Catalyze Application

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ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to apply for a Catalyze grant, an artist must:


  • Be at least 21 years of age by the application due date.

  • Be a full-time resident of the State of Arkansas and have established a minimum of one year residency by the application due date in one of the following central Arkansas counties: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell.    

  • Create work in any artistic discipline, including but not limited to dance, film, literary, music, theatre, and visual art. 

  • Have a résumé that demonstrates at least three years of engagement in a creative practice prior to the application due date.  The creative practice is not required to have taken place during consecutive years.  If the applicant’s creative practice was affected or suspended due to COVID-19, the application may reference 2020 or 2021 activities that were canceled or reimagined due to the pandemic.  Virtual activities are considered creative practice.  The applicant may also choose to list creative practice from a year other than 2020 or 2021.  For the purposes of defining eligibility, “three-years of engagement” refers to when the applicant began their creative practice independent of activities required in pursuit of an academic degree or other certification. 

  • Commit to participating in peer-to-peer strategic planning activities during the grant year including the Catalyze Retreat at the Capital Hotel in Little Rock, AR from 9:00 am on Saturday, June 24, 2023 through 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 25, 2023 (meals and private lodging provided).

  • Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have non-resident status and provide a valid Social Security Number if selected for funding.

  • Be in good standing with Mid-America Arts Alliance, with no delinquent reports and/or grant documents.

  • Not have received a grant of $1,000 or more through any other M-AAA granting program during its 2023 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023)

  • Not have previously received a Catalyze grant.

  • Not be a currently enrolled student in an undergraduate or graduate program.

For the application in Spanish please click here: 
 
Para la aplicación en español, haga clic aquí: https://www.tfaforms.com/5032766

Catalyze, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance made possible through the support of the Windgate Foundation, provides grant funding and professional development opportunities to individual artists of all disciplines in the Arkansas counties of Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell.


The Catalyze program is designed to ignite the careers of central Arkansas artists by providing them with $10,000 grants to support their creative practices, learning opportunities to develop entrepreneurship skills and build enduring creative practices, connections to a dynamic regional artist network, and ongoing support.


For more information on the Catalyze program visit www.maaa.org/catalyze. 


 

M-AAA encourages those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); LGBTQ+; and/or disabled to apply. 

 

Application deadline is Friday, February 24, 2023 at 5:00pm CST.

Applicants will be notified by Friday, May 5, 2023.

Applicants with questions regarding the application or facing difficulties completing the online submission form should contact: artistservices@maaa.org.

*Applicants have the option to compete their applications verbally with
M-AAA staff. Note that artist bio, artist statement and all narrative answers must be prepared in advance. Work samples must be submitted as digital files or as links to website addresses. Requests for assistance must be received by Friday, February 10, 2023.

Applicants may save their progress at anytime while filling out this form by clicking the "save" box in the upper right-hand corner.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Each Catalyze grant application should include:


  • Completed online application form

  • Artist Biography (100 words max)

  • Artist Statement (250 words max)

  • Artist Résumé/CV (maximum 3 pages)

  • Narrative Responses regarding the history and the future of your creative practice, the way the Catalyze Grant funds will be utilized and the impact of professional development on your practice & career.

  • Up to five artwork samples (images, audio files, video files, literary files, or URLs to audio, video, and or literary samples) (1 MB maximum per file)

  • Work Sample Summary (maximum 3 pages)

  • Proof of residence: Arkansas driver's license, bill from a bank, mortgage company, utility company, credit card company, doctor, or hospital, bank statement, property tax bill, current valid homeowner's or renter's policy or motor vehicle insurance card or policy, current valid Arkansas motor vehicle registration, 2021 tax filing (IRS or state of Arkansas) with sensitive information redacted.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Review of application materials will focus on:


Artistry

Successful applicants will demonstrate artistic excellence, broadly defined by the practitioners and norms in their discipline, and show a deep commitment to their work. Selected artists will have an active creative practice for a minimum of three years and show motivation to continue and further evolve.  

 

Program Readiness

Selected artists will have the desire to advance their career and deepen their practice, engage in an active strategic management process surrounding their practice, as well as an interest in sharing their work and process as part of a network of artists in a peer learning environment.

 

Impact of Funding on Practice

Successful applicants will clearly identify the ways in which Catalyze funds will impact their careers and creative practices. These identified impacts should relate to previous challenges and/or desired futures.



Questions? Visit: www.maaa.org/catalyze 
or email us at: artistservices@maaa.org

Artist Eligibility Information








Thank you for your interest in the Catalyze Artist Grant.

Given the answers you provided, you are not eligible to apply. Please click the submit button and we will add your contact information to our email distribution list so that you can be among the first to know about other opportunities for artists. 

If you have questions or concerns, please email artistservices@maaa.org.
Contact Information






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If you do not have a website, please include a URL of an internet platform which showcases your work (i.e., Facebook, Soundcloud, Etsy, Instagram, etc.)

numbers ONLY

numbers ONLY

numbers ONLY

Demographics







Creative Background



Narrative Responses
Note: To expand the size of a text box, drag the lines in the lower right corner down so you can see your narrative in full. Insert a line space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

Provide a short biography to be used in Catalyze publicity materials should you be awarded. Your biography should be in third person. (100 word maximum) 

An Artist Statement is an opportunity to describe what you make, and how and why you make it, giving reviewers insight into your work and process. Your Artist Statement should be written in first person. (250 word maximum) 

In your own words, explain the evolution of your creative practice over the previous few years. What work have you been pursuing? How has the work evolved? Why has it evolved in that way? Have you faced challenges or constraints in making work? (250 word maximum)    

Where do you want your creative practice to be in five years? What self-determined measures of success for your practice have you identified? (250 word maximum)    

If awarded a Catalyze Artist Grant, how do you intend to use the funds to further your artistic practice? (250 word maximum)    

Considering the criteria of this grant, explain how participating in the Catalyze Retreat, learning alongside a dedicated, small group of your peers, accessing One-on-One mentoring sessions with Artist Peer Facilitators, and building a network of regional artists, will be beneficial to the development of your creative practice. What strengths will you bring to share with your peers? (250 word maximum)    

Including but not limited to race, ethnicity, disability, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, caregiver, military, rural resident, of immigrant experience, English as a second language. For example, "I am a Taiwanese American cis-gender female, first generation immigrant living in rural Arkansas." (100 word maximum)   

Application Support Materials
IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid potential disqualification, please ensure that each required document is uploaded to the correct and corresponding category and follows the file type guidelines provided below. Ensure that all web links are working and available for public viewing. M-AAA will not reach out to you if a document is missing, unable to open because it is in an unacceptable format, or if a link does not work. Additionally, please label all uploaded documents with your name and the title of the document: <Lastname, Firstname Sample1>.

This document should be a maximum of three pages and be submitted in a .pdf format. The name of the artist should be included in the title of the file: <lastname, firstname, resume/cv.pdf>. (1 MB maximum)    

Proof of residency in one of the following Arkansas counties (Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Jefferson, Lonoke, Perry, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell). A proof of residency document must include your name and your address. Provide an image of only ONE of the following acceptable documents: valid Arkansas Driver's License; bill from a bank, mortgage company, utility company, credit card company, doctor, hospital, or bank statement; current valid homeowner's or renter's insurance policy; current valid motor vehicle insurance card or policy; property tax bill; current valid Arkansas motor vehicle registration; or most recent year tax filing (IRS or state of Arkansas). Please redact any sensitive and/or financial information. Panelists will not have access to this information. (1 MB maximum, .jpg or .pdf format)    
Work Samples

Include up to a total of five artwork samples. Samples may be uploaded or provided as .html links under the Work Sample Website section. All uploaded files should be titled with the name of the artist, <lastname, firstname sample 1>. You may mix and match the following sample types:

  • Visual Images - 1MB maximum, .jpeg, .jpg or .pdf formatAudio
  • Audio files should be uploaded to a streaming service (Soundcloud) or hosted on a website and shared via URLs. Please provide information as to where panelists should begin and end listening (ie. "Start at 3:03:00 and end at 4:03:00"). (1 minute = 1 sample)
  • Video - Video should be uploaded to a streaming service (YouTube or Vimeo) or hosted on a website, and shared via URLs. Please provide information as to where panelists should begin and end viewing (ie. "Start at 3:03:00 and end at 4:03:00").(1 minute = 1 sample)
  • Literary - Written work should be uploaded as .pdf files. You may submit one or more typed, double spaced work samples in a 12 point font. Please provide information in your Work Sample Description as to where panelists should begin and end reading. (2 pages = 1 sample)



A work sample summary is a narrative document that describes and provides context for the submitted work samples. When applicable, include the following for each work sample, in the order that samples are submitted: artist name; title of work; website address; medium; dimensions; date of completion/performance/publication; running time; number of pages, and any other details regarding the creative development, inspiration or relevance of the work. Clearly indicate selections intended for review (ie. URL, "Video Title" - Start at 3:03:00 and end at 4:03:00). The name of the artist should be included in the title of the file: <lastname, firstname, work sample summary.pdf>. (3 pages maximum, .pdf format)   
Work Sample Websites

Please provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary.  

Please provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary.

 

Please provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary.  

Please provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary. 

Please provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary.  
Work Sample Files

Provide clear instruction for review in the Work Sample Summary. (1 MB maximum)
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Questions? Email artistservices@maaa.org