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The following section is intended to give specific help in filling out the Artist Enrichment 2008 application, answering the questions in the Description of Proposed activities, and helping you to prepare all of the materials that make up a complete application. A checklist of items that comprise a complete application are listed on the Application, but they are listed here, also, for your convenience. This section of the Additional Information will explain in detail the application form, the description of proposed activities, the budget, biographical statement, work sample, and the two letters of recommendation.

A Complete Application Includes:

Original and three copies (4 copies total) of:

• application form
• description of activities (up to 4 pages)
• budget (on a separate page)
• biographical statement

Work samples (Two copies for literary applicants, one copy for visual, media, and performing applicants )

Two letters of recommendation

_______________________________________________________

The criteria that the reviewers really do use to assess all of the application materials are:

1. Artwork in sample is strong, highly original, and reflects feminism and social change.
2. Description of proposed activities and work sample demonstrate applicant’s understanding and practice of feminism.
3. Application and work sample demonstrate a clear understanding of the relationship between art and social change.
4. Proposed activities will further applicant’s development as a feminist social change artist.
5. Work plan, timeline, and budget are clear, detailed, and realistic.
6. Applicant’s ability to complete the proposed activities is clearly shown.

A word of advice: It takes a lot of time and energy to think through your activities and complete the application. Be sure to start early to give yourself plenty of time to make your application as strong as possible. Once you have written the description of proposed activities and have assembled your materials, you could consider showing your application and work sample to a friend or colleague who will be able to give you constructive feedback on your application materials. Ask this person to look at your application with KFW criteria in mind, and give you feedback for potential revisions.

* Partner Applicants and Organizations should see Notes for Partner Applicants and Notes for Organizations

Fill out the Application Form

Write a Description of Proposed Activities

Prepare a Budget

Compose a Biographical Statement

Submit a Current Work Sample

Include Two Letters of Recommendation

Notes For Partner Applicants

Notes For Organizations

_______________________________________________________

For Individuals and Organizations:

Fill out your name, mailing address, contact information, whether you have received KFW funding in the past, how many years you’ve resided in KY (for individuals only—organizations should answer year organization founded in the next section), the county (not country) in which you currently reside, and how you found out about KFW.

_______________________________________________________

Amount of this request is the amount of money you are requesting from KFW in this grant application. The Total Budget is the total amount of money that it will take to complete the proposed activities. In most cases, the total budget will be larger than the amount of the request to KFW, since many activities will have additional sources of funding. KFW is rarely able to support the full costs of any project. _______________________________________________________

Section for Organizations Only : Organizations should fill out the name and contact information of the primary contact person for this grant, the year the organization was founded, the geographic area served and the organization’s mission statement or founding purpose.

_______________________________________________________

Circle the art form that best describes this project.

Please circle the ONE art form that represents the strength of this application. Your choice determines the review panel to which your application is assigned. If your project or activities involve more than one art form, please choose the form in which you think your application and/or work sample is the strongest.

_______________________________________________________

Demographic Information

This information is optional. By providing this information, you help KFW ensure that the grant program is accessible to a wide range of individuals.

Individuals : Please circle the most appropriate responses for you in each category.

Organizations: Please circle the most appropriate responses for the artist(s) involved in the proposed activities.

2. Write a Description of Proposed Activities
Please submit a written description that addresses the questions below. Clearly describe what you want to do and how it advances KFW’s mission of feminism and social change by answering the questions below. The description should be no more than four pages long.

The questions in the application are intended to mirror the criteria that the reviewers will use to assess the applications and the work samples. The questions give you an opportunity to address what the reviewers will look for in a strong application, according to KFW criteria.

a. Summary: In one or two sentences, summarize the Artist Enrichment activities proposed and their intended outcome. In this brief summary, be sure to explain the relationship of these art activities to feminism and social change.

This summary is very important. The summary should describe the activities you plan to undertake while simultaneously showing their importance for feminism and social change. For example, you might say:

Grant funds will be used…

to participate in workshops and rent studio space for 5 months to create art quilts for juried exhibitions to widen the perception of what it means to be an African American feminist quilter in Kentucky.

to develop a public art performance in a downtown Louisville storefront window which will create a new outlook on the role of feminist art in the KY community and beyond.

to complete and market a body of work combining techniques of embroidery, quilting, jewelry making, beading, and collage, to express the grieving process over the death of a partner and examine the feminist, social, cultural, and humanistic impact of coping with the death of a loved one.

to continue a photography and oral history project that explores the struggles and successes of women farmers in Kentucky.

to create and display a series of large-scale portraits revealing the beauty of elderly Kentucky women, revealing each woman's courage, strength, and character.

to rewrite and edit a novel that explores the value of generational history, passed from a Kentucky woman to her great-granddaughter, which helps the young woman understand the importance of becoming a strong woman.

b. Give a clear, detailed, and realistic description of the Artist Enrichment activities proposed. Clearly describe what you want to do, including a timeline, work plan and how the activities relate to your budget request.

This is a detailed description of what you will actually do. This section can give background information that addresses why you want to undertake these activities. Grant Reviewers will look at this section to determine if the activities proposed seem realistic in the time frame outlined. The work plan and timeline do not have to be formally presented, but the writing should clearly describe what you plan do in a specified amount of time. This section will be strongest if you are clear, detailed, and realistic in your plan.

c. Explain your understanding and practice of feminism, and the feminist nature of your artwork. * Please see comments on feminism and social change in Thinking About Applying.

This question gives you the opportunity to address how the work sample submitted reflects feminism, one of the key criteria that the reviewers will use to assess the applications.

KFW recognizes feminism as a dynamic force for social change that varies across age, ethnicity, economic class, geography, sexuality, and other differences. For this reason, KFW does not promote a single definition of feminism but encourages grant applicants to describe their own understanding and practice of feminism.

d. Describe your understanding of the relationship between art and social change. Briefly describe the work sample submitted, and how it is related to social change and to the proposed activities. * Please see comments on feminism and social change in Thinking About Applying.

Again, this question gives you the opportunity to address how the work sample submitted reflects social change, one of the key criteria that the reviewers will use to assess the applications. In this section, you can discuss how art can affect social change, how your art specifically can affect social change, and the kind of social change you would like to see inspired by your art.

The KFW Board of Directors has defined positive social change outcomes as: eliminating societal barriers to women; neutralizing discrimination against women based on age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, education, economic condition, and geographic origin; and producing actions, conditions, policies, attitudes and behaviors that benefit women.

e. Explain your artistic development thus far. How will the proposed activities further your development as a feminist social change artist?

The Artist Enrichment program is about developing your artistic skills to have a larger social change impact. This question should address where you are now in your development as a feminist social change artist, and how the activities you propose will help you to develop as a feminist artist advancing social change.

f. What are your goals for the proposed activities? What kind of impact do you want to make, both immediate and long-term. How will you assess this impact?

These questions give you an opportunity to outline your goals for yourself and for your work before you begin your proposed activities, and the impact that achieving your goals will make on yourself and/or on the community.

Impact: What will happen as a result of your work? The Impact should describe the overall effect that your proposed art activities will have on you and/or the community.

Documentation: evidence-gathering methods that highlight impact.

Possible Examples of ways to measure Impact

• Material products and works of art
• Bibliographies reflecting research
• Interviews (ex: based on questions concerning your work)
• Responses from community members, artists and partners
• (comment cards and anecdotal records), if applicable
• Conversations with collaborators on a regular basis (records of conversations)
• Evaluation forms from artists and others
• Records of attendance, if applicable
• Personal correspondence – emails and thank you cards (for information and promotional quotes)
• Correspondence with partners, community organizations, legislators, and others
• Photographs, videotapes, and/or audiotapes of exhibitions, and performances
• Correspondence with partners, community organizations, legislators, and others
• Announcements/publications about exhibitions, performances, civic events, and book
• reviews
• Press releases - newspapers and websites
• Articles in newspapers, websites, publications, etc.

For example, if you apply to complete a series of paintings about mountaintop removal, the goal might be to complete ten paintings. The immediate impact might be that you developed your painting skills while working on these paintings, and that you established yourself as an artist in your community by being able to have a solo exhibit of your work. Your long-term impact might be that people see your work and are inspired to act to stop mountaintop removal. Documentation could be numbers of people who view your work, notes or comments received, or media attention as a result of your work, etc.

Another example might be: if you apply to attend a writing residency, your goal might be to complete a two week residency where you would work on your manuscript about [some feminist issue]. An immediate impact could be a new dedication to yourself as an artist and increased skills and understanding of character development in your work. Another immediate impact might be that you receive constructive feedback from other writers at the residency about your work. A long term impact could be that your manuscript is strengthened to the point where you’re ready to seek publication, you are published, and people read and are inspired by your work.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Description of Proposed Activities:

How can I strengthen my Description?

The more clearly you can explain what you want to do, how you intend to do it, and with whom or where you intend to work, the better. Include as much specific information relating to your activities as possible. Don’t assume that those reading your application will be able to read between the lines. Just try to be organized in your thinking and writing, so that your application will give those reading your application a full picture of what you want to do or create and why.

Do I need a statement of commitment if I’m requesting funds to work with a teacher, an outside artist, or a residency center?

A statement of commitment is not required, but you may include it in your application materials if your proposed activities are dependant on the involvement of an outside person or place. For instance, if you are applying to work with a director or mentor, a statement of commitment from that person could be useful so that the reviewers know that the person has agreed to proposed work sessions. If you do include a statement of commitment, be sure that it is not confused with a letter of recommendation. The statement should address the person’s commitment to the activities named in the application rather than the potential quality of your art or your ability to complete the proposed activities.

What font size should I use? How big should my margins be?

KFW does not have any regulations relating to font size, margins, or spacing. However, your application will be strengthened if it is well organized and can be easily read.

3. Prepare a Budget
Please submit your budget on a separate page. It should detail both income and expenses. Expenses can include artist fees, materials, travel, and other items. Income should include your KFW grant request and also other grants, donations, and in-kind contributions.

The budget is a key aspect of your application. Reviewers refer to your budget when recommending funding amounts for awarded grants. KFW funds should be primarily used for art activities that will enhance your abilities and skills that will help you develop as a feminist social change artist. If your total budget exceeds maximum KFW funding, indicate how KFW funds will be spent and how you will obtain the remaining funds. Reviewers appreciate seeing that you have other support for the activities, whether as cash or in-kind donations, as it shows more evidence of the ability to complete the proposed activities.

Individuals and organizations should include artists’ fees, which represent the time the artist spends carrying out the proposed work. Artists’ fees should be designated as a daily or hourly rate. KFW recognizes that artists’ fees vary widely, so your application will be stronger if you explain how you arrived at the amount of artists’ fees requested. In calculating artists’ fees, please think realistically about levels of compensation based on comparable work in other fields.

How do I determine my artist fees?

This is a difficult question, and each artist does it differently. There are two general ways to approach your artist fee: 1) think about how much you actually need to complete the project; or 2) look at what other artists in your field earn. In the first way, you would want to consider your living expenses and your current salary and figure out exactly how much you’ll need to sustain yourself during the time you’re working on the proposed project. In the second scenario, find out how much artists in your field make in Kentucky, then consider your own level of experience and training. The most important thing is to make a note in your budget explaining how you arrived at the amount of artist fees.

Should I request the full $7,500?

Request only what you think you will realistically need to accomplish your proposed activities. The more realistic and specific your budget, the stronger your application. Also, bear in mind that very few applicants are awarded full funding.

What else should I include in my budget?

Art supplies and materials should be clearly shown as a line item in your budget, as should other arts-related costs, such space rental. Also, since reaching the community is an important part of social change art, you should include money for announcements, flyers, press releases, or other forms of outreach for your work, if appropriate. Also be sure to include income from other individuals, grants, or community members and specifically how KFW funds will be spent.

How do I calculate mileage for travel?

This is up to you. Many grantees use the Kentucky state government rate, which changes quarterly and is currently $0.49 per mile.   

Sample Budgets

The following are Sample Artist Enrichment Budgets. It doesn’t matter what format you use, but the important thing to remember is to itemize all of your expenses, show where your income comes from, indicate how KFW funds will be spent, and ensure that the Total Expenses matches the Total Income.

Sample Budget #1: To Complete a Film

Sample Budget #2: To Participate in a Writing Residency or Workshop

Sample Budget #3: To Produce a Performance

Sample Budget #4: To Create New Paintings

4. Compose a Biographical Statement

On a separate page, include a statement describing your past artistic and/or activist accomplishments, current work, and future goals. Include information that is relevant to your application and shows experiences that relate to the goals you are proposing. The statement can include artistic, personal, educational, and job-related experiences.

Like the Leeway Foundation*, we do not ask for a resume on purpose: we want you to thoughtfully share only relevant information about your art and social change work. This section should provide a sense of your past art and social change work, your approach to your work, and its impact. We also value work and experiences that are often not included in traditional resumes. We know that varied experiences are important in art for social change.

Please describe work that is related to your activities or project. If you do not have direct experience, please provide information that shows how your work has led you to this point. All experiences should be related to your art and social change work in some way. Experiences can be artistic, personal, political, educational or job-related.

Keep in mind that this is the only information that the reviewers will receive about you to determine your talent as an artist, other than your work sample.  Please also note that if you receive an award, KFW may use this bio in our publicity materials, including our website and our newsletter.  

* The Leeway Foundation is KFW’s sister organization that funds feminist social change artists in the Philadelphia area (www.leeway.org).

5. Submit a Current Work Sample

The work sample is a crucial part of the application. Samples should be strong, highly original, and reflect feminism and social change. Reviewers appreciate seeing work that is directly related to the proposed activities, and that is presented in a way that best reveals the power of your art form.

Because artistic quality is the primary criterion for all KFW grants, your work sample is the most important element of your application. The review panels respond most positively to samples that are recent, skillfully done, directly related to the proposed activities, and that reflect feminist social change. For KFW purposes, a work sample should not be representative of all your past work but rather a sampling of your work most relevant to your application. The work sample should show your best work, presented well. Provide enough for the reviewers to assess it fairly, but not so much that they’re overwhelmed.

Because the work sample should directly illustrate your ability to complete the proposed activities, submit a sample that shows as nearly as possible what the final project will be. If this is not possible, you might consider submitting sketches or plans to supplement your work sample. If you are making work in a new area, submit a sample of new and past work.

If you are seeking funding for multiple disciplines, it is best to submit work samples in all of those areas. The following guidelines indicate the maximum amount of artwork to include. Please do not send more than is requested. Print your name on each page, slide, photograph, CD, or tape of the work samples you submit.

Amount of work samples:

• 15-20 pages of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or a script.
• 10-12 photographs or slides, each labeled with the title of the work. You may also choose to provide a CD of 10-12 digital images. Please include printouts of digital images. For all visual media, include a list that shows the date, artistic medium, and size of each piece.
• 10-12 tracks on a CD or audiocassette. Include written lyrics.
• 15 minutes of material on a video or DVD. Please ensure that videos are cued.

Number of copies: If you are applying in the Literary category, please include two copies of all work samples submitted. If you are applying in the Visual, Performing, or Media categories, please submit one copy of all work samples.

Size restrictions: For logistical reasons, KFW cannot accept work samples that are larger than 11 x 17, although 8.5 x 11 is preferred. Please do not submit work samples or applications in binders, as these cannot be sent to the reviewers.

KFW will make every effort to protect your work samples but cannot be responsible for loss or damage. KFW will not keep your work samples after the grant review is complete. If you would like your work returned to you, please enclose a sufficiently stamped, self-addressed envelope with your application. Please do not submit original artwork as your sample.

How can I strengthen my work sample?

The work sample is critical, because grant reviewers assess the sample’s quality as the first criterion in deciding about your application. Therefore, we recommend that you choose work that is strong, relatively recent (nothing older than 5 years), and directly related to the project you are proposing. Grant reviewers understand that if you are embarking on something totally new, you may not have an example to show them – but you should be able to include a sample that at least “points in the direction” of the work you are aspiring to do. Because KFW asks for samples that are highly original, reviewers appreciate seeing your own original work rather than artwork created as a class assignment or for other educational purposes. If you are seeking funding for multiple disciplines, it is best to submit work in all of those areas.

Is it okay to submit a work sample of work-in-progress?

Yes. It is best to submit a work sample that shows your skill AND is directly related to the proposed activities.

6. Include Two Letters of Recommendation

Each application should provide two current letters of recommendation. Partner applicants should submit two letters for each applicant. Please do not send more letters than requested. The two letters combined should address the following: the current or potential quality of your art, your commitment to feminism, your understanding of social change, and a realistic assessment of your ability to complete the activities you are proposing.

Your letters of recommendation may come from: other artists, teachers, activists, co-workers, or colleagues familiar with your art. The purpose of the letters of recommendation is to have an outside perspective speaking of you and your work. Reviewers find letters of recommendation strongest if they come from people who are not family members and who would not benefit financially from the grant if funded.

To whom should my letters be addressed?

Keep in mind that KFW staff do not make funding decisions. Since a team of independent reviewers reads and evaluates each application, and sends funding recommendations to the KFW Board of Directors for final approval, you can address your letters of recommendation to the Review Panel.

How can I strengthen my letters of recommendation?

Be sure to choose people who know your work, understand your project, and can speak in a detailed way to your artistic abilities and your ability to complete the project. Give your recommenders plenty of time to write your letter because the stronger the letter of recommendation, the stronger the application.

Do letters of recommendation have to arrive with the application?

Notes For Partner Applicants

Individual artists and organizations submitting applications for the same project will be considered together. Collaborative partners should also apply together.

If two people are collaborating, what materials does each need to submit?

The collaborators should each submit an application form. Also, each partner should submit a work sample, and a summary of art experience, and 2 letters of recommendation. All of the other elements should address the project itself and need only be submitted once. The application should clearly define the role and contributions of each partner, and the budget should reflect how each partner will be compensated.

1. Application Form

Partner applicants should make a copy of the form and submit one form for each applicant.

2. Description of Proposed Activities

This can be submitted jointly, since you are working on these activities together. The description should clearly define the role and contributions of each partner.

3. Budget

This can be submitted jointly, since you are working on these activities together. The budget should reflect how each partner will be compensated.

4. Biographical Statement

Partner Applicants should submit a biographical statement for each applicant, and a statement about past collaborative work, if applicable.

5. Work Samples

If you are seeking funding for multiple disciplines, it is best to submit work samples in all of those areas. Partner applicants should submit work samples from each partner, or an example of past collaborative work. Samples should be strong, highly original, reflect feminism and social change, and directly related to the proposed activities.

6. Letters of Recommendation

Partner applicants should submit two letters for each applicant .

Notes For Organizations

Individual artists and organizations based in Kentucky may apply. Organizations must be non-business entities who are engaging in an artist-centered project. Organizations should also be aware that KFW rarely supports general operating costs or ongoing projects.

1. Application Form

Organizations should fill out all sections on the application form. On the top section, you may ignore the question that asks, “KY Resident for ___ years.” On the demographic information, please circle the most appropriate responses for the artist(s) involved in the proposed activities.

2. Description of Proposed Activities

The description of proposed activities should address how the organization’s mission and the proposed activities for this grant relate to feminism and social change. The description should also demonstrate that the project is artist-driven.

3. Budget

The budget should outline how KFW funds will be spent. It should include all project expenses and artist fees and other grants and funding sources.

4. Biographical Statement

The biographical statement should address the art experience of the lead artist involved in the project. If your organization has been involved with artistic or social change projects in the past, you may also submit a summary of these experiences.

5. Work Samples

The work sample should come from the lead artist or artists involved with the proposed activities. If you are seeking funding for multiple disciplines, it is best to submit work samples in all of those areas. Samples should be strong, highly original, reflect feminism and social change, and directly related to the proposed activities.

6. Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation should address both the organization and the involved artist’s work. Reviewers appreciate letters of recommendation that come from someone outside of the organization applying, someone who can offer an outside perspective on the organization and its work, and also on the artist(s) involved in the proposed activities.