GLOSSARY

Definition of terms used in Opportunity Grant application forms and budgets.

ACTION PLAN: Part of the Vermont Department of Education's school reform efforts. It is a timeline created by a school and community describing specific steps schools will take to improve student learning. Action plans are required and must be ready for implementation by 2005 to address arts education.

ACTION RESEARCH: Research based on real people in real situations to find out how things work or do not work. Action research is conducted by project participants (teachers, artists, students) to track the success of the project in meeting its goals.

ADMISSIONS: Income derived from the sale of admissions, tickets, subscriptions, etc. for events directly attributable to or prorated to the project.

APPLICANT: The person or organization responsible for implementing the project, complying with the grant guidelines requirements, and receiving grant funds. NOTE : If funded, the applicant will be the one to receive the check, except in the case of an organization or group of artists using a Fiscal Agent. In that case, the Fiscal Agent will receive the check and will be responsible for forwarding the grant to the applicant according to their agreement.

APPLICANT CASH: Funds from an applicant's present or anticipated resources that the applicant will provide to the proposed project that is not received from other income sources.

ACCESSIBILITY CONTACT PERSON: The name of the person who can answer questions about the accessibility of the facility as well as the programming for the project.

ACCESSIBILITY EXPENSES: Any expenses, other than capital expenses, to make your program accessible such as sign language interpreters, large print programs, etc.

ARTISTS INVOLVED: The total number of artists directly involved in providing art or artistic services who are specifically identified with the project. Include living artists whose work is represented, regardless of whether the work was provided by the artist or by an institution.

ASSESSMENT: The process of quantifying, describing, gathering data, and providing feedback about performance. Assessment helps identify how to improve instructional practices for students and how to provide professional development for teachers.

AUTHENTIC ARTS ASSESSMENT: Methods for evaluating what students know and can do in the arts. Authentic assessments involve students in the actual doing or production of the work they are responsible for knowing. Techniques include: collection of evidence of student work (portfolio); selection of student work that indicates various levels of achievement (benchmarks); reflection on practice (journal writing, interviews, discussion); and performance.

AUTHORIZING OFFICIAL: Name of the person with authority to legally obligate the applicant (usually Executive Director or Chairman of the Board).

CAPITAL EXPENSES: For the purposes of Council grants, capital expenses include the purchase of equipment over $300, property, renovations and construction.

CASH EXPENSES: (See TOTAL CASH EXPENSES)

CASH MATCH: Income that the applicant uses to match the Council’s grant award.

CHILDREN/YOUTH BENEFITING: The total number of children and youth (including students, participants, and audience members) benefiting directly from the funded project. This figure should reflect a portion of the total number estimated on the Individuals Benefiting line.

COLLABORATION: A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations, individuals, or communities, that pools resources and talents to achieve better results than likely to be achieved individually. A collaboration among artists is defined as someone who is a "co-owner" of the project, not someone who provides services as a "work for hire" participant in the project.

CONTACT PERSON: The person to contact for additional information about the application.

CONTRACTED SERVICES: Income derived from fees earned through sale of services. Include income from workshops paid by other community organizations, government contracts for specific services, performance or residency fees, tuition, etc.

CORE GROUPS : Core groups are those classes/groups of students that are designated to work with the artists each day or for a total of 5 hours during the residency. Though residency formats vary widely, some groups or classes of students must be designated as "core groups." (Example: In School B, the fifth grade class is designated as the core group. These fifth graders see the artist each day of the residency while students in other classes may only meet with the artist occasionally.)

CORPORATE/BUSINESS CONTRIBUTIONS: Cash support derived from contributions given by businesses and corporations.

CURRICULUM: A school’s curriculum describes instructional delivery systems and how students will be assessed to make expectations clear to everyone.

DEFICIT: Amount of expenses in excess of income for the year.

EXPENSES: Monetary costs required to complete the project.

FEI NUMBER: Federal Employee Identification Number for applicant organization (tax exempt number). Individuals should use their social security number.

FISCAL AGENT: Organization with tax exempt status under IRS code 501(c)(3) that serves as the legal applicant to the Council for a non-tax exempt organization or group of individuals.

FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS: Cash support derived from grants given by private foundations.

FULL TIME STUDENT : Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to apply directly to Council programs. If you are an individual artist who is over 18 years of age and enrolled in an undergraduate program, you are NOT eligible to apply. You must NOT be enrolled as a student at the time of application or throughout the grant period. EXCEPTION : If you are enrolled in school to obtain a master's degree or higher in a field not directly related to your art form, you may submit an application as long as the proposed project is not one for which you are seeking academic credit.

FY : Fiscal year. The Council fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.

GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS:

• FEDERAL: Cash support derived from grants or appropriations given by agencies of the federal government. (Specify name of agency giving funds)
• LOCAL: Cash support derived from grants or appropriations given by city, county, in-state regional, and other local governmental agencies. (Specify name of agency giving funds)
• REGIONAL/STATE: Cash support derived from grants or appropriations given by agencies of the state government and/or multi-state consortia of state agencies (i.e. New England Foundation for the Arts). Does not include Council grant request. (Specify name of agency giving funds.)

GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED: Amount of funding requested from the Vermont Arts Council. This cannot exceed one-half (except in underserved grants) of the Total Cash Expenses or the maximum grant, whichever is less. If one-half of your Total Cash Expenses is less than the minimum grant, you are ineligible to apply.

GRANT PERIOD: Beginning and ending dates of activities relating to grant.

GRANT YEAR: The period as regulated by the National Endowment for the Arts from September 1st through August 31st.

INCOME: Money received to complete the project.

INDIVIDUALS BENEFITING: The total number of individuals who were directly involved in the funded activity as artists, non-artist project participants or audience members between the grant or project start and end dates. Figures should encompass only those individuals directly affected by or involved in the funded activity, and should include the totals from the "Artists Participating" and "Youth Benefiting" fields, Include actual audience numbers based on paid/free admissions or seats filled. Avoid inflated numbers. If actual figures or fact-based estimates cannot be secured, as may be the case with certain broadcast projects, large outdoor events or Internet-based projects, leave this field blank.

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: The fair market dollar value of documented non-cash contributions to the project/program that are provided to applicant by volunteers or outside parties at no cash cost to applicant. Volunteer time is calculated at minimum wage unless the volunteer is donating services that he/she provides as part of his/her profession, in which case time is calculated at that person's professional rate. Donated materials should be calculated at fair market value. Only donated items that are directly involved in the project/programs described in the application should be included. Items or services unrelated to the project or program, even though received by the applicant, are not eligible. In-kind contributions must be well-documented.

INTERDISCIPLINARY: Activities that include more than one arts discipline that are combined to create a single work. The collaborative work creates one piece. (See definition of MULTIDISCIPLINARY below)

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Income derived from cash donations from individuals.

INTEREST: Income from investments and/or endowments.

MARKETING/ADVERTISING: All costs for marketing, publicity, and promotion specifically identified with the project/program such as media, brochures, flyers, posters, etc.

MATERIALS/SUPPLIES: Items needed for the creation or completion of a project such as paint, paper, fabric, that are not permanent equipment or capital expenses (see definition above).

MISSION: A broad statement of the unique purpose for which the organization exists and the function it performs.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY: Activities that include more than one arts discipline but are separate pieces of work. (See definition of INTERDISCIPLINARY above)

NAME OF FACILITY: Indicate the name of the facility(ies) in which the project activity will take place.

OTHER EARNED INCOME: Income derived from sources other than those listed. Include catalog sales, advertising space in programs, gift shop income, concessions, parking, etc.

OTHER PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS: Cash support derived from cash donations other than those listed. Include gross proceeds from fundraising events.

PERSONNEL: Only include personnel expenses that relate directly to the project or program.

• ADMINISTRATIVE: Payments for salaries, wages, fees and benefits for administrative staff, program directors, managing directors, business managers, clerical staff and support personnel.
• ARTISTIC: Payments for salaries, wages, fees and benefits for artistic directors, conductors, curators, composers, choreographers, designers and other artists.
• OTHER OUTSIDE FEES AND SERVICES: Payments to firms or persons for non-artistic services such as legal, financial, etc.
• TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION: Payments for salaries, wages, fees and benefits for technical directors, wardrobe, lighting, sound designers and crew, stagehands, video and film technicians, exhibit preparers and installers.

PROJECT/EVENT LOCATION(S): If the project, program, or event is happening in a location other than the city/town of the applicant's address, please indicate. If more than one location or a tour is anticipated, describe on a separate sheet indicating locations.

PROJECT/PROGRAM IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: Dollar value of non-cash contributions to project. See IN- KIND CONTRIBUTIONS .

PROJECT PERIOD: Dates within which Council funds will be spent and activities will take place.

SASE: Self-addressed, stamped envelope.

SPACE RENTAL: Payments specifically identified with the project for rental of office, studios, theater, hall, gallery, and other spaces.

SUBTOTAL CASH INCOME: Total cash income of the project, including project receipts and all income, but not including Council grant request.

SURPLUS: Amount of revenue in excess of expenses for the year.

TEACHERS INVOLVED: (Mainly applicable for schools) The number of teachers directly involved with or benefiting from the project.

TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION: Expenses (not including personnel) associated with producing events, including scripts, scores, lumber, equipment rental, etc.

TOTAL CASH EXPENSES: Cash expenses of the project that do not include in-kind contributions, capital expenses or depreciation.

TOTAL CASH INCOME: Total of applicant income sources plus the Council grant request.

TRAVEL/LODGING: All costs directly related to the travel of an individual or individuals involved in the project or program. Include fares, hotels, and other lodging expenses, food, taxis, gratuities, per diem payments, toll charges, mileage, allowances on personal vehicles, car rental costs, etc. that are not already included in the artist fee.