ArtsSmarts I
Arts Integration Development Grant
Guidelines & Criteria
Deadline: Applications may be received any time for projects in the current school year. The application and all supporting material must be submitted together at least 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the project.
Purpose of the program
ArtsSmarts I serves as an initiation to the process of learning through art. ArtsSmarts I grants offer the opportunity to develop skills, capacity, and confidence in using an art form as a tool for exploration and learning. These explorations are short-term and collaborative. Projects involve one artist and one or more educators.
Grants will not exceed $1,000 for projects involving one artist in one school.
The program aims to achieve the following goals:
- to encourage artists and teachers to work in partnership to develop and plan for ways to integrate the arts into the teaching of subjects such as Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science
- to provide opportunities for artists to share their expertise and explore arts methods with educators
- to provide teachers with professional development in arts-based learning
Eligible applicants
- Any school in the Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth listing may apply.
- Teaching artists must be practising, professional artists who currently reside in or near the school’s community. A professional artist is someone who has specialized training in the field (academic or experience), who is recognized as such by his/her peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), and who has a history of public presentation or publication.
- Artists involved in ArtsSmarts projects work independently of the school administration; they are not members of staff at the time of the project.
- Adult learning organizations, after-school programs, and nursery schools are not eligible to apply.
Eligible projects
Nature of Projects: Artists and educators work together, through brainstorming and planning sessions, technical workshops and/or classroom experiences, to discover how the artist’s specific discipline may serve as a tool for creative, hands-on learning of core curriculum. Examples of activities are:
- consultation sessions between artists and educators
- exploratory development of arts-integrated learning activities in other curricula by artist-educator teams
- in-house professional development for educators
- short-term projects with students and teachers
Project Length and Schedule: Projects can consist of one or multiple sessions with the artist. This can occur at any time between September and May of the school year. Educators and artists should prepare a tentative schedule together to include with the application.
Arts Integration: Projects must demonstrate the integration of arts activities into other curriculum areas. Cross-curricular themes are encouraged; for example, media education, Aboriginal studies, multiculturalism, etc.
Eligible costs
- Artists are to be paid at a rate of $50/hour. This includes all aspects of the exploration, including planning/brainstorming meetings with teachers, professional development sessions, and contact time in the classroom.
- Release time for teachers for planning meetings and professional development, if provided, should appear in the budget as part of the school’s contribution.
- Purchase of materials and equipment rental that are necessary to the project, such as clay, paints, wood, software, etc., may not exceed 10% of total budget.
Ineligible costs
- Travel and accommodations. Artists are expected to live in reasonable proximity to the school. If mileage is to be paid by the school, it should appear in the budget as part of the school’s contribution.
- Capital purchases of major equipment such as computers, cameras, kilns, drums.
Application procedure
A telephone consultation prior to preparing an application is recommended. A consultation will clarify any information required and advise you as to the eligibility of your proposal. If you do not receive acknowledgement within two weeks of submitting your application, please contact the office.
Prior to applying for project support:
- Identify a project coordinator on staff to manage schedules, communication, and project funds.
- Select an artist in your community who is interested in exploring the potential of arts integration.
- Develop a project proposal, in consultation with the artist.
An application form is attached. Submission of a complete application that has sufficient information and is clear and concise is the responsibility of the school.
Approval process
The submission of a request does not guarantee that the school will be awarded project support.
All ArtsSmarts I project proposals are assessed by the Manitoba Arts Council using the following criteria:
- the artistic and educational merit of the proposal
- the background and expertise of the professional artist in relation to this project
- the opportunities for professional development for educators
- the ability of the school, in partnership with the artist, to carry out the proposal (i.e. to provide appropriate support such as space, materials, meeting time)
Decisions are usually announced within three weeks of the application submission. Schools that are awarded project support will be sent a Funding Agreement to be signed and returned to the Manitoba Arts Council. Any changes to the project schedule must be by mutual agreement of the school and the artist, and must be promptly communicated to the Manitoba Arts Council.
Reporting requirements
Upon completion of the project, the project coordinator will submit a Final Report, which includes a narrative and the Financial Information Form (same form as Financial Information Form attached to this application) with the Final Report Actuals column completed.
Information for awarded applicants
It is the joint responsibility of the applicant to report promptly any project cancellations. Major changes to projects, such as substituting a different artist, are subject to the approval of the Manitoba Arts Council. Applicants who default on a project may not be eligible for participation in the program the following year.
In the event a grant is awarded, the name of the applicant and the amount of the award will be made public in Manitoba Arts Council’s Annual Report, and on its website.
Acknowledgement of the support provided by the ArtsSmarts program must be included in publicity materials. The ArtsSmarts logo can be downloaded from the website (www.artssmartsmanitoba.ca) for this purpose.
Contact
Please direct any questions to:
Lisa Desilets
ArtsSmarts Coordinator
Tel: (204) 945-2670
Email: ldesilets@artscouncil.mb.ca
or
Susan Israel
Arts Education Manager
Tel: (204) 945-5102
Email: sisrael@artscouncil.mb.ca