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The Brookline Commission for the Arts awards grants on an annual basis. As a Local Community Council (LCC) to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), we administer and award grants to artists and arts organizations based on a yearly allocation of funds from the MCC. We fund projects in literature, music, theatre, and the graphic and plastic arts, including publication, performance, exhibition, or education that contribute to the cultural life of Brookline. These LCC grants fall into two primary categories:
Brookline Community Awards
Grants to fund projects to enhance the educational and/or cultural experience of Brookline residents.
– Applicants for Brookline community awards must be familiar with the community’s particular needs and interests. Organizations applying for grants must support Brookline-based audiences, artists or art groups.
Dissemination Grants
Grants to Brookline artists with a body of completed work for funds to defray the expense of publishing, exhibiting, or performing their work.
– Projects involving dissemination of artistic production must contribute to the standing of Brookline artists in the larger cultural community
All applications must demonstrate a high standard of quality and creativity. The Brookline Commission for the Arts supports cultural opportunity and/or diversity in the arts, humanities, or interpretive science—the explanation of scientific subjects in a cultural setting.
Grant Guidelines
Applications
Eligibility
Funding
Criteria Used in Evaluating Applications
Other General Guidelines
Application Procedure
After the Application Has Been Submitted
If You Are Awarded a Grant
Important Dates
Checklist for Grant Applications
Applications
Please visit the Massachusetts Cultural Council's web site to download, fill-in and print the LCC Grant application.
The LCC application is available online both as an MS-Word document and as a PDF file. Both versions can be filled in and saved to your computer. You must have the latest version of Adobe Reader to view, fill-in and print the application.
Eligibility
Preference will be given to Brookline-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and to local individuals who work in the arts or humanities.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have been engaged for at least two years in the kind of activity for which they are seeking funds, as evident in public exhibition and performance, reviews, and documentation of peer support.
Funding
Should you win an award, the funding will be awarded by reimbursement. This means that you will not receive a check with the letter notifying you of the award, but will need to submit original receipts to the Brookline Commission for the Arts Administrator for the expenditures described on your application budget for your grant.
If the grant is to defray expenses of publishing, exhibiting, or performing a finished work, you can request a letter from the Brookline Commission for the Arts stating that funds for the specified amount are available for this purpose. This letter may be presented to a non-profit publisher, gallery, theater, concert producer, etc.
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Criteria Used in Evaluating Applications
| Cultural Impact |
Projects involving local performance, exhibition, or education must contribute to the cultural life of Brookline. Applicants must be familiar with the community’s particular needs and interests. Projects involving dissemination of artistic production must contribute to the standing of Brookline artists in the larger cultural community. |
| Potential |
The project must demonstrate a high standard of quality and creativity. It must provide cultural opportunity and/or diversity in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences. It must support Brookline-based artists or art groups. |
| Quality |
The applicant is expected to produce a high quality project as evidenced by resumes, references, support letters, press reviews, etc. |
| Audience |
Applicants are encouraged to design their projects to reach diverse and underserved audiences. |
| Plan of work |
Objectives of the project and the strategy for implementation should be sharply defined, clearly stated, and capable of realization on a feasible schedule. |
| Narrative and timing |
In up to two pages, provide an in-depth description of the project and a detailed timeline for how the project will transpire. Include planning and follow-up activities, project events and activities, and marketing and promotion plans. |
| Uniqueness |
If funding for similar projects has been received in the past, include a brief explanation, not exceeding one page, describing how the current grant differs. |
| Budget |
The budget should be appropriate in terms of the scope and anticipated results of the project. If additional funds are needed to complete the project, plans for securing them should be in place. On a separate page, provide a detailed breakdown of the project expenses. |
| Impact of the Award |
It is desirable that the project be able to go forward with partial funding. Budget cuts at the MCC may limit the amount of money we can distribute, and the Commissioners may decide to fund more grants with partial support rather than a few grants with complete support. |
Note: The BCA does not provide scholarships, or grants for general subsidies for the purchase of permanent equipment.
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Other General Guidelines
The project must happen within the next calendar year of formal notification by the Brookline Commission for the Arts.
The project budget must balance; that is, expenses must equal expected revenues. “In kind” contributions (of time, supplies, rent, etc.) are considered legitimate sources of income. To view a sample application budget and definitions that explain, line by line, what each part of the budget should contain, click here.
Here are the rest of the LCC Program guidelines.
Contact our office by voice mail at 617-730-2135 or
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with any questions.
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Application Procedure
Complete grant applications must be received at the Brookline Selectmen’s Office, Town Hall, 333 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445. Mailed applications need to be postmarked by October 15th, 2010. Emailed applications need to be received before midnight on October 15th, 2010.
Should you send a paper application, all information must be typed or legibly printed within the space provided. An original and two photocopies of this form (both sides) must be included.
The following material must accompany the application, or it will be deemed incomplete and ineligible:
- Samples of your creative work in the area of your proposed project (slides—10 maximum; videos, ½” VHS format—2 maximum; photographs—10 maximum; cassettes and scores—2 maximum; written materials—books, manuscripts—no more than 2 of each). Submission of work that has been required by a course of study or a teacher is not recommended.
- Evidence of your having worked in your field for at least two years, such as a resume or a letter from a professional in the field.
- Two letters of support for your project from professionals in your field.
- For Brookline Community Awards: A community support letter showing that a Brookline organization has agreed to support your work, sponsor your project, host your concert, etc. Place(s) and date(s) must be specified.
- Two self-addressed stamped envelopes. One is to notify you whether we approved your application for funding. The other is to inform you of other events or details pertaining to your grants at a later date.
- Organizations must attach a copy of the IRS 501 (c) (3) letter that certifies their tax-exempt status.
- Applicants should keep copies of all material submitted. Additional support materials (brochures, reviews, announcements, etc.) may be included with the application.
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Application Review
The Brookline Commission for the Arts meets on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 40 Webster Place, Brookline, MA 02445 from 7 pm to 9 pm to discuss the applications. This meeting is open to the public. Before the application review meeting, Commission members are assigned as liaisons to grant applicants. Liaisons may contact applicants to clarify issues or request additional information; Should you be awarded a grant, the liaison assigned to you will be available to answer any questions you have on reimbursement and on the credit to be given the BCA and the MCC for the award (see below).
You will be informed of the decision by letter within four weeks after the voting meeting.
Some applications may be conditionally approved with a request for modification which the Committee believes would make the project more beneficial to the Brookline community. The funding will be contingent upon this change. Applicants who do not find the request acceptable are under no obligation to complete the project.
Support materials (videos, cassettes, CDs, slides, etc.) will be placed at Brookline Town Hall after December 14, 2010, and will be held there until January 31, 2011. Applicants are responsible for picking up their materials during this time. The Brookline Commission for the Arts takes no responsibility for the return of materials to applicants.
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If You Are Awarded a Grant
All published materials and announcements regarding the project must include the following statement: “This program is supported in part by a grant from the Brookline Commission for the Arts, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.”
You can also publish the logo of the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the logo of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Brookline Commission for the Arts has a banner and a sign for display during performances. Please contact your liaison for information on obtaining the banner/poster.
Failure to give credit to the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council in announcements and published materials may jeopardize your chances of receiving future grants.
A member of the Brookline Commission for the Arts will be assigned to monitor your project throughout its course. This person will be a liaison between you and the Commission and will be available to answer questions or help solve last-minute problems.
Important: You must inform the BCA Administrator,
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of all public events related to your project. Within 30 days of the completion of the project you must submit your original receipts, along with an itemized financial report and a brief narrative of your experience with the project. After Ms. Gleason receives this material, she will begin to process your reimbursement.
Good Luck!
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Important Dates
| By this Date | You Should Do the Following |
| September 21, 2010 |
Deadline for early submission (allowing for notification of incomplete applications). |
| October 15, 2010 |
Final application deadline |
| December 15, 2010 |
Decisions mailed |
| January 1, 2011– December 31, 2011 |
Grant period |
| 10 days from completion of project. |
Final narrative and financial report due. Include original receipts.
Grantees who will be unable to complete their project during the grant period must notify the Commission before the end of the year and propose an alternate completion date. An extension may be approved or the award may be canceled, at the discretion of the Commission. |
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Checklist for Grant Applications
Please download and print the checklist for Grant Applications
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Grants
