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McColl Award Guidelines & FAQs

Purpose: The purpose of the McColl Award is to invest in the creation of an original work. Through this award, the Arts & Science Council seeks to:

• Commission new creative works (see examples of eligible projects below).
• Inspire creative thinking in the presentation of creative product. Areas could include a unique approach to presenting programming or scientific/historical research projects resulting in exhibitions and/or publications.
• Increase awareness, recognize excellence and build a greater appreciation for the creative process among the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.

Who is Eligible: The following are eligible to apply:

• An individual or an unincorporated group of individuals:

  • Professional artist(s); scientist(s); historian(s)
  • Reside in Mecklenburg County for at least the past 12 months;
  • Cannot be enrolled as a student in higher education;
  • If applying with an organization, the individual(s) should not serve on its staff or board of directors.

• Organizations:

  • Must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt status. (Fiscal agents are not allowed);
  • Must be based in Mecklenburg County;
  • Must have a primary mission of arts, science, or history/heritage;
  • Proven capacity to complete a new work;
  • Schools, colleges and universities are not eligible.

Eligible projects must include:

• The creation of an original work (performance or exhibition based).
• A public exhibition or presentation of the new work.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop:

• A collaborative, cross-disciplinary project.
• Authentic working partnerships among creative individuals, cultural organizations and partners in the broader community.
• An educational or outreach component. Examples could include public master classes with a creative individual or an exhibition in a workplace setting or for a school-based population; creative individual residencies; or neighborhood workshops.
• Plans for documentation, evaluation, and dissemination, as appropriate, of the project.

Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Experimental programming
• New and/or original methods of delivering programming
• Archeology
• Seed money toward a part of a larger project or program
• Development of programs for new constituencies
• Exhibitions/Performances in non-traditional spaces
• Commissioning a visual arts piece for a collection
• Neighborhood arts project
• Oral history project
• History trail
• Choreography, set or costume design
• Musical composition
• Literary works including plays, essays, poetry
• Performance art
• Artistic, historic or scientific research resulting in an exhibition or performance
• Development of a new exhibition intended for regional/national tour

Grant Amount: $25,000 will be awarded to one (1) project.

Match Requirement: While there is no match requirement, if the project budget exceeds The McColl Award request amount, applicants must specify the dollar amount and the source(s) of the match.

Narrative Draft Review: ASC staff does not review drafts for this granting program but would be happy to confirm the eligibility of an application.

Program Timeline and Deadline:

Support Period: Opportunities must occur between August 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013.

Grant Funds May Not Be Used For: ASC will not entertain requests for the following:

• Ongoing programs and expenses
• Capital Improvements
• Debt reduction
• Events or projects that have already taken place or completed (no retroactive funding)

Letter of Intent (LOI): If you or your organization would like to be considered for the McColl Award, please submit an LOI through the online application system. This LOI is the only submission for this award. A panel will review the LOI’s and choose finalists. The finalists will make a presentation to the panel in May.

Your LOI should be no more than 3 pages (12-point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins on all sides) and include:

1. Project concept description
2. Description of how the artist’s, scientist’s, or historian’s work relates to this project
3. Explain any collaborations if appropriate
4. Discuss how the work will reach audiences (include educational and outreach components)
5. Explain your plans for documentation, evaluation and dissemination of the project

Attachments include:

1. Rough Budget
2. Artist, Scientist, Historian Resumes (no more than 2 pages each). If the applicant is an organization, provide a background description/resume on each artist, scientist, historian you will commission for this project.

Application Workshop: A required workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 – 5:30pm – 7:00pm at Mint Museum – Randolph (2730 Randolph Road, 28207). All applicants are required to attend the workshop and encouraged to bring questions and ideas for their project or program.

Review Criteria: ASC staff will accept and review all applications and make funding decisions based on the following criteria:

• Proposed initiative clearly demonstrates innovation and/or vision in the creation of an original work or program
• Appropriateness of project to organization’s mission
• Includes a public exhibition/presentation of the new work or program
• Ability to carry out the project goals and design, the resources involved, and the qualifications of the project’s personnel.
• Has a clear, realistic budget

Questions: If you have any questions, please contact the Cultural & Community Investment office Program Assistant at 704-335-3036.

How to Apply: The deadline for applications has passed. Please check back for future funding opportunities.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: How much can be requested?
A: Applicants may request up to $25,000 to for a specific project. The award is made to one applicant.

Q: Is a match required?
A: While no match is required, if the project budget exceeds The McColl Award request amount, applicants must specify the dollar amount and the source(s) of the match.

Q: Is there a workshop for questions and additional information?
A required workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 – 5:30pm – 7:00pm at Mint Museum – Randolph (2730 Randolph Road, 28207). All applicants are required to attend the workshop and encouraged to bring questions and ideas for their project or program.

Q: What is the review process for our application?
A: All letters of intent will be reviewed by a panel of community members. Finalists will be chosen to give a 15-minute presentation their project to the panel. The panel’s recommendations will be forwarded to the ASC Board of Directors for final approval by June. Notification will occur at the July 2011 Impact + Investment Event.

Q: If I/my organization receives the award, what will we be required to do?
A: Recipients must complete the project within a reasonable timeframe. Recipients are also required to submit a summary report (including narrative and a project budget) describing the impact of the McColl Award within 30 days of the completion of the project (i.e. public performance, exhibition opening or presentation of the new work.)

Q: What is the grant timeframe?
A: Recipients must complete the project within 2 years of receiving the grant award.

Q: If I receive this grant as an individual, do I have to claim this on my taxes?
A: Yes, all grant recipients are required to pay any required state, local or federal taxes on grant awards.

Q: Who has received this award in the past?
A: From 2002-2007 the McColl Award was offered annually

• 2007 – Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (To create and mount an original work for middle- and high-school students centering on the 1954 Supreme Court decision ending school segregation in America.)
• 2006 – The Light Factory (For River Docs, a project to commission four visual artists to document the Catawba River and illuminate the connection of people to the river, expose the effects of industry on the river, reenergize activity on and commitment to the river, and to present these images throughout the Charlotte region, in partnership with Catawba Lands Conservancy, Catawba Riverkeepers, the York County Museum for Life and the Environment, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center.)
• 2005 – Carolina Voices (To be the lead partner with Discovery Place to commission a choral work, Psalms and Songs of the Ages: Sing to Us a New Song and Psalm 138, inspired by the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition at Discovery Place.)
• 2004 – Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (To be the lead partner with a consortium of orchestras in the commissioning of Deus ex Machina, a piano concerto from the celebrated American composer Michael Daugherty. The work was premiered during the Charlotte Symphony’s 75th anniversary season, performed by American pianist Terrence Wilson.)
• 2003 – Moving Poets Theatre of Dance (To commission Project Hometown, an original dance-theatre, multi-media “hip-opera” performance, and music documentary-video based on the memories and experiences of teenagers and those they consider positive influences in the their lives.)
• 2002 – Carolina Raptor Center (To commission local artist Lori Norwood to create a bronze sculpture of a bald eagle, A Return to the Carolina Skies.)

Q: I have more questions. Where can I get help?
A: Program Director, Heather Pontonio, 704-335-3053, can answer questions as you develop your letter of intent.

Q: How can my organization submit a letter of intent?
A: You must use the online application process. The online system requires you to attach several documents. You will create and save the required documents on your computer and upload these documents with your letter of intent. Please attach documents in WORD, EXCEL or PDF format only.

Q: Should I submit work samples or additional materials?
A: No. If chosen as a finalist, you will be able to bring these to the panel presentation.