More specifics on the requirement will be included in all NEFA grant applications.
- Applicants must be able to provide, if requested, documentation of their compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Please visit our Increasing Access to the Arts page for details.
Expeditions will not fund:
- Fundraising events or activities.
- Organizations or activities occurring outside of the six-state New England region.
- Events designed exclusively for students in school during class time.
- Performances that are not open to the public and advertised accordingly.
- If a project changes after funding has been awarded, the applicant must notify NEFA as soon as possible. NEFA does not guarantee funding if the project differs substantially from the original application. Requests for changes to a tour or tour planning grant will be considered on a case by case basis and may change the amount of the grant award.
Funding Criteria
Tour Planning grants provide up to $5,000 for the planning of a tour that will eventually fulfill Expeditions Touring criteria. These grants support activities directly related to the planning of a tour, such as meetings between potential partners, artist showcases for presenters, workshops to build community interest, and artists' travel to visit presenters' communities.
- A high level of artistic quality, exploration, and creativity.
- Evidence of collaborative planning in key areas among project partners and artists. The featured artist(s) should be included in project planning.
- Contextual, educational, and adjunct activities featuring the artist(s) in the project (e.g., workshops, lecture-demonstrations) which meaningfully engage various sectors of the community. Cross-sector exchange (connecting arts and non-arts organizations) and collaboration is strongly encouraged.
- Extend the arts to populations whose opportunities are limited by geography, economics, or disability.
- Evidence of well-planned promotion and marketing, including linkages that extend and deepen the reach of the project.
- Potential to attract diverse funding in support of the project (e.g., local, municipal, state, or national public funding, foundation support, commercial/business sponsorship, etc.)
Receiving Tour Planning support one year does not guarantee Touring grant support in the following year.
Process & Deadline
The Tour Planning process should be completed within the June 1-February 15 time frame following the award notification. Tour Planning grant recipients are strongly encouraged to develop plans early in the grant period so that the touring project can be shared in early November at the annual Idea Swap, a one-day networking conference.
- Early November 2012: Idea Swap.
- February 14, 2013: Application deadline.
- Mid-April 2013: Expeditions Tour Planning and Touring grant recipients notified.
- June 2013: Tour Planning period begins (and continues through mid-February 2014) for tour planning grant recipients; Touring period begins (and continues through August 2014) for touring grant recipients.
Grant REQUESTs & Instructions
The most recent grant request deadline has passed.
Requirements & Reports for Grant Recipients
Requirements
Grant payments will be made upon receipt of the following which must be submitted within 30 days after the funded event:
- A completed Expeditions Tour Planning grantee report for each grant. (See below for instructions on how to access your form.)
- A copy of the signed contract or letter of agreement (with printed name and title) between your organization and the artist(s) presented.
- Copies of letters of appreciation sent to your federal and/or state legislators. This is to inform them about the purpose of this award, and the impact it will have on your organization’s activities and service to the community.
- Copies of program and publicity materials showing acknowledgement of NEFA’s funding.
Failure to provide this material within 30 days of the event may result in cancellation of the grant and all pending NEFA grants. If the performance date is changed or cancelled, or if you anticipate a delay in submission of materials, please contact Elizabeth Bouchard.
Reductions in Artist Fees
Expeditions grant amounts are determined based on the proposed artistic fee; therefore, reductions in artist fees may result in the reduction or cancellation of your grant. Grant recipients must notify NEFA of any changes in fees paid to the artist(s) as soon as possible in advance of the event.
Click below to log in and access your grantee report. You may save and return at any time.
Contact
Adrienne Petrillo | Program Manager, Presenting & Touring
apetrillo@nefa.org | 617.951.0010 x527
Elizabeth Bouchard | Program Coordinator,
National Theater Project, Presenting & Touring
ebouchard@nefa.org | 617.951.0010 x516
