FUNDING FOCUS
The professional artist grant aims to support and build meaningful relationships among the outstanding creative artists in Pinellas County, provide a solid foundation to nurture the creative community, and elevate Pinellas County as an arts and cultural destination.
With this purpose in mind, Creative Pinellas provides up to ten grants for artists who have excelled in their artistic practice. The grant is unrestricted, and Grantees are encouraged to decide for themselves how to use the award for their benefit and growth as an artist.
Grants of $5,000 each are open to artists doing work in the areas of:
• Dance (of all kinds)
• Choreography
• Interdisciplinary (a combination of more than one type of genre of art, often technology/digital arts are involved)
• Literature including poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (does not include journalism, self-help, children’s books, and books with a structured commercial purpose.)
• Media Arts such as film, photography, computer/digital arts, audio, interactive media, etc.
• Musical Performance
• Music Composition
• Acting
• Theater Creation, including playwriting, directing, musical direction, stage design, stage lighting, etc.
• Visual Arts including 2D and 3D visual arts of all kinds.
An additional $5,000 Artist Laureate Grant may be presented to one of the grantees who Creative Pinellas recognize as being able to be a model partner and collaborator, sharing their skills and expertise and supporting the organization’s mission over the grant period. Artists must indicate on their application that they would like to be considered for the Artist Laureate award.
For more details: https://creativepinellas.org/opportunity/professional-artist-grant-23/
GRANT PROCESS TIMELINE
Applications Open and Online FAQ Support:
November 30, 2022 – February 13, 2023, at 11:59 pm (EST)
Contact support@smapply.io for technical and online application support.
For general questions, contact Creative Pinellas at charlene.harrison@creativepinellas.org.
Artist Grant Workshops
- December 20, 2022: 12–1 pm
- January 11, 2023: 6–7pm
- February 6, 2023: 12– pm
These events will be live-streamed on the Creative Pinellas Facebook page at Facebook.com/creativepinellas/live and, thereafter, made available as a video on www.creativepinellas.org.
This interactive workshop allows artist applicants to ask Creative Pinellas staff questions about all aspects of the grant process, including applications, scoring, and the panel review.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 13, 2023, AT 11:59 pm (EST) – NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE.
It is highly recommended that you complete your application process no later than 12:00 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2023, to ensure proper time to submit your application.
Do I qualify for this grant?
Creative Pinellas considers the following things when determining eligibility for this grant. To be eligible for the Professional Artist Grant Program, an applicant shall:
a. Be a current resident of Pinellas County for at least one year prior to November 30, 2022, and must agree to maintain their residency for the duration of the grant award period.
b. Be at least 18 years of age.
c. Not currently enrolled in ANY high school, undergraduate, or graduate degree-seeking program with the same or similar focus to the artwork they create and WILL NOT be during any portion of the grant award period.
d. Submit a completed online application and all required support documents.
e. Not have received a Creative Pinellas Professional or Emerging Artist Grant within the last three (3) years from the end of the artist’s grant period or twice in the past 10 years.
What defines a Professional Artist?
Creative Pinellas defines a Professional Artist as someone who:
a. Has worked within their art form(s) over a period of time and built a substantial body of work.
b. Exhibits a high degree of talent and ability in their chosen area(s) of art.
c. Is generally recognized by leaders in their field and community as an artist of serious intent and ability, which can help build interest in and awareness of Pinellas County as a vibrant arts and cultural community and destination.
Artist partnerships and leaders of collaborative teams may apply for this grant. We consider a partnership to be a relationship in which all artists contribute equally to the creation of an artwork. We consider collaboration to be a situation where the primary artist receives support from other artists or supporters who do not contribute equally to the creation of the work.
Applicants may only submit one application per grant within each grant cycle.
*Eligible applicants must submit all required work samples in their appropriate area of work(s) as described in the application guidelines.
What materials do you need to show?
The following materials and samples will be required for an application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be accepted or evaluated.
a. Online application with all questions answered
b. Artist Bio – resumes, CVs, or detailed descriptions of what you’ve been doing as an artist over the last years (including information about when and where people could experience your art)
c. Work samples
d. Support materials (letters of support, testimonials, marketing, publicity reviews, etc.)
e. Proof of Pinellas County residency.
f. Artist Statement.
g. Impact and Engagement Statements.
Public Panel Review: Saturday, March 18, 2023, | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Public Panel Review will be live streamed to a private online group to which all applicants will be invited. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this panel-led discussion and scoring of applications.
Grant Funding Period: March 19 – September 05, 2023
Artist Laureate Grant Period March 19 – March 30, 2024
Grant recipients will be expected to complete their grant activities and submit their Post-Grant Report and final invoice no more than seven (7) days after the end of the funding period or by September 15, 2023.
Guidelines to submit work
Please submit completed works (not works in progress). In general, only include samples of your work created within the last five years. Older work may only be accepted if there is a strong reason to include it. (For example, to show a progression, connection, or a re-visit to the current work.)
Submit your best and strongest work!
Dance: One to four (1-4) performances, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of the performance, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes.
Choreography: One to four (1-4) completed original works, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of work, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission Format: .mp4
Interdisciplinary: Up to one to two (1-2) completed original works, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of original work, for a combined total length of no longer than five (5) minutes.
-AND-
Up to three to four (3-4) images of completed original work. It is suggested that, wherever possible, applicants photograph each individual work against a neutral background. Submission Format: PDF, .mp3, .mp4, .jpg
Literature Fiction/Nonfiction: One to four (1-4) original works or excerpts of original works, such as a short story, novel, or manuscript featuring the strongest portion of the work, for a combined length of no longer than twenty (20) pages and ten (10) minutes total.
-OR-
Poetry, Playwriting, or Screenwriting: One to four (1-4) original works, or excerpts of original works, featuring the strongest portion of the work, for a combined length of no longer than twenty (20) pages and ten (10) minutes total. Submission Format: PDF
(Applicant may also submit a .mp4 if a live reading accompanied by a PDF of the same work. Please note photocopies from books, circulars, collections, or journals will not be accepted)
Media Arts Audio: One to four (1-4) completed original works, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of work, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission format: PDF, .mp3, .mp4
– OR-
Video: One to four (1-4) completed original works, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of work, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission format: .mp4
Musical Performance: One to four (1-4) performances, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of the piece, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission format: .mp4
Music Composition: One to four (1-4) completed original works, or excerpts of work featuring the strongest portion of the work, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission format: .mp4, .mp3
Acting: One to four (1-4) performances, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of the performance, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes. Submission format: .mp4
Theater Creation: (directing, musical direction) One to four (1-4) completed original works, or excerpts featuring the strongest portion of original work, for a combined total length of no longer than ten (10) minutes.
If you are a designer for Theatre- please submit in the visual arts (such as set design or costume design) or media art (such as projection design or lighting design) section. Submission format: .mp4
Visual Arts: (including 2D and 3D visual arts of all kinds) Six to eight (6-8) images of completed original work. It is suggested that, wherever possible, applicants photograph each individual work from a direct head-on angle, in focus, and in high resolution. If a background is visible, it should be neutral in color. Submission format: .jpg, .png (no more than 16MB)
Support Materials:
One to five (1-5) examples of brochures, programs, news articles, letters of recommendation, testimonials, etc. When possible, it is preferred that any materials are as close to the original as possible (no copies of copies of copies). Applicants must upload at least ONE item of support material. Submission Format: PDF, .jpg
REVIEW AND SCORE WORK
While Creative Pinellas will play no role in judging the artwork, we will look at each application to make sure it is complete and meets all eligibility requirements.
All applications that meet the requirements will be reviewed by a carefully organized and diverse panel of artists, art administrators, and community leaders.
Scores will range from 1 to 100 and will be divided into four (4) categories:
1. Artistic Excellence and Quality of Work (40 points) Artistic merit in the applicant’s chosen area of work. Applicants will be evaluated on the demonstration of technique and skill in the artistic process, quality, and diversity of work samples.
2. Impact (15 points)
The applicants’ effective use of their current area of work to create stimulating, meaningful experiences for their audience. Applicants will be evaluated on their success using best practices related to their area of work.
3. Engagement (15 points)
The applicant’s effectiveness in reaching multiple and diverse audiences. Applicants will be evaluated on their success in partnering with other artists; arts, cultural, and service organizations or with community members to foster a sense of community and engagement.
4. Record of Professional Activity and Achievement (30 points)
The applicant’s evidence of a serious and continued production of work. Applicants will be evaluated on their activity, reputation, expertise, and experience in achieving the highest quality in their field.
Applications receiving a score of 76 points or higher are eligible for funding. However, a score of 76 points or higher does not guarantee funding. Up to ten of the top-scoring applicants will be recommended for funding, starting with the highest score.
Scores will be reviewed during a public panel on March 18, 2023. While all applicants are encouraged to attend, it is possible that not all eligible applications will be reviewed during the public panel. This will depend on the number of eligible applications received.
Applicants will be notified prior to the panel meeting if their application will be publicly reviewed.
The Artist Laureate grant may be presented to one of the grantees who Creative Pinellas recognize as being able to be a model partner and collaborator, sharing their skills and expertise and supporting the organization’s mission over the grant period. The Artist Laureate will be expected to perform their support activities in addition to their responsibilities as a grant recipient.
GRANTEE ACTIVITIES, ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND REPORTS
As the purpose of the Professional Artist Grant is to support and sustain Pinellas County’s professional artists and to enhance and build awareness of the County as a cultural destination, Creative Pinellas has developed a variety of required and optional opportunities for grantees to develop and expand their audience.
Blogging: Each grant recipient will actively blog on creativepinellas.org webpage on a bi-weekly schedule. These blog posts may be a combination of the written word and photographs, videos, recordings, or a combination of the above. This exercise has proven to be effective in building the awareness and reputation of participating artists regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Public Presentations and Engagement: Participation in at least one “Artist Conversation” panel discussion (schedule to be determined) and possibly participation in other video series or presentations.
Possible involvement in one to two (1-2) open studio, shared space, or performance space visits by Creative Pinellas staff and participation in organization-sponsored artist showcases and/or other special event opportunities.
The opportunity to be a featured participant in the CreativePinellas Arts Annual 2024 and, thereafter, an exhibit and performance event that draws regionally and nationally and showcases Pinellas County artists. Inclusion in CreativePinellas’ online portal and possible online/virtual gallery art exhibitions.
Other Media: Possible participation as an interviewee in the Creative Pinellas blog and podcast, ‘Arts In’ and a featured appearance in organization and partner publications, both online and in print, such as arts maps, articles, brochures, web and mobile apps, and other opportunities as they arise.
Social Media: Grant recipients will also provide Creative Pinellas with links to their own websites and Facebook, and other applicable social media platform pages, to actively promote their relationship and connection to Creative Pinellas.
Reporting/Invoicing: Grant recipients will be required to complete a Post-Grant Report, which provides an accounting of expenditures, and details the activities conducted over the course of the grant funding period. Grantees must also provide Creative Pinellas with both an interim and final invoice for the payment of grant funds.
CREDITS AND MARKETING
Recipients must share all public events and exhibition announcements with Creative Pinellas staff during the grant funding period by emailing grants@creativepinellas.org.
Any relevant press releases, publications, programs, interviews, and any audio or video materials created during the grant funding period must include the following credit and a Creative Pinellas logo whenever possible:
“Produced with the support of Creative Pinellas, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, and the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.”
Credit text must be the same font size as other recognized sponsors and organizations. The recipient’s website must include a Creative Pinellas logo that links to the organization’s website.
FUNDING POLICY AND DISCLAIMER
Creative Pinellas is committed to reaching all segments of Pinellas County’s population through its support of various artists and the types of work they do.
Professional Artist Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and evaluated by a panel of artists, art administrators, and community leaders.
Funding for this, and all grants offered by Creative Pinellas, is contingent on available funding and a panel decision, Creative Pinellas, Board, and staff, to fund the program and recommended grants. Creative Pinellas reserves the right to modify, cancel, or suspend the grant process at any time.
Funding may be withheld if the grant recipient does not meet the necessary activities, and requirements for crediting Creative Pinellas and partner agencies, and the completion of required reports as agreed to by the grantee’s acceptance of Creative Pinellas funding.
Applicants who receive direct funding from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners are not eligible to receive Creative Pinellas funding.
Creative Pinellas encourages applicants concerned with their tax and liability status to consult with their accountant or financial planner.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions regarding any portion of Creative Pinellas’ grants programs, please email charlene.harrison@creativepinellas.org.
