ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES ACCESS PROGRAM

Professional Development Support for Artists with Disabilities

Artists provide the imagination and creativity that fuels cultural vitality in small and large communities throughout Ohio. Developing an artistic career is a long-term process that requires various types of assistance at different times. The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) recognizes that artists with disabilities often face unique challenges to advancing their artistic practice. The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP) provides funding that enables artists with disabilities the resources to further their artistic development. The OAC believes that the creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building vibrant, dynamic communities throughout Ohio. Artists with disabilities present a unique vision that encourages individuals and communities to see themselves and others in new ways.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applications are due on the second Friday of each month. The grant activity may start no sooner than six weeks after the application deadline.

WHAT THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS

The Artists with Disabilities Access Program provides support to individual artists with disabilities to engage in activities that will help them advance their artistic practice, develop their career, or move to a higher level of artistic development. Funds are available for a variety of activities, materials and services.

Allowable Expenses

• Attendance or presentation at a conference, class or workshop, including costs for travel and/or the services of an assistant;
• Mentorship by another artist or arts organization;
• Rental of studio space or art equipment;
• A planning process with a consultant or agent to develop business skills;
• Purchase of art supplies or equipment (e.g., frames, cameras, CDs) up to $500;
• Payment of fees for professional services (e.g., an assistant, marketing) especially those leading to a performance, exhibition or publication;
• Travel related to a performance, exhibition or publication or for attendance at conferences, classes or workshops;
• Auxiliary aids or services that facilitate engagement in artistic activities at a deeper or higher level.

Grant Awards
Applicants may request up to $500. Applicants do not need to show a cash match.

WHO MAY APPLY

Creative and performing artists who have a disability and are residents of Ohio may apply to this program. The OAC uses the definition of disability contained in Sec. 12102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-325), which became effective on January 1, 2009. This Act is available online at http://www.ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants to the Artists with Disabilities Access Program must:

• Be an Ohio resident. The OAC defines an Ohio resident as someone who spends at least eight months of the year living and working in Ohio.
• Not be a student enrolled in any degree- or certificate-granting program.
• Have exhibited, performed or published work within the past five years.

Grant recipients must remain an Ohio resident during the grant period.

Additional Eligibility Information
The following makes an application ineligible for ADAP funding:

• Equipment or supplies not related to the production or presentation of creative works;
• More than one grant in a fiscal year;
• More than two grants in three fiscal years.

Please refer to the Funding Restrictions section of OAC Guidelines for a list of activities the OAC cannot fund.

HOW TO APPLY

Artists interested in applying to the Artists with Disabilities Access Program are strongly encouraged to contact the OAC accessibility coordinator via telephone at 614/995-5440 or through the Ohio Relay Service at 1-800-750-0750 to initiate the application process. If necessary, accommodations in the application process will be made.

Prior to applying for funding through this program, the applicant is encouraged to discuss their proposed application with the OAC Accessibility Coordinator to determine the most appropriate activities and resources for professional development.

Applications to the Artists with Disabilities Access program may be submitted via the OAC OnLine Grant Application system (OLGA) or via paper application. If an artist prefers to handwrite the application, he/she can contact the OAC accessibility coordinator via telephone at 614/995-5440 or through the Ohio Relay Service at 1-800-750-0750 to request a paper application. Additional directions for applying are included in both the online application form and the paper application form.

Applications may be submitted throughout the year and funds are awarded on a first-come first-served basis as long as funds are available, beginning with the start of the fiscal year (July 1).

Applicants should submit their application before the second Friday of the month. If the application is submitted after the second Friday of the month, the application will not be reviewed until the following month.

Applicants should be aware that the application may take four to six weeks to process, so grant activities should start no less than six weeks after the application is submitted.

Support Materials

To complete their application for this program, all applicants must submit one complete set of support materials to the OAC along with work samples. Applications that do not include support materials will not be accepted.

The following support materials are necessary to review an application:

1) Artist Resume or Professional Biography. A list of exhibitions, performances or publications in the past five years must be included with the resume or biography.
2) At Least One Letter of Support for the Artist. A letter of support must be from someone who is knowledgeable about the artist and his or her work. This letter can be submitted by a family member, friend, employer, owner of space that has exhibited or presented the artist's work or other community member close to the artist.
3) Work Samples. The artist must submit samples of his or her own work (DVDs, VHS tapes, audio cassettes, audio CDs, digital CDs, color slides or photographs) demonstrating artistic quality and technical ability.
4) Publicity Samples. (OPTIONAL) If the artist has print pieces publicizing his or her work, such as brochures, newspaper and magazine articles, exhibition catalogues and programs, these items may also be submitted.
5) Materials from proposed class, conference or workshop. (IF APPLICABLE)
6) Resume of proposed teacher, consultant or assistant. (IF APPLICABLE)

For online applications submitted through OLGA, a signature page and support materials must be received in the OAC office within seven calendar days of the deadline date. If the signature page and support materials do not reach the OAC within this timeframe, the application will not be reviewed.

For paper applications submitted through the mail, a signature page and support materials should be mailed with the application. If these items are not mailed with the application, the signature page and support materials must be received in the OAC office within seven calendar days after the application is received in the OAC office. If the signature page and support materials do not reach the OAC within this timeframe, the application will not be reviewed.

Timeline

The timeline below presents a general outline of the grant process for the Artists with Disabilities Access Program.

Evaluation and Scoring

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of OAC staff members. These reviews are not open to the public; however, the OAC accessibility coordinator will report any panel comments about the application to the artist if requested. Following the review, each application will be given a funding recommendation based on how well the application meets the review criteria. This funding recommendation will be presented to the OAC executive director and deputy director for their review and approval. The review process is competitive; not all applications are funded.

Review Criteria

A competitive application will show that the project meets the criteria described below. Evidence should be demonstrated through the components of the grant application, including application question responses and support materials. Applications will be evaluated in four categories: Artistic/Educational/Cultural Value, Community Participation and Accessibility, Planning, and Financial Management.

Applications will be evaluated according to how well they meet these criteria:

Artistic/Educational/Cultural Value
The highest score for this category is 10 points.

• Applicant demonstrates competency in his or her art form.
• Applicant shows commitment to advancing his or her knowledge of the art form.

Community Participation and Accessibility
The highest score for this category is 10 points.

• Applicant shares art form with general community (teaches classes, sells works or appears at community events).
• Applicant breaks barriers to participation for artists with disabilities.

Planning
The highest score for this category is 10 points.

• Applicant has established a logical and feasible plan for artistic activity.
• Applicant's plan will serve to advance his or her artistic career.

Financial Management
The highest score for this category is 10 points.

• Application budget is complete and realistic.
• Application budget supports applicant's goals for activity.