Artists in Queens Grant Guidelines


Grant Amount: $2,500
Per NYSCA Guidelines, the panel will select 15 individual artists to receive this grant.

The application period for 2024 grants is now closed.


PLEASE NOTE: First-time applicants are required to attend an information session before applying. Any one member of an organization or artist group may attend an info session on behalf of their group.  Artists and organizations who have applied in the last three years are not required to attend, although we suggest joining us to learn more about the program and to have your questions answered.

Click here for schedule of Info Sessions


Guidelines in Spanish: Beca 2024 para Artistas de Queens (Apoyo individual para artistas): Pautas
Guidelines in Chinese: 法拉盛⽂藝中⼼ 2024 皇后區藝術家補助 (針對個⼈藝術家的⽀持) 申請說明
Guidelines in Korean: 플러싱 타운홀 2024 퀸즈 예술가 기금 개인 예술가 지원: 신청 지침
 


Application Opens: August 2023
Application Deadline: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 11:59pm ET
Grantee Notification: March 2024
 

Overview

The Artists in Queens Grant supports artists that live in Queens for the creation of new work in a community setting. These grants highlight the role of artists as important members of the community as they enhance the cultural climate in communities and neighborhoods where they live and work. 

Applicants may make only one project request of $2,500. Unincorporated artist groups and collectives may also apply, with a Queens-based artist member acting as the lead applicant for their proposal. 


Successful applications will show how the requested funds will:

  • Strengthen community bonds
  • Increase overall awareness and greater access to cultural activities in Queens
  • Advance the applicant artist’s career
  • Engage with the community 


This program is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

 

 Applicant Eligibility

Artists in Queens Grants are open to Queens-based individual artists to fund the creation of new work that engages the community.

Individual Artist Eligibility
Eligible applicants must:

  • Be a current Queens resident and be able to provide a valid proof of residency.
    • Proof of residency documents may include one of the following:
      • Telephone Bill
      • Credit card or bank statement (first page only; social security and financial information should be blocked)
      • Current lease or mortgage agreement listing the artist’s name and NYS County address
      • NY State Drivers License or ID card
      • Voter Registration Card
      • PO boxes are NOT acceptable
      • All documents must contain the individual’s name and address and documentation must be dated no earlier than two years prior to an application.
  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
  • NOT be enrolled in a degree or certificate program during the grant period. 
    • This includes full-time and part-time students.
  • Artists disciplines can include (but are not limited to):
    • Craft / Textiles (including: ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fiber and mixed media)
    • Community Arts
    • Dance
    • Digital / Electronic Arts (works where technology is an essential element of the work's creation)
    • Film/Video
    • Folk/Traditional Arts (works of traditional folk art and creative and cultural expressions)
    • Interdisciplinary Work
    • Literature (including Poetry and Spoken Word)
    • Music/Sound
    • Puppetry
    • Theater and Performance (including directing, live action and puppetry)
    • Visual Arts


Eligibility for Unincorporated Artist Groups and Collectives

Queens-based unincorporated artist groups and collectives may apply if they designate a Queens-based artist to be the application lead. The application lead must meet all eligibility requirements for individual artists to apply as an individual on behalf of the group.

  • Note: The application lead must be the primary entity responsible for the application, as well as the grant, if awarded.  

The following are NOT eligible to apply to the Community Arts Grant:

  • Applicants that applied directly for NYSCA support in FY24, regardless of the status of their NYSCA application.
  • Applicants that received an Artists In Queens Grant in the previous year.
  • Flushing Town Hall staff or board members.
  • Applicants who have previously failed to submit final reports, or have breached a past cultural contract or any other contract with Flushing Town Hall.


Community Engagement Requirement

Artists In Queens Grant projects must have ​​a community engagement component. The project must engage a segment of the community through a public program, such as an exhibition or performance that is open to the public, and/or the inclusion of community involvement in the development and creative process of the artists’ project. 

While a public presentation satisfies the community engagement requirement, an application may be more competitive should it include the community as part of the development or creative process of the project. This can be in the form of feedback, response, interaction and/or social practice by or with community members. 


Some examples of this type of interaction include (but are not limited to):

  • Interviews with a segment of the community.
  • Creation of parallel work by a community group.
  • Public art making workshops.
  • Artist talk or Q&A with the community.
  • Telling stories and anecdotes collected from a community group that relate to the concept or content of the project. 


If you have any questions about the community engagement requirement for your project, please contact Dan Bamba at dbamba@flushingtownhall.org

Organizations that applied for direct NYSCA support in FY24 cannot serve as an applicant’s partner organization regardless of the status of their NYSCA application. 

 

Project Eligibility

Artists In Queens Grant projects must be the creation of a new work in a community setting. 

Eligible Projects must: 

  • Include a community engagement component, which may consist of:
    • Interaction with the community in the development/creation of the work, such as:
    • Interviews with a segment of the community.
    • Creation of parallel work by a community group.
    • Public art making workshops.
    • Artist talk or Q&A with the community.
    • Telling stories and anecdotes collected from a community group that relate to the concept or content of the project.
  • OR a public presentation/demonstration of the completed work.
    • Note: projects with a more robust engagement activity may be more competitive upon panel review
  • Be held in Queens during the 2024 calendar year.
    • Extensions for project date may be granted on a case-by-case basis with written approval from Flushing Town Hall staff.
  • Projects may charge admission to participants.
Allowable Expenses
Artists in Queens Grant funds can fund the following expenses:
  • Artist fees
  • Administration costs
  • Venue rental for the project (general home/office/studio rent is not eligible)
  • Marketing/publicity costs
  • Direct administrative expenses and/or planning and preparation expenses for a proposed event.
  • Supplies and materials needed to execute the proposed project. Individual items may not exceed $1,000. Examples: art supplies, sheet music, hardware, memory cards, and other consumable equipment.
  • Equipment, software, subscriptions, and training needed to execute the proposed project. Individual items may not exceed $1,000. Examples: cameras, lighting equipment, subscriptions associated with virtual programming, and training to utilize these tools.

Ineligible Expenses
Artists in Queens Grant funds are unable to fund the following expenses:

  • Requests greater than an applicant's project expenses minus total project income.
  • Operating expenses of privately-owned facilities (e.g. homes and studios).
  • Funds to establish a new organization.
  • Projects that take place in private homes, membership-only organizations and/or exclude the general public.
  • Proposals that primarily benefit financial gain of an individual or organization.
  • Historical societies, unless the proposed project has a significant arts programming component.
  • Social service programs when the focus is primarily for rehabilitative or therapeutic purposes or religious worship.
  • Non-arts related activity including:
    • Entertainment costs including receptions, catering, or fundraising events.
    • Recreational art programs.
    • Activities that are commercial art or entertainment, including balloons, makeup, magic, culinary arts.
  • In-school arts education activities and programs exclusively serving a school’s student body. 
    • After school activities that are open to the general public are eligible.
  • Scholarships or artist residency fees.
  • Acquisition of works of art.
  • Contingency funds.
  • The purchase of permanent equipment that exceeds $1,000 or capital improvements.
  • Creation of textbooks or classroom material.
  • Lobbying expenses.
  • Regrants by applicants to fund other activities.
  • Cash prizes, juried shows, fellowships, educational scholarships or other awards to students.
  • Programs in which children (under 18) are paid as professional artists.
  • Out-of-state travel costs.
 

Project Budget

Applicants are required to submit a project budget in their application which shows income, expenses and the request amount. The budget provides crucial information on how the applicant proposed to spend grant funds, which is central to the decision making of the peer review panel.

  • Applicants are not required to have a minimum income match.
  • An applicants' remaining project costs may be met through planned in-kind contributions, cash income, or a combination of both as demonstrated in the project budget. 


Evaluation Process and Criteria

Project proposals should accurately describe the project, public activities, target audience, and the project’s anticipated impact. Project budgets should be precise, accurately reflect costs, and demonstrate the ability to raise funds from additional sources if needed.

A diverse panel of artists, arts professionals, community stakeholders and educators will review applications and recommend a funding level according to the following criteria:

  • Artistic Merit - as shown through work samples and past activities to display artistic vision and an ability to provide a positive audience experience.
  • Clarity of Project Proposal - as demonstrated by the cohesiveness and quality of the application in presenting the details of the project.  
  • Project Feasibility - the production plan, budget, and organization capacity must show an ability to achieve the stated goals and impact of the proposal, including past experience and/or planned collaboration. 
  • Demonstration of Community Benefit and Level of Community Engagement - to show that the project will strengthen community bonds and increase overall cultural awareness in the community.
Applications are reviewed each year in the context of:
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Available funding and funding priorities
  • Competitive evaluation against other applicants
Panel recommendations are presented to the Flushing Town Hall Board of Trustees for review and final approval. FTH staff facilitates the panel process and does not state opinions nor make recommendations during panel deliberations.
 

Appeals Process
Denied applicants may appeal decisions in writing within (10) days from the date of notification, should they believe an error in the review of their application has taken place, effectively arguing the case for appeal based on the criteria below. Dissatisfaction with either a denial of an award or the recommended level of support is not eligible grounds for an appeal.

Grounds for appeal are limited to the following: 

  • Misrepresentation of information: an applicant’s information was improperly presented by FTH staff to the panel in a way that may have adversely affected the review process. 
  • Non-presentation of information: any part of the applicant’s information was not presented by the FTH staff as part of the panel’s decision-making process.
  • Improper procedure: the panel’s review of the funding request was biased or a conflict of interest.

To begin the appeals process, the applicant must first speak with FTH staff and go over application feedback and panel notes. Once the applicant has received panel notes and should they believe they have grounds for appeal, they must submit a formal letter to the Executive Director of FTH. The formal letter must specifically cite the grounds for the appeal and request that the decision be appealed. 


Grant Requirements
As recipients of public funds, applicants that are selected for an Artists in Queens Grant are required to do the following during the grant period: 

  • Sign and return grant contract to FTH.
  • Include funding credit and FTH logo on all marketing and event materials, print and electronic. Proper crediting language will be provided in the grant contract.
  • Submit an event notification form five weeks before funded public events take place to allow FTH to promote the event and arrange for a representative to attend.
  • Notify FTH of any significant changes to the proposed project activities, including scheduling, venue, key participants or project scope before these changes are finalized.
  • Complete and submit a Final Report, no later than 30 days after completion of all project activities.
 
 


Please join our mailing list HERE to stay up to date on the Artists in Queens Grant and other artist services.
Any questions? Please email Dan Bamba, Director of Arts Services at dbamba@flushingtownhall.org