Strategic Opportunity Grants
STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY GRANTS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO BUDGET CUTS. WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. PLEASE CHECK BACK.
IMPORTANT: Only artists approved for inclusion in the PennPAT roster are eligible for these grants.
These grants are offered to roster artists to support reasonable travel/lodging costs for touring engagements outside the United States. Grants may support engagements with the demonstrated potential for positive impact on future touring.
How to Apply
To apply for these grants, roster artists must first contact Katie West, PennPAT Director, to discuss the project. If the project is deemed eligible, PennPAT will email or mail the guidelines and application to the roster artist.
Project Limitations
Projects MUST include at least one performance that is open to and marketed to the general public.
Grants will NOT support:
Engagements that consist primarily of workshops, training or conference sessions
Engagements in which the artist must produce their own performances -- e.g. artists that are self-selected, have no established venue or receive no artistic fee other than percentage of box office receipts
Events that are academic in nature, are competitions, or for which ensembles must pay a participation, registration, or tuition fee
Purchase of equipment, supplies or other costs related to normal business activities
Eligibility
The applicant must be included in the PennPAT roster for the time in which the project will take place. In addition, the applicant must have submitted all final reports on previous projects by the report due date.
Deadline
Artists may submit applications on an ongoing basis, at least six weeks prior to the start of the proposed project.
Application Review
Applications will be reviewed by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation/PennPAT senior staff, based on the criteria outlined below. Applicants may be contacted for clarification and/or additional materials during this time.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed and funding decisions according to the following criteria.
Is there sufficient evidence that the engagement(s) is significant nationally and/or internationally?
Is there sufficient evidence that the project will provide a strategic opportunity with the potential to impact future touring for the roster artist?
Is the budget is reasonable for the project?
Is the artist receiving reasonable financial compensation from the presenter, appropriate for a professional presentation in the presenter’s setting and locale?
Application Materials Checklist
To be eligible, applications must include:
The completed application form with budget and original ink signature.
A one-page typed narrative that describes the project in detail and addresses the evaluation criteria for the Strategic Opportunity Grants. Be sure answer the following questions:
Who is the presenting organization?
Where are you performing?
How many performances and other activities are included?
Who do you anticipate will attend this event?
Who initiated this project and how was it developed?
How, specifically, is this presentation significant nationally and/or internationally?
How, specifically, will this project impact your future touring?
Do NOT provide any biographical information about the roster artist or company, unless it specifically pertains to the project.
A signed contract, deal memo or letter of invitation that specifies the details of the engagement including date(s), location(s), fees to be paid, financial agreement for travel costs, technical needs, and any other relevant details
Any other materials that might support the significance of this engagement as related to the roster artist’s future touring
Grant Amounts
Grants will generally be awarded for up to 50% of reasonable cash expenses for travel and lodging, up to a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year. Some projects may not receive funding or may be awarded less than 50%. Roster artists may apply for and receive multiple grants in each category (Artist Technical Assistance and Strategic Opportunity), but may not receive more than $5,000 in each category during a calendar year (maximum $10,000 per year, per artist).
Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation also provides grants for international touring engagements through the USArtists International (USAI) program. PennPAT roster artists must explore PennPAT Strategic Opportunity Grants as a first option for support of international touring engagements. If a PennPAT roster artist also chooses to apply to USAI, the maximum amount of support for a single project through both programs combined will not exceed $15,000.
Award Notification/Grant Payment/Final Report Requirements/Project Changes
Artists will be notified on the status of their proposal within four (4) weeks of the application receipt date. Successful applicants will then have two (2) weeks to return a signed grant agreement and any additional required materials. Grant checks will be issued and sent directly to the artist.
Final report forms must be submitted within 30 days of the conclusion of the funded project. If an artist fails to submit a final report at the conclusion of a funded project, the artist will not be eligible for future support from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation or PennPAT. This ineligibility includes PennPAT Presenter Fee Support and New Directions grants as well as Artist Technical Assistance and Strategic Opportunity Grants.
Grantees must notify PennPAT immediately, in writing, of any changes to the program design, scope or timing of a funded project. Changes must be approved by PennPAT before being implemented.
Credit
All promotional materials and public notices relating to the funded project should credit the PennPAT program in the following manner: This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Failure to provide proper credit may jeopardize future PennPAT and MAAF funding.