[OregonArts] Call for Concept Proposals: FY2009 American Masterpieces Project in Oregon

[Christine T DARCY]

Call for Concept Proposals: FY2009 American Masterpieces
Deadline 5:00 pm, February 21, 2008


Through a National Endowment for the Arts national initiative, American
Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius, The Oregon Arts
Commission seeks concept proposals from Oregon arts organizations for
projects that address the concept of American Masterpieces.  Arts
activity may be in any artistic discipline. 

The National Endowment for the Arts developed the American Masterpieces
Initiative to introduce Americans to the best of their cultural and
artistic legacy.  Funded programs will reach the American people through
touring, local presentations, and arts education programs across all art
forms. 

FY2009 American Masterpieces funds may support projects in all artistic
disciplines. The funds must be matched 1 to 1 with cash or in-kind
equivalents. The Arts Commission anticipates awarding approximately
$55,000 in this program in FY2009 and it is the Commission’s
preference to award funds in support of a single project.

The Commission seeks brief proposals from Oregon non-profit arts
organizations outlining project ideas. Proposals will be reviewed by
March 3, 2008 with the most competitive proposals invited to participate
in further discussion with the Commission. Review criteria will
include:
- The proposal’s appropriateness to the American Masterpiece’s
Initiative goals
- Artistic merit
- The proposal’s potential and ability to generate greater public
awareness of the particular master artist or masterpieces within Oregon.
 

The Oregon Arts Commission awarded the FY2008 American Masterpieces
grant to The Hallie Ford Museum of Art to support the development of an
exhibition, book and public programs on The Art of Ceremony: Regalia
from Oregon Tribes.    

 
The National Endowment for the Arts has circulated the following
examples of possible American Masterpieces’ Activities: 

- Home-based, touring, or print exhibitions that focus on major
American schools, movements, traditions, subject areas, and themes in
the history of visual arts.

- Choral recitals/festivals that will highlight repertoire by American
composers.
	
- Home-based or touring performance of American choral work(s) that are
artistically, historically, and culturally significant.

- Restaging, performance, and documentation of significant American
choreography in order to provide access to the rich, but often
inaccessible, legacy of American dance history. Education activities
such as master classes, lecture demonstrations, movement workshops,
etc.

- Masterpieces from the musical theaters classical canon; lesser known
works by master artists; concert staging of lesser known masterworks;
musical theater for young audiences; masterworks representing new music
theater forms

- Recognition of a particular style, movement, or tradition relevant to
your state or region, or a particular state visual arts master, through
exhibition, master class, lecture, radio/television profile,
publication, web feature.

Proposals should consist of no more than one page, and address the
following
- A 1-paragraph description of the applicant organization. 
- A description of the proposed project, including why the artist,
writer, composer, choreographer or writer and/or the work of art,
production or composition is an American masterpiece. The Commission is
looking to support proposals that demonstrate artistic significance. 
Previous awards in this program have recognized “Oregon”
masterpieces.   
- An approximate total cost of the overall project. A detailed budget
is not required at this time.  However, the Commission may request a
detailed budget from one or more applicants prior to making a final
award. 
- An estimate of possible sources of matching funds.
- A timeline outlining how the proposed project will be completed by
September 30, 2009. 

Deadline
Proposals must be received by the Oregon Arts Commission by 5pm,
Thursday, February 21, 2008.  

Proposals may be mailed to: 
Oregon Arts Commission
775 Summer Street NE,  Suite 200
Salem, Oregon 97301-1280  

Emailed proposals are encouraged and should be sent to: 
Shannon.planchon at state.or.us   Please reference in the subject line:
American Masterpieces Proposal  
Proposals may also be faxed to (503) 986-0260 Attention: Shannon
Planchon.


Frequently Asked Questions: American Masterpieces 

Does this project have to be new, or can we submit a project that has
already been planned as part of our season/operations?
The project does not need to be new.  

May we collaborate with another organization?
Absolutely. Collaborations are encouraged. Collaborators may be in
state or out. The Commission encourages proposals that focus on work by
Oregon masters, or that is Oregon based. 

Who decides what is a Masterpiece? Is there a list?
The NEA has asked each state arts agency to define what constitutes an
American Master in their respective state. This may be an artist widely
recognized or fairly unknown- either in state or not- alive or dead. The
qualifications as master(s) will need to be explained as part of a final
application to the NEA.

When must the project occur?
This project may start by July 1, 2008, but must be completed by
September 30, 2009. 

More information:
Shannon Planchon, Assistant Director
(503) 229-6062
Shannon.planchon at state.or.us