THE ARTS IN MEDIA

Grant: The Arts in Media
Agency: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Deadline: September 1, 2011, for projects that may start on May 1, 2012, or any time thereafter.
Due to Hurricane Irene, the NEA is extending the deadline for the Arts in Media category for applicants in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine only. The new deadline for affected states is September 6, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Material that must be mailed directly to the NEA must be postmarked, or show other proof of mailing, no later than September 7, 2011.

Description: The Arts in Media program seeks to make the excellence and diversity of the arts widely available to the American public through every available media platform including television, radio, the internet, interactive and mobile technologies, digital games and satellite. By increasing the accessibility and impact of the arts, NEA aims to strengthen the creativity of the nation.

This grant category replaces The Arts on Radio and Television grant category. The Arts in Media builds on the success of The Arts on Radio and Television. All project types that were previously eligible remain eligible. In addition, the expanded category now includes:

• All available media platforms such as the internet, interactive and mobile technologies, digital games and arts content delivered via satellite, as well as on radio and television.
• Media projects that can be considered works of art.

Grants are available to support the development, production and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts (e.g., visual arts, music dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk and traditional arts, and media arts, including film, audio, animation and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art. The NEA is seeking and will give priority to artistically excellent projects that have the potential to reach a significant national audience, through their primary platform, regardless of the size or geographic location of the applicant organization. Only projects of the highest artistic excellence and merit, in both media production and subject matter, will be funded.

Projects may include high-profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives), media created for theatrical release, performance programs, artistic segments for use within an existing series, multi-part webisodes, installations and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more. Projects may deal with any subject matter or art form, and those targeted to children and youth are welcome.

NEA encourages innovative, entertaining, compelling and artistically crafted media projects that not only increase access to, but also enhance public knowledge and understanding of, the arts. Such projects might be multi-platform or transmedia. They may include the use of radio and television, DVDs, interactive websites, live streaming, audio- and video-on-demand, podcasts, MP3 files, mobile or other digital applications, including games. Projects may include enhancements such as educational materials and/or foster collaborations with arts organizations, educators and community groups. Media distribution to schools and libraries and other substantive public engagement strategies will be given priority.

Engagement will be the primary outcome of all grants awarded under The Arts in Media category. The anticipated results for engagement projects are direct experiences with the arts, including media arts, for the public.

Stations that have applied to The Arts on Radio and Television in the past should take note of the following changes:

• In addition to media projects that can be considered works of art, there are new eligible project types: media created for theatrical release and dramatic narratives about the arts.
• There is a new emphasis on innovation, as well as strengthening creativity through access to the arts.
• In order to reach the widest possible audience, priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including well-articulated social media strategies.
• NEA is encouraging media projects that enhance public knowledge and understanding of the arts through multi-platform or transmedia means.
• There is a change to applicant eligibility: An application for a collaborative project representing a partnership between a media organization and an arts, education or community organization should be submitted by the media organization.

Fit for Public Broadcasting: This program replaces NEA's Arts on Radio and Television program. Public media stations were very successful in the former program and will continue to be competitive under these new guidelines. Stations should understand the changes that NEA has made to the program and be sure that new applications reflect these changes. Under the new guidelines, NEA is emphasizing innovation,  the use of new and different kinds of media and public engagement. Public media stations excel in these areas and should be sure to highlight this expertise in applications.

In 2010, many public media stations were supported through the previous version of this program. Read about them here.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants are nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations, units of state or local government or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes. All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf. Applications through a fiscal agent are not allowed, but partnerships between artists and nonprofit organizations are encouraged. An organization may submit more than one application under these guidelines. Each application to the NEA must be for a distinctly different project.

Anticipated funding: Grants generally will range from $10,000 to $200,000, based on the platform and the complexity and scope of the project. All grants require a nonfederal match of at least one to one.

How to apply: All applicants must have a DUNS number, be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and maintain an active CCR registration until the application process is complete and throughout the life of the award, should a grant be made. Applications must be submitted online via Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline.

Resources:
Program Notice
Watch a brief video presentation and read about the highlights of the new guidelines.
Arts in Media webinars in June, July and August
Recent grants