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Artistic Innovations Application Form


for Individual Artists



Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) invites eligible in-region individual artists and art-based organizations to apply to the Artistic Innovations grant program supporting the development of new or original works of art to encourage presentation to a broad constituency across the M-AAA six-state region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas). 

Artistic Innovations Applications are due on September 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT. See the Grant Guidelines and Application At-A-Glance documents to learn more about this grant program and on how to apply. View the full guidelines on the website at  https://www.maaa.org/programs-grants/artistic-innovations/#section7.


This online application form (FormAssembly) supports the latest version of Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. M-AAA strongly recommends using the most recent versions of the major web browsers when working on this platform. To submit a strong application and to ensure relevant materials are properly saved, applicants will need to:
  • Bookmark the “Thank you for saving/resume your application” webpage or find the most recent email in the inbox to resume a previously saved application.
  • Provide an email address and a password. Your credentials can remain the same. We highly recommend using a shared email address and reusing the same password so that your project team can access the draft application to make changes, review, and/or share the information. If you did not receive a confirmation email at the time of saving your application, then it was NOT properly saved. Applications or changes to applications that are unsuccessfully saved, regrettably are lost and applicants may need to start a new application form. Note: Each time the draft application is saved, you will receive an email with new instructions on how to resume your most recent version of the application.
  • To resume the application, refer to the bookmarked “Thank you for saving/resume your application” webpage or find the most recent email in the inbox to resume a previously saved application. 
  • We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate answers to the narrative application questions. It is, however, acceptable to use AI to proofread and edit your responses to word and/or character limits.
  • For clarity and ease of review by M-AAA and panelists, add spaces between paragraphs in narrative fields, and do not exceed character and/or word limits.
  • Ensure you have all the required documents and any optional materials ready to upload to your application. Review all uploaded materials for completeness before submission. All supporting materials must:
    • be in Microsoft Word, PDF, or Google Docs format. The online platform does not support file types saved as Mac Pages or Numbers; and
    • the maximum upload is 35 megabytes per application. Before uploading files, compress files (e.g., PDFs) to reduce the size and save space in your application. We strongly recommend compressing files (e.g., PDFs) to reduce the size and to save space before uploading files to the platform.
  • Double-check the spelling of the email address when certifying your application and check your inbox or spam folder for a confirmation email.

After submitting the application online, applicants will receive a confirmation email at the address used to certify the form. The email will include their submitted responses and a list of uploaded files.

Contact us for programmatic questions and/or technical support at innovations@maaa.org.
APPLICANT SURVEY






ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRE for Individual Artists

There are up to 10 questions, each answered by selecting “Yes” or “No”. These questions will determine if the applicant and project are eligible for consideration. This questionnaire will take about 5 minutes to complete.














You are not eligible to apply.
We appreciate your interest in the Artistic Innovations Grant Program!

Unfortunately, the answers provided in the questionnaire determined that you or the project are not eligible for consideration.

Click here to join M-AAA's mailing list for more programs and opportunities.

Contact us for programmatic questions and/or technical support at innovations@maaa.org.
Welcome! You are eligible to apply.

The answers provided in this questionnaire determined you and the project are eligible for consideration. Scroll down to the application form to tell us more about yourself and the project.


See the Grant Guidelines and Application At-A-Glance documents to learn more about this grant program and on how to apply.


Contact us for programmatic questions and/or technical support at 

innovations@maaa.org.
APPLICANT INFORMATION for Individual Artists
1. Individual Artist's Legal Name
Individual artist applicants should provide their name as it appears on their social security card or tax documents.
 










Individual Artist's Street Address





Upload Two Proof of Residence in PDF or Microsoft Word format.




INDIVIDUAL ARTIST DEMOGRAPHICS
Describe the demographics of the individual artist.









SECOND CONTACT PERSON INFORMATION

(optional) 
3. Provide information about the second contact person and demographics. This is an alternative contact person to whom questions should be addressed in the event you are unavailable during the grant period or activities. 






SECOND CONTACT PERSON

 DEMOGRAPHICS (optional)
Select all the demographics that describe the applicant's Second Contact Person position.











Find your Local Legislator at: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/?address=
Commonly referred to as the "lower chamber". Find your Local Legislator at: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/?address=  
Commonly referred to as the "upper chamber". Find your Local Legislator at: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/?address=

For more information, visit the US Census Bureau at: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/.       


Select your art practice in general, which may not necessarily be the same as that involved in the proposed project.

If the applicant does not have an artist statement, then describe what the artist makes, and how and why they make it. 



Upload Single Audit or Subpart F Audit in PDF or Microsoft Word format.



APPLICANT ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
16. Provide information about the applicant's accessibility efforts. Select a response to each of the following statements.

Applicants should seek technical assistance concerning accessibility from M-AAA Accessibility Center at: https://www.maaa.org/resources/accessibility-center/






PROJECT INFORMATION





This is the anticipated date of the first public-facing engagement.

This is the anticipated date of the last public-facing engagement.

A project timeline document is a required part of the application process to meet our eligibility requirements. A timeline must be realistic and include milestones or significant events associated with the proposed project and activities. Upload a timeline document in PDF or Microsoft Word or Excel format. The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application.                   

Describe all project activities this grant application's funding request will support. Be specific as possible about what will take place between the project start and end dates. Do not describe unrelated practices or programming.

Provide a short description of the project for use in M-AAA publicity materials, if the project is selected for funding. 

Describe the ways the project aligns with the spirit of the Artistic Innovations grant program. Define what innovation means to the applicant. What makes the project innovative, and extends M-AAA’s philosophy in the proposed project. Read M-AAA’s Mission, Vision, and Values at https://www.maaa.org/about/mission/





PROJECT ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION 
28. Provide information about the accessibility of the project. Select a response to each of the following statements.

Applicants should seek technical assistance concerning accessibility from M-AAA Accessibility Center at: https://www.maaa.org/resources/accessibility-center/





SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: FEATURE PRESENTATION
29. Provide information for at least one premiere or featured presentation activity that is open to the public. 









FP: VENUE ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS
Provide information about the accessibility of the venue where feature presentation activities will take place. Select a response to each of the following statements.








FP: ONLINE ACTIVITY







e.g., Zoom, YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.

Upload a Venue Contract or Rental Agreement in PDF or Microsoft Word format.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT
30. Provide information for at least one educational or outreach activity that is open to the public.








OA: VENUE ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION  
Provide information about the accessibility of the venue where outreach activities will take place. Select a response to each of the following statements.








OE: ONLINE ACTIVITY







e.g., Zoom, YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.

An organizational partner is an outside entity providing resources other than money to support the project. Funders are not excluded from being partners, but they must also provide other information capital, or actively participate in the project.                        

Upload a summary document in a PDF or Word format. Include each organizational partner, their contact information, websites and mission statements. Be sure to note the address in which they are incorporated in the six-state region.  Describe their involvement in the development of the project during the grant period of activities. Where they remain to be selected, describe the selection procedures that you plan to follow and the qualifications that you seek.

Upload a letter of support in a PDF or Word format. Describe the support your partner(s) will provide during the grant period of activities. The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application.

Artists are the ones who create or perform the art that an audience or the public comes to see or interact with. For example, these are painters or sculptors who create works of art for an exhibition or are teaching artists who offer workshops to engage groups of people through their art form. Artists are also those who perform or offer master classes for an audience, such as musicians, actors, dancers, or poets.

Upload a summary document about the lead artist in PDF or Microsoft Word format. Provide the name of the lead artist, a brief, current biography, and website address, if applicable. Be sure to note the city and state in which they reside in the six-state region. Describe their involvement in the development of the project to date or the support they will provide during the grant period of activities. The maximum upload is 35 megabytes per application.  

Upload a letter of support in a PDF or Word format. Describe the support your lead artist will provide during the grant period of activities.The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application.

A résumé must demonstrate at least 3 years of engagement in a creative practice highlighting artistic endeavors or arts programming. The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application. 

An individual partner is a person who will provide resources other than money to support the project.                                                                                                        

Upload any information (e.g., summary document) about the individual partner(s) in PDF or Microsoft Word format. Provide the names of each individual partner, a brief, current biography, and website address, if applicable. Be sure to note the city and state in which they reside. Describe their involvement in the development of the project to date or support they will provide during the grant period of activities. The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application. 

Work samples are a required part of the application process to meet our eligibility requirements. In one document, applicants are required to provide at least 5 and up to 10 high-quality work samples created within the last 3-5 years and relevant to the project and alignment of this grant program. Applicants can create their own work sample list document or utilize M-AAA’s Work Sample Template by clicking here. If you choose to use your own document, it must be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application. Work samples are a required part of the application process to meet our eligibility requirements.

Upload up to 5 supporting documents in PDF or Microsoft Word format. These materials can include, but are not limited to artist contracts, venue rental agreements, letters of agreement and/or support from key individuals, partners, etc.The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application. 

Describe the applicant’s plans for promoting and/or publicizing the project. Be specific and provide any names of newspapers, radio stations, etc.

Who will benefit from the project and how? Include the applicant, key individuals, organizational partners and audience. Where relevant, describe the impact the project may have on the field. Insert a space between paragraphs for ease of reading when applicable.

Describe potential risks in implementing the project. How does the applicant intend to manage these risks? 

How will the applicant measure the success of the project? Describe any plans for project documentation, evaluation, and/or any other specific performance measurements you intend to use.
PROJECT BUDGET
Include budget information relevant to the project described in this application. Applicants must list dollar amounts for each category and include a project budget with details. 

Click for the Appendix A: Cost Principles in the At-A-Glance document here for general budget information that must be included in your detailed project budget and recommended budget line items. 
$
This is personnel hired specifically to work on the project including per diem.                         $
These are other direct costs related to the project.                                                                                 $
This anticipated total dollar amount must be equal to the total income.                                   $
Provide additional context for the dollar amounts noted as expenses as needed. Reflect all public-facing event expenses that will be incurred for the project during the grant period. 
The maximum grant request is $15,000.                                                                                         $
Maximum allowed: $15,000.
$
$
$
This is the applicant’s reserves dedicated to the project.                                                              $
$
$
$
These are donations from other individuals partners.                                                                    $
This is from the applicant and/or partnering organizations.                                               $
This anticipated total dollar amount must equal to the total expenses.                                     $
Provide additional context for the dollar amounts noted as income.

A detailed project budget is a required part of the application process to meet our eligibility requirements. A project budget must reflect all income and associated expenses that will be incurred for the project and all public-facing events during the grant period of activities. Applicants can create their own project budget or utilize M-AAA’s Budget Template by clicking here. If you choose to use your own budget document it must be in Microsoft Excel, Word or PDF format.  Click for the Appendix A: Cost Principle in the At-A-Glance document here for general budget information that must be included in your detailed project budget and recommended budget line items.The maximum upload for one application is 35 megabytes per application.                                
  
CERTIFICATION AND ASSURANCE OF COMPLIANCE




This is the email address to which confirmation of this application will be sent upon submission. 
Double-check the spelling of the email address when certifying this grant application. 


Contact us for programmatic questions and/or technical support at innovations@maaa.org.

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