VAN COMMUNITY FUND GUIDELINES
PROJECTS EXPANDING A VAN EXHIBITION RESIDENCY
For projects beginning between 01/01/2013 - 06/30/2013
ROUND: Fiscal Year 13
DEADLINE: Monday November 5, 2012 – 5pm CST
The VAN Community Fund is made possible by funding from the Joan Mitchell Foundation.
VAN Community Fund: Overview
Purpose
The Community Fund subsidizes activities that expand upon a VAN Exhibition Residency by deepening relationships
between VAN Partners, artists, and communities. The Community Fund allows VAN Partners to take risks, implement new
programs, forge new relationships, and/or diversify their connections.
Community Fund projects can occur before, during, and after VAN Exhibition Residency activities. Subsidies can be applied
for planning, follow-up, documentation, or evaluation of VAN Exhibition Residencies. Funds may be used to pay local artists
or community organizations involved in VAN Exhibition Residencies. Guidelines are flexible by design, allowing Partners and
artists to exercise their creativity in structuring projects.
Award Amount
Applicants can apply for up to $5,000. The award amount is determined by the strength of the proposal, the amount
requested, and the feasibility of the project to occur without full support. NPN/VAN will award up to three VAN Community
Fund subsidies this fiscal year. Additional Community Fund award cycles are dependent on continued funding support.
Decision Making
NPN/VAN facilitates a panel, of NPN and VAN Partners and Board Members, which selects the highest-ranked projects. The
number of projects awarded varies based on the number of proposals received and the quality of the proposals.
The panel rates proposals on the following criteria:
 Clarity: The context, goals and objectives are described, along with a clear plan on how the project will accomplish
the objectives.
 Appropriateness: A VAN Exhibition Residency is at the heart of the Community Fund project, but the application
clearly explains how the project reaches beyond the standard VAN Exhibition Residency activities.
 Potential Impact: The potential impact of the project on the VAN Partner and its community is transparent and
compelling. Need is clearly articulated.
Limitations
 Projects must begin between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013
 VAN Partners may only receive one VAN Community Fund award per Fiscal Year
 Applications are written and submitted by the VAN Partner (NOT the artist)
 Applications and project descriptions must be emailed to alec@npnweb.org by Friday November 5, 2012 – 5pm CST
VAN Community Fund Guidelines
FALL 2012 (NPN/VAN FY13)
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VAN Community Fund: Process
VAN Community Fund Calendar
Monday September 24, 2012
Friday September 28, 2012
Monday November 5, 2012 – 5pm CST
Monday November 19, 2012 – 2pm CST
Wednesday November 21, 2012
January 1, 2013
June 30, 2013
July 30, 2013
Guidelines & Applications Available
Orientation Call
Application Deadline (email)
Peer panel convened via phone (2 hours max)
Awards Announced
Earliest Dates For Projects to Begin
Latest Dates for Projects to End
All Project Final Reports Due
How to Submit Your Application
Community Fund applications must be emailed to alec@npnweb.org by Monday November 5, 2012 – 5pm CST
Announcement and Distribution of Awards
NPN/VAN will announce awards via email by Wednesday November 21, 2012. Awardees receive Letters of Agreement
(LOA) via email and are expected to complete, sign, and return them by mail to the National Office. NPN/VAN will disburse
90% of the subsidy within 30 days of receipt of the signed LOAs. The remaining 10% will be paid upon receipt of the
Community Fund Final Report.
Project Changes
If the intent of the VAN Community Fund project or the Artist-in-Residence changes from the initial application, NPN/VAN
must be notified as soon as possible.
Community Fund Reporting Requirements
Within 30 days of completion of a VAN Community Fund project, the VAN Partner must submit a Community Fund Final
Report and supplemental materials (fliers, programs, etc.) crediting NPN/VAN. Community Fund Final Report Forms are on
the NPN/VAN Partner Portal at www.npnweb.org.
VAN Community Fund: Tips
Project Content- see “limitations” section
 For large-scale projects, it is recommended that focus is given to one aspect of the project. For example, for festivals or
celebrations, focus should be given to one aspect of the event that directly relates to the VAN Exhibition Residency. The
VAN Community Fund project should not be absorbed by the larger event.
 Remember that VAN Subsidizes one and two week Exhibition Residencies, on a first come/first served basis. If the
project is solely extending a VAN Residency, the panel will look at why the applicant chose to apply for a Community
Fund instead of applying for a two-week Exhibition Residency.
 Read the VAN Exhibition Residency guidelines. As part of the VAN Exhibition Residency the artist is expected to
engage with the VAN Partner’s community. NPN/VAN expects that community activities take place as part of the basic
VAN Exhibition Residency therefore Community Fund applications need to clearly explain how they are going beyond
what would typically take place in a VAN Exhibition Residency.
 The VAN Community Fund may not be used to leverage the 58% VAN Partner match for VAN Exhibition Residency
Agreement.
 Projects need to exhibit how the subsidy will be used to support the VAN Partner and/or community.
VAN Community Fund Guidelines
FALL 2012 (NPN/VAN FY13)
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VAN Community Fund: Past Project Examples
(from NPN Performing Arts Community Funds)
ASIAN ARTS INITIATIVE- support local artists, engage local artists with national artists
 Summary: NPN Community Fund support enabled Asian Arts to offer creative residencies and mini-commissions for
local artists to develop and perform their work with NPN Artist Regie Cabico. This project built upon an NPN Residency
(and Creation Fund) with Washington, DC-based artist Regie Cabico.
 Project Objectives: a) Created an opportunity for local artists to deepen performance skills and experience, b) Created
a connection with the audience by sharing new performance work by Asian American artists, c) Encouraged local artists
to develop quality work that can eventually tour around the country.
 Activities: a) Extended workshops with Cabico and local artists, b) Residencies with local artists in which they received
10 weeks of rehearsal space, c) Artists presented their work in two evenings, d) weekly check-ins with AAI staff, e)
Video documentation of process for use by AAI, local artists and NPN
SANDGLASS THEATER- documentation and evaluation, engaging local community in extended dialogue
 Summary: In Spring 2007 Sandglass Theater presented their second Voices of Community Series and brought 3
national, culturally diverse companies to their primarily white community to explore issues of cultural identity, diversity
and race. Two of the guest companies were presented through NPN Residencies (Mugabee and Coatlique). The
Community Fund enabled Sandglass to assess the impact of the series through interviews and workshops with
community members that attended the series. A documentary was created as a community self-reflection tool.
 Project Objectives: a) Expanded Sandglass' relationship in their community by engaging the community in a dialogue on
the role of theater in addressing social issues, b) Assessed the impact of the series/NPN Residencies by interviewing
community members who participated, c) Created a finished document that raised community awareness of its own
social issues and the role theater can play in addressing those issues.
 Activities: a) 20 filmed, individual and group interviews with members of the community who participated in the series
and NPN residencies. b) Workshops with the local youth theater teachers who participated in the series to further
examine how they might use theater in raising social issues with youth. C) Presentation of learnings to the community
through a film/documentary event.
PAT GRANEY COMPANY- planning, audience development
 Summary: Artist Scott Turner Schofield visited the Seattle area one month prior to his artist residency to conduct
programs/discussions about his work in the queer/trans community and the performance community in Seattle at large.
The project involved planning sessions with Seattle Young People's Project (SYPP), the LGBT Community Center, Bent
Writing Institute, Gay City University, U of W Women's Studies, Evergreen State College and community individuals.
The project involved the hiring of a young person from the queer community as a Residency Coordinator and liaison.
 Project Objectives: a) Outreach for Artist Residency, b) Planning with Queer organizations in Seattle, c) Hiring Project
Coordinator and Community Liaison
 Project Activities: a) artist came into the community a month early to build youth LGBT audiences through community
outreach to a multitude of organizations b) A young person from the community was hired as Project Coordinator
MORE EXAMPLES- click on links
 Winter FY12 Community Fund Awards
 Summer FY12 Community Fund Awards
 Contact Stanlyn Brevé, Director of National Programs, at stanlyn@npnweb.org
Application Instructions
Section I: Project Information
1) COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT INFORMATION - Refer to p. 1 – 3 of application
 Project Discipline: Enter discipline(s) that best describes project or artist: drawing, painting, sculpture,
photography, ceramics, print-making, installation, mural, film, site specific, mixed media, digital/computer
 Project Title: Use plain language, such as “Expansion of (Artist name) Residency.”
 Project Dates: Begin with the first date you will incur expenses and end with the last date you will incur expenses.
This is crucial information for NPN/VAN to track the progress of your project. (mm/dd/yy)
VAN Community Fund Guidelines
FALL 2012 (NPN/VAN FY13)
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Request Amount: Amount of subsidy you are requesting. Cannot be more than $5,000.
Total Community Fund Project Expenses: Should match “Total Project Expenses” [p. 3, Section I, 5A]. Should
only reflect Community Fund Project costs.
Project Summary: Explain the project in brief, using one or two sentences.
2) COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT PARTICIPANTS
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Identify contact information for artist and NPN Partner participating in project.
Identify any other community or organizational partners if applicable
3) COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT NARRATIVE
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Describe the project and address the following questions:
a) Describe the project in detail, including project goals, activities, and community partners. b) Explain why you are
working with the community organizations you have selected. c) Please articulate your standard residency
practices and how the community fund is extending these practices. d) Articulate the need for the project and how
the project will meet these needs. e) What will be the short and long-term impacts of the project on the artist, on the
partners, and on the community? f) How will the project be evaluated?
The project description should be clear, concise and focused; and its intention must be transparent.
Do not use more than the space provided.
4) COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT TIMELINE
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List dates, activities, and participants for the project only as described in Project Description. (Do not list Exhibition
Residency activities in this section)
5) COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT BUDGET
A) TOTAL PROJECT EXPENSES: Budget should reflect expenses over and above activities already subsidized
under the NPN Creation Fund/Performance Residency program. Budget should directly reflect costs described in the
Community Fund Project Description and Project Timeline. Example: If an applicant submits an audience development
project to expand a NPN Residency that is part of a million dollar festival, it is only necessary to outline the budget for
the audience development project (as opposed to the total million dollar budget of the festival).
B) TOTAL PROJECT INCOME VAN Community Fund: Maximum request amount is $5,000.
Other Sources: Other funding or in-kind contributions. In-kind income, if any, must be related to an equal,
corresponding amount of in-kind expenses in the Project Budget. Panelists do consider feasibility, so other sources of
income are seen as positive (even if minimal.)
Section II: Expansion of a VAN Exhibition Residency- Refer to p. 4 of application
1) EXHIBITION RESIDENCY DESCRIPTION
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Artist: Enter the name of the artist being contracted under the VAN Exhibition Residency Agreement.
Artist Website: List artist website for panelist’s reference.
VAN Exhibition Residency Subsidy Amount: Per the VAN Exhibition Residency Agreement. If not confirmed,
list approximate amount. Identify if subsidy amount is actual from a VAN Exhibition Residency Agreement or
estimated.
VAN Residency Dates: Give the dates of the related VAN Exhibition Residency (per the VAN Residency
Agreement). (mm/dd/yy)
Project Summary: Explain the VAN Exhibition Residency and the Residency Activities (per the VAN Residency
Agreement) in brief.
2) VAN EXHIBITION RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES
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List Residency Activities (per the VAN Residency Agreement)
3) EXHIBITION RESIDENCY EXPENSES
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These expenses should only reflect costs incurred during the VAN Exhibition Residency. These expenses are
different from expenses listed in the Community Fund budget. If expenses are not known, please approximate.
Total Artist Fees: List all fees paid to artists. The first row is fees per the VAN Exhibition Residency Agreement.
The second row should be additional fees paid to artist not covered in the VAN Exhibition Residency Agreement.
Other Exhibiting/Residency Costs: Should reflect additional presenting costs incurred by VAN Partner such as
overhead, staff time, marketing, technical costs etc.
VAN Community Fund Guidelines
FALL 2012 (NPN/VAN FY13)
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