ArtsSmarts II
Artist Partnership Program for Schools
Guidelines & Criteria

Deadline: February 28 for projects starting the following September to June. The application and all supporting material must be submitted together, by the deadline date.

Purpose of the program

ArtsSmarts II supports arts integration projects in Manitoba schools through long-term collaboration between schools and local artists. Artists and educators work as collaborative teams, using one or more artistic disciplines as a tool for creative, hands-on learning of core curriculum, during the regular school day. Projects can involve one class, several classes, one whole school, or several schools. Projects may involve one or more professional artists.

Grants will not exceed $5,000 for projects involving one artist in one school.

Grants will not exceed $10,000 for projects involving two or more artists in one or more schools.

The program aims to achieve the following goals:

to encourage artists and teachers to work in partnership to integrate the arts into the teaching of subjects such as Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science
to provide in-depth arts experiences, engaging students and teachers in the creative process
to provide teachers with professional development in arts-based learning

Eligible applicants

Projects are intended for students in Kindergarten through Grade 12, and may be class, grade, multi-age or whole-school projects. Any school, group of schools, or school divisions in the Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth listing may apply. In the case of multi-school projects, one primary applicant should be designated to represent all parties. Artists may initiate a project, but the application must be submitted by the host organization.
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 school are not eligible.

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Eligible projects

Project Length and Schedule: Projects can be of any duration between September and May of the school year. Schools and artists should prepare a tentative schedule together to include with the application. The schedule should include appropriate planning periods, artist contact time, and a final debrief session. It is expected that the artist will spend at least ten hours with each group, in order to provide a focussed and valuable experience for all students.

Arts Integration: Projects must demonstrate the integration of arts activities into non-arts-related curriculum areas. Cross-curricular themes are encouraged; for example, media education, Aboriginal studies, multiculturalism, etc.

Professional Development: All teachers and artists who are involved must participate in an orientation session and final debrief meeting. The applicant will ensure that release time and funds are allocated to ensure teacher and artist participation.

Sustainability: The aim is to build long-term partnerships among local professional artists, schools, teachers, and students, and local businesses and organizations.

Community Involvement: Community involvement in projects is encouraged, with parents and other interested volunteers assisting or participating with students. Community art centres, businesses, and local governmental agencies may be called upon to assist in partnering with the student groups and their work (eg. senior high group may work with a landscape architect or a town planning specialist while planning a garden of indigenous plants for a biology course). Schools are encouraged to publicize projects through school newsletters, local newspapers, radio, and television.

Eligible costs

Artists are to be paid at a rate of $50/hour. This includes all aspects of the project, including planning and evaluation meetings with teachers, contact time in the classroom, and professional development.
Initial orientation/planning prior to project start-up: allow 2-4 hours

Interim planning: Allow a maximum of 1 hour for every 10 hours of artist/student contact time
Final debrief involving the teacher and artist: allow 1 hour minimum
In-house professional development: sessions offered by the artists for the educators may be allowed up to a maximum of 10% of total budget
Tax: GST will be added to these fees if the artist has a GST Registration Number with Revenue Canada. Please confirm with the artist whether he/she will be collecting GST

Release time for teachers for planning meetings and professional development should appear in the budget as part of the school’s and/or school division’s contribution.
Purchase of materials and equipment rental that are necessary to the project, such as clay, paints, wood, software: allow up to 10% of total budget.

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Ineligible costs

Travel and accomodations. 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

For first-time applicants, a telephone consultation prior to preparing an application is strongly recommended to 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:

For more information visit the website at www.artssmartsmanitoba.ca.
Identify a project coordinator on staff to manage schedules, communication, and project funds.
Select an artist (or artists) in your community who may be interested in working on an arts integration project, and contact the artist to discuss availability.
Develop a project proposal, in consultation with the artist.

A two-page application form is attached. Applications must be submitted to the Manitoba Arts Council. Submission of a complete application that has sufficient information and is clear and concise is the responsibility of the school.

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Applicants’ responsibilities

Project Coordinator - There must be a designated coordinator from the school. The coordinator will manage project timelines, ensure that all paperwork is completed and submitted as requested, and guarantee timely remuneration for the artist(s) involved. Coordination responsibilities are not eligible for remuneration through ArtsSmarts Manitoba.

The project coordinator is also responsible for:

organizing ongoing orientation, planning, and professional development sessions in cooperation with the ArtsSmarts coordinator
informing the artist of school policies on subject matter, content, language, or dress code before the project begins
sharing information about special needs students
making arrangements with the artist for art supplies, equipment rental, etc.
welcoming the artist as a special guest in the school and the community

Educators - Teachers are legally responsible for their classrooms and the presence of the artist in the classroom does not relieve them of this responsibility. The teacher must be present at all times.

Teachers are also responsible for:

preparing the students for the artist’s visit by presenting related curriculum in advance of the artist’s visits
supporting the artist in creating a climate that encourages students to be actively involved in the project
intervening in the case of specific student behaviour problems
participating in the project by adopting a collaborative teaching approach with the artist. The program aims to involve artists and teachers as well as students in the process of learning through arts-infused activities. By collaborating in the project, teachers serve as role models for risk-taking and trying new approaches to learning
discussing with the artist highlights, strengths, problems, and suggestions for improvement
fulfilling the ArtsSmarts reporting requirements (final debrief)

Artists are responsible for:

complying with the schools’ requests for verification such as criminal records and child abuse registry searches
accepting the role as a partnering specialist throughout the project
meeting with the educators to plan concept/activities/PD sessions
arriving at the school facility prior to the designated activity to set up

Approval process

The granting process is competitive and submission of a request does not guarantee that the school will be awarded project support. All project proposals are assessed and ranked by a panel of educators and artists, using the following criteria:

the educational merit of the proposal; specifically, the degree to which the project connects arts integration with school goals and curriculum objectives
the artistic merit of the proposal; specifically, a demonstration of active, challenging, and creative work within one or more arts disciplines with the potential for student-led inquiry-based learning
the opportunities for professional development for educators that promote a sustainable arts integration practice
the ability of the school, in partnership with the artist, to carry out the proposal
the degree to which the project supports arts-infused collaborative learning in the school and its community

Decisions are generally announced within 10 weeks of the application deadline. 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.

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Reporting requirements

Upon completion of the project, the collaborative team (teacher, artist, and administrator) will complete a Final Debrief Form, which includes a narrative. The project coordinator will complete the Financial Information Form with the Final Report Actuals column completed and submit all documents to the Manitoba Arts Council.

Information for awarded applicants

It is the joint responsibility of the applicant and the artist 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.

All ArtsSmarts program participants agree to provide and permit photo/video-documentation of their project(s) and, from time to time, work with and allow professional researchers (engaged by Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth or by universities) to be present. Signed permission from parents/guardians must be provided for any use of published students’ images.

Acknowledgement of the support provided by the ArtsSmarts program must be included in publicity materials for any events related to the residency. The ArtsSmarts logo can be downloaded from the website (www.artssmartsmanitoba.ca) for this purpose.

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Contact

Please direct any questions to:

Lisa Desilets
ArtsSmarts Coordinator
Tel: (204) 945-2670
Email: ldesilets@artscouncil.mb.ca

Susan Israel
Arts Education Manager
Tel: (204) 945-5102
Email: sisrael@artscouncil.mb.ca

ArtsSmarts II Artist Partnership Program for Schools Guidelines & Criteria