2024 AISC Experiences

Montana Arts Council

Guidelines

Montana Arts Council

The Montana Arts Council is the agency of state government established to develop the creative potential of all Montanans, advance education, spur economic vibrancy, and revitalize communities through involvement in the arts. Fifteen individuals appointed by the Governor oversee the Montana Arts Council.

Artists in Schools and Communities Grant Program

The Montana Arts Council strives to foster access to robust arts learning experiences that engage students of all ages and abilities. To that end, the Artists in Schools and Communities (AISC) grant program provides funds in support of a wide range of arts learning projects.

AISC Experiences

The AISC Experiences grant program offers financial support of arts learning activities in three categories:

Direct engagement with guest artists for a virtual or in-person session that may or may not include a hands-on learning component
Purchase of tools, supplies or small equipment to support experimentation with new arts media and methods
Transportation to support first-hand experiences with art or artists

AISC Experiences is designed to engage learners as audience members, viewers and artists through activities that plant a seed of inspiration, often proving both foundational and transformative.

Applications to the 2023 AISC Experiences grant program are due as follows:

April 18, 2024 at 5 PM for projects taking place between June 1 and November 30, 2024
August 15, 2024 at 5 PM for projects taking place between October 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025
December 12, 2024 at 5 PM for projects taking place between February 1 and July 31, 2025

Submit applications online at https://art.mt.gov/application

Review Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and scored against the following criteria:

The project exhibits artistic and educational
Project plans indicate a high degree of engagement for
Preliminary planning will ensure equitable access to project
Project management and budget appear

Applications may be prioritized to equalize arts learning opportunities across geographic area, arts disciplines, and core learning groups.

Review Process

Requests submitted to the AISC Experiences category will be reviewed by the Council's Arts Education Committee.

The Arts Education Committee will discuss requests in a public meeting to be held approximately six weeks after each due date; applicants will be invited to attend as observers. The committee will make recommendations to the Executive Committee of the Montana Arts Council which will then make the final funding determinations.

A summary of reviewer's comments is made available to applicants upon request. Applicants are encouraged to contact MAC staff following the review to receive comments, regardless of the outcome, as they provide useful insight for the project and/or future grant requests.

Grant Period

2024 AISC Experiences grant awards will support activities during the 6-month project period for each round/deadline. Please note that funds cannot be awarded in support of project activities that have already occurred.

Award Amounts

Requests submitted to AISC Experiences must fall within the range of $250 - $2500. An applicant cash match is NOT required in this category.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions six to eight weeks after each deadline, following the meeting of the Council's Arts Education Committee.

Eligible Applicants

All applicants must be one of the following:

Nonprofit organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) ruling, incorporated in Montana and registered and in good standing with the Montana Secretary of State
University or Tribal College arts program with ongoing outreach programs that significantly extend services beyond the campus
Tribal K-12 school
Unit of government
Public educational institution
Local chapter of a tax-exempt national organization

Restrictions

AISC Grants may not be awarded to
Projects may not be funded retroactively and must not begin until June 1, 2024 or
Organizations may receive only one AISC Experiences award inside of the same calendar
Organizations are not prevented from submitting to more than one AISC grant category during the FY25 Cycle, such as Residencies and Experiences.

Requirements

Grantees will be required to obtain a SAM number as a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier). Applicants may obtain this number from https://sam.gov/content/home using the "Get the Unique Entity ID" button.
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Must be formally organized and continuously operating in Montana for a minimum of one year prior to project start date

Contacts and Accessibility

For questions or assistance with the application process or to discuss development of your project, contact Monica Grable, Arts Education Director, at (406) 444-6522 or Monica.Grable@mt.gov. It is highly recommended that new applicants schedule a meeting with MAC's Arts Education Director prior to applying.

MAC staff is available to provide technical assistance—including a final review of your application draft—or to provide an alternate format of the guidelines or application as needed. For other ADA accommodation needs, please contact Kristin Han Burgoyne, Accessibility Coordinator, at kburgoyne@mt.gov or 406-444-6449.

Grantee Responsibilities

All current and prior MAC reporting must be in compliance in order to receive
Organizations must maintain eligibility and continued compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Grantees must appropriately credit the Montana Arts Council in materials and announcements related to the supported project during the award period.
Modifications to the planned grant-supported project need to be submitted in writing to the Montana Arts Council and approved by MAC staff.
Grantees are encouraged to share news of their awarded project with their local

Reporting Requirements

A final report will be required, due 30 days after the project's completion. The report, assigned as a follow up in the grants management system, will include:

A finalized project budget with accompanying explanation of budget changes
A narrative summary of your grant project activities and outcomes, together with assessments if used
A minimum of two pieces of supporting documentation, to include photographs of the project in action, project work samples, audio or video of a guest artist working with participants, digital media, newspaper articles or social media pieces about the project, and formal or informal survey results
Copies of letters or other communications shared with legislators, if applicable

Other Grant Program Considerations

In addition to the AISC Experiences grant category, you may wish to consider applying to these other MAC grant programs:

AISC Residencies is a grant program that connects learners of all ages and abilities with professional teaching artists through a diversity of learning formats and settings. Residencies range from a couple of hours to months-long experiences and may engage one or several guest artists working with a single group of learners or with multiple groups. Projects in this AISC subcategory put an emphasis on the process of art creation and therefore must include hands-on learning.
Strategic Investment Grants (SIG), support professional development opportunities in arts learning, and projects related to Market Expansion, Public Outreach Arts Activities, or Challenges or Emergencies.

Project Information

Project Name*

Character Limit: 100

Project Description*

Please provide a brief one-sentence description of your project.

Character Limit: 250

Project Start Date*

Character Limit: 10

Project End Date*

Character Limit: 10

Is this the applicant's first AISC request?*

Choices

Yes No

Uncertain

Primary age group(s) and the approximate number of participants to be served:*

Character Limit: 250

Will students of American Indian/Alaska Native ethnicity be served through this residency?*

Choices

Yes No

Uncertain

Project Lead Contact Name*

Character Limit: 50

Project Lead Email Address*

Character Limit: 100

Is the applicant organization itself serving as the arts learning provider?*

Choices

Yes No

Arts Learning Provider Name*

If your project involves a guest artist(s), name the artist(s) or arts organization providing the experience. If the applicant is providing the arts learning experience, enter the applicant organization name here.

Character Limit: 250

Arts Learning Provider Primary Discipline*

From the drop-down menu, choose the primary artistic discipline of the organization or artist providing the arts learning experience.

Choices

Arts Integration Dance

Film Folk/Traditional Literary Arts Media Arts Multidisciplinary Music Performance Art Theatre

Visual Art Other Arts Non-Arts

Arts Learning Provider Phone Number*

Character Limit: 15

Arts Learning Provider Web Link (Artist or Organization)

Provide a URL to the lead artist's and/or organization's website or primary public interface. If none, leave blank.

Character Limit: 2000

2nd Arts Learning Provider Web Link (Artist or Organization)

Provide a second URL to the arts learning provider's website or primary public interface as needed.

Character Limit: 2000

Narrative

Which of the following describes the primary focus of your grant request?*

Choices

Equipment, small tools or supplies

First-hand experience with art or artists Transportation

Arts Learning Objectives*

Define up to 3 succinct arts learning objectives.

What arts-related knowledge, skills or experience do you hope the learners will have gained from the project activities?

Character Limit: 1000

Project Overview*

Please describe the project in detail.

What art discipline, media or methods will the learners explore? Or, how will students engage with art or artists? How is the project structured and who is involved?

Character Limit: 5000

Planning Process*

Provide details on the steps taken, to date, in planning for the proposed activities. If partnering with other educators, artists, organizations or administrators, please identify their role(s) in planning.

Character Limit: 2500

Montana Arts Standards and Indian Education for All

Please list and elaborate on any Montana Standards for Arts the proposed project will meet, specifically addressing which project activities demonstrate each specific standard. Additionally, if your project involves the study of Native American artwork or culture, briefly address how the proposed project meets Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians and with whom you are consulting on your project.

Character Limit: 10000

Curriculum Integration

If your project takes place with K-12 learners, will the project activities involve integration with other subject areas?

If yes, please describe in detail.

Character Limit: 5000

Core Learners*

Describe the core group(s) of learners participating in the project.

Who are the learners who will gain experience through the project and what is the age range and/or ability level of those involved? Why was this particular group chosen?

Character Limit: 1000

Need Addressed*

What is the arts learning need that is being addressed through the proposed project? Please elaborate.

Character Limit: 5000

Access to Project Activities*

Please share the steps taken to ensure equal access to the project activities by the designated arts learners.

Character Limit: 2500

Assessment of Student Learners*

How will you assess participant learning and understanding during the project? Simple tools or activities may be used to assess that learners have met the objectives, such as verbal or written responses.

If using a formal assessment tool(s), such as a survey, please upload below.

Character Limit: 1000 | File Size Limit: 2 MB

Project Activity Location*

Please list the physical addresses of all sites where the learning will take place, together with the county name.

Character Limit: 1000

Arts Learning Provider (Artist or Organization) Selection

If activities involve first-hand experience with an artist or arts organization, please provide details on the artist selection process and why they are the best fit for the planned activities.

Character Limit: 2500

Artist Resume, Brochure or Promotional Piece

Provide documentation for each arts learning provider (artist or organization) involved in the project activities. Only one upload is allowed, therefore multiple items must be combined into a single PDF. Please contact MAC staff for assistance in combining files if needed.

File Size Limit: 8 MB

Site Information for Transportation Requests

If you are requesting support for transportation-related needs, provide information about the destination(s) chosen and how the experience of visiting the site(s) will lead to arts learning.

Character Limit: 2500

Information on purchase of tools, supplies and small equipment

Please share details of the purchases being planned.

Character Limit: 2500

Project Work Samples

Provide any relevant documentation (images, brochures, lesson plans, production information, other) here. Only one upload is allowed, therefore multiple items must be combined into a single pdf. Please contact MAC staff for assistance in combining files if needed.

File Size Limit: 8 MB

Project Schedule*

Briefly describe the timeline of the project activities.

If the project involves multiple sessions, core groups of learners, or more than one teaching artist, upload a detailed schedule or timetable below. If the project involves tools, supplies or equipment, share your timeline for purchase and use. Highly detailed schedules or charts may be uploaded below.

Character Limit: 1000

Schedule Upload

Use this upload space as needed for complex schedules or charts. Please upload as a Word doc or PDF.

File Size Limit: 4 MB

Amount Requested*

Character Limit: 20

Project Budget*

Use the form provided here to submit your project budget; be sure to include the amount you are requesting from MAC. Once completed, use the naming convention below to rename the file and upload. In the space provided, add budget notes as needed. Note: If your budget has been created in Numbers rather than Excel, please save as a PDF before uploading.

OrganizationName_2024AISCExperiencesBudget

Character Limit: 500 | File Size Limit: 2 MB

Additional Support Materials

Upload additional items, if any, that would help inform your request; use the space provided to identify the uploaded item(s).

Character Limit: 500 | File Size Limit: 8 MB

Assurances and Signatures

Terms of Payment*

Grant funds are initiated upon return of the grant award contract. It is the grantee's responsibility to pay the total amount due to any contracted guest or teaching artist(s), based on mutually agreed upon terms, no later than the final day of the project.

Choices

I understand that the teaching artist(s) must be paid no later than the conclusion of the activity.

Application Signature Page*

Click here to access the application signature page.

The signature page must be signed by someone who is authorized to commit funds for the school/organization. This person is almost always a principal or superintendent for a school, an executive director or the president of the board for an organization. The signature of the teaching artist, or representative of artist organization or guest artist/company,

signifies commitment to the project.

Please print the signature page, have the appropriate authorizing officials complete and sign, then upload using the button below.

File Size Limit: 2 MB

Review of Application*

Click on the print application link and review a pdf file of the application.

I understand that this is how it will appear to the review committee, that all items required appear in the pdf file, and that the way my application appears is my responsibility. I have reviewed the guidelines and understand that my application will be reviewed based on this criteria.

Choices

I have reviewed my application.

Grant Contact*

I have added administrator@grantinterface.com to my contact list.

Choices

Yes

Please type your name in the box below.*

Character Limit: 50

Date*

Character Limit: 10

Signature Verification*

By clicking "I Agree" below and typing my name in the box above, I am authorized to make application on behalf of this individual or organization and the information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Choices

I agree