ARTISTIC SUPPORT MATERIALS

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Support materials are essential to your application. Applicants must submit support materials as required by program guidelines. Although you are required to send other materials as well, (narrative, budget, etc.) the success of your application depends, above all, on the quality of the work samples submitted. The most important element determining impact is your project's artistic quality.

Send only high quality materials that best represent the work you are proposing in your application. Weak support materials detract from work that may be strong on its own merit. Panelists often struggle to determine what is being presented. Put yourself in their shoes-- they may review many applications in one day and have very limited time to review each one - perhaps as little as 3-5 minutes.

Your work needs to be clearly presented and explained, and make a strong and positive impression.
Be sure the materials you submit are closely related to the type of work you are proposing in your application. Read the appropriate discipline sections below to determine what you are required to submit.

Recommendations:

All applicants should:

• Cue all video tapes to the section you wish reviewed;
• Indicate which tracks to listen to on a CD;
• Indicate which scene or portion of the DVD you want viewed (If you are unable to do this, we suggest making a separate edited version of the DVD that will play the strongest 3-8 minutes of your work to include with the full version).
• Submit recent work (i.e. created in the last three years). If you choose to submit samples of older work because it is more relevant to your project, be sure to explain why you are sending the older work samples.;
• Include a list clearly identifying the contents of works on video, CD/DVD, jpegs, etc.;
• Be sure materials submitted are representative of the work of the artist(s) involved;
• Label all work(s) with artist contact information (see Return of Support Materials below);
• For collaborations between two or more artists or group applications, submit examples of the work of up to three artists involved.

Helpful Hints:

• Be sure that audio and video tapes do not contain background noise and tape hiss and have been viewed before submission;
• For digital images, work should be saved in JPEG format (".jpg") at a high quality (60% - 80%) with a file size of no more than 1 megabyte each. JPEG files should be saved using the applicant name and image number;
• Let an impartial peer review your materials before you submit them.

Return of Support Materials

If you would like tapes, compact discs, DVD's, musical scores etc. returned, include a self-addressed stamped (not metered) envelope (SASE). Generally, materials will not be returned until after notification. The Council retains attachments such as program books, brochures, and other printed items submitted with applications. Materials submitted without labels providing artist contact information will not be returned.

REQUIREMENTS by Discipline

• Computer Arts: Please contact the Council staff for submission requirements.
  
  
• Dance:
  • Dance includes choreography and performances in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and traditional dance.
  • Applicants should submit no more than two complete works on VHS video cassette or DVD, clearly labeled with the names of the performers, title, date, duration, choreographer of each work, and date and location of taping. Sometimes the beginning is not the strongest section, so you may cue to the section(s) you want reviewed.
    
    
• Design Arts:
  • Design Arts includes architecture, landscape architecture, product design, graphic design, urban design, historic preservation and community planning.
  • Applicants should submit no more than nine digital images of work in which they were directly involved and must provide information describing the project(s) and the applicant's artistic role.
  • Designers may submit documentation of work that has been produced or constructed as well as drawings or proposals for work that has not been done yet.
  • In addition, designers may submit clearly identified blueprints or specs.
    
    
• Festivals:
  • Festivals do not need to submit support materials for all artists.
  • Submit support materials for no more than two or three key artists, include a list of other artists to be presented, and the program book from your previous year.
    
    
• Interdisciplinary:
  • Interdisciplinary includes work in any two or more disciplines that are combined to create a single work. The collaborative work creates one piece.
  • Applicants should submit appropriate forms of documentation to describe and represent the various combinations of artistic disciplines included in your work. For example, an artists who includes photography and text in a book should submit jpegs of the photographic work along with a writing sample. Please contact the Council for submission suggestions.
    
    
• Literature:
  • Literature includes poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
  • The non-fiction category includes work in a variety of creative forms such as: essays, memoirs, criticism, journalism, autobiography, and experimental.
  • Playwrights should apply in the Theater Arts category.
  • Screenplay writers should apply in the Media Arts category. Note: Manuscripts submitted will not be returned but will be recycled.
  • Applicants should submit nine (9) copies of up to ten pages in poetry, fiction or essays. All manuscripts must be copied double-sided, typescript, double-spaced with the exception of poetry which may be single-spaced. Typescript means material produced by a typewriter or a letter quality printer. If work is not complete, indicate this.
  • In addition, a brief outline and description of a longer work may be included.
  • Clear photocopies are acceptable.
  • All pages should be 8½" x 11".
  • Number the pages of your manuscript and label with your name and title of the work. Please 3-hole punch and assemble with clips (no staples).
    
    
• Media Arts:
  • Media Arts include audio, film, radio, and video. Screenplays should also be submitted under this category.
  • Applicants should submit no more than two complete works on separate VHS video cassette/DVD or audio tape/CD.
  • Tapes should be cued to the section(s) you want reviewed. Clearly label all cassettes and all boxes with the artist's name, title of work, original format, date of completion, length, black-and-white or color, and production credits, including the artist's role in the production.
  • Indicate if your video has sound.
  • Promotional tapes are not recommended.
  • Screenplay writers should submit nine (9) copies of no more than 10-15 pages of work in screenplay format. If work is not complete, indicate this.
  • In addition, a brief outline and description of a longer work may be included.
  • All pages should be 8½" x11".
  • Number the pages. Please 3-hole punch and assemble with clips (no staples). Screenplays will not be returned but will be recycled.
    
    
• Music:
  • The Music category includes performance and composition in classical, traditional, folk, choral, jazz, contemporary, experimental, and popular music, as well as opera and musical theater.
  • Applicants should submit no more than two complete works on compact disc, audio, or video cassettes, or DVD clearly labeled with the names of composers and performers, instruments (voice or otherwise), titles of works, duration of each work, and date of composition and recording.
  • Tapes should be cued to the section you want reviewed.
  • For compact discs, indicate the selections you want reviewed. Records (LPs) and DAT tapes cannot be accepted.
  • In addition, composers should submit single copies of corresponding scores or, where appropriate (e.g. jazz/extended forms), fully harmonized lead sheets of up to 15 pages. Scores should be titled and orchestrated, and include the date of composition. For compositions for which there is no score or lead sheets, send a description of the equipment and techniques used. In improvisational compositions where the composer is also performing, identify the instrument played by the composer.
    
    
• Theater Arts:
  • Theater Arts includes playwriting, production and performances in classical and experimental theater, mime, puppetry, storytelling and theater for young audiences.
  • Applicants should submit up to two complete works on a VHS video cassette or DVD of recent work, clearly labeled with the name of the performers, title and creator of the work, duration of each work and date of taping.
  • Tapes should be cued to the section you want reviewed.
  • Playwrights should submit nine (9) copies of no more than 10-15 pages of a script or play, double-sided, typescript, double-spaced, with completion date indicated. Typescript means material produced by a typewriter or a letter quality printer. If work is not complete, indicate this. Scripts will not be returned but will be recycled.
  • In addition, a brief outline and description of a longer work may be included.
  • All pages should be 8½" x 11".
  • Number the pages of your script. Please 3-hole punch and staple in the top left corner.
    
    
• Visual Arts:
  • Visual Arts includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, holography, crafts and mixed-media.
  • Applicants should submit no more than nine digital images (JPEG) on a CD-ROM.
  • CDs should include a list clearly identifying each file, including title, medium, size or scale, materials, and date of completion. File names should correspond to the titles you have listed. CDs should be labeled directly on the CD itself (not the case) with applicant name.
  • Artists who are submitting images of kinetic sculpture may supplement their application with a one-minute videotape or DVD of kinetic work.