How do I get started?
First, read this entire document. Then figure out how much support you need from KindleArts, keeping in mind that this ain’t no gravy train (we won’t completely fund your project), and apply.
There is a four-point set of criteria and five requirements that all applications must demonstrate and explain.
- The criteria are: creativity, interactivity, excitement, and social value.
- The requirements are: planning, budget, timeline, clean-up (LNT), and safety.
Please read over these criteria and requirements and have your answers prepared before beginning the online application process. And also, don’t forget to take a look at the fine print (including eligible/ineligible expenses) before preparing your submission. When you’re ready to apply use the link at bottom of page to get to the application page!
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Creativity
Projects that are clearly derivative works or copies of other projects will not score as high as original ideas and creations.
How original, thoughtful or innovative is the idea?
- Interactivity
Interactive art can be any of the following:
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- requires human interaction with the piece or with other participants
- allows the viewer to engage with it on one or more level (touch, sight, sound, smell, taste, ESP, etc)
- transforms the participants into active ‘articipants’
How does this piece allow the viewer to engage with it on several levels? How thoroughly does it involve the senses (Touch, taste, Sight, Sound, Smell, ESP)?
- Excitement
We prefer to fund art that evokes a sense of wonder and excitement – pieces that are stimulating and provocative.
How totally OMFG excited does this piece make you? Why should others want to see this piece at a KindleArts event?
- Social Value
Making art can help people in finding their own voice, or perhaps, the courage to use it. Creativity makes the society we live in better. It makes an invaluable contribution to our individual and collective health and wellbeing. It inspires cooperation, collaboration, empathy, and understanding. Creativity brings people together and opens our minds to diversity and inclusion. It helps us develop skills, our imaginations, our self-expression, and our confidence. Creativity helps us all learn more about ourselves and others and, ultimately, makes a positive contribution to our society.
How does this piece promote social interaction, create conversation, talking and connecting? In this sense, what is its value to the event or the community? Is it radically inclusive (i.e., free from barriers to participation)?
REQUIREMENTS
Grant applicants must satisfy the grants team that they have appropriate plans for the following:
- Planning Assure us that you understand the scale of your project, and that you have a solid and achievable plan to deliver it.
What is the scale of the project? What is your plan and how you will achieve it? How will it happen? What will it be made from? Where will you construct it? How will you transport it? How are you going to move it from wherever you’re building it to the event or display site? What happens if some of your team can’t make it to an event to set up?
- Budget Provide a detailed breakdown (i.e., line item budget).
How much will the total project cost?
Kindle Arts will not fund your whole project!
How much funding are you requesting from KindleArts?
Also be sure to tell us:
How you will pay for the rest?
What will happen if you don’t get the full amount requested?
- Timeline
Show us your schedule for incremental goals and completion.
How long is this going to take? What happens if some of your team can’t make it? What are the milestones towards completion of your overall goal and how will you know when you’ve met them?
- Clean-Up and Leave No Trace (LNT)
A core value of our community is “leave no trace.”
How do you plan to clean up your art at the event or display site? How are you going to get your piece home?
If burning your piece:
How are you going to clean up the debris and fasteners?
What is your plan if the piece doesn’t work or can’t be burned?
- Safety While a certain amount of risk is accepted by participants at our events, artists and event producers alike have a responsibility to ensure projects do not present an unreasonable hazard. Keep in mind that participants may interact with your art in unexpected ways including altering it, climbing on it, or moving it. Any structure that could reasonably be expected to have people on it must be designed and constructed to the applicable standard required for the intended function. Stages and elevated structures must be to code, and be safe.
Convince us that your project is safe. What are you going to do to ensure that it stays that way?
Visual representations of proposed project
Visual representations are not required for all projects. However, as a picture is proverbially worth a thousand words; please include any drawings, plans, pictures, or sketches required to clearly convey your idea to the voting team.
YOU’RE SERIOUSLY GOING TO GIVE ME MONEY TO MAKE SOME ART? WHAT’S THE CATCH?
You have to make the art. You retain all ownership of (and liability for) the artwork, but must exhibit it at a KindleArts event, and must also provide two photographs (minimum 2000px x 2000px or equivalent pixel area) of the artwork, ideally at a Kindle event, with permission for KindleArts to use, usually for archival or promotional purposes. That’s it. Really.
But there’s more fine print, right? Well, yeah. But only a little.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. There’s a lot of work involved here and only so much time that the team has to put into the process. If you don’t answer all of the questions or provide an itemized budget, it’s unlikely we will consider funding your project.
Receipts are not necessarily required for reimbursement. However, project costs must be reasonable and detailed. The Grants Team or the KindleArts Board of Directors may request a detailed accounting of projects which will require receipts to back up the figures provided. Bottom line here: Please keep receipts in case we need to see them.
Late applications will not be considered. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application or contract. An advantage to submitting your application early is that the team can work with you to resolve any questions about your application before grants are awarded. When you wait until the last minute, it doesn’t leave any time to fix any problems that might arise.
You agree to respond in a reasonably timely manner to communications from the Grants Team. We may want to talk to you about specific aspects of your art, or check in on major milestones. Details of these sorts of expectations for larger projects will generally be included in the Grant Agreement. This usually means we’d like to hear back from you within 48 hours for email, even if that’s just, ‘hey I got your message and will get back to you on the weekend.’
You are expected to return the grant funding in full if the project cannot be completed, installed or performed at the event as described in your application. If you realize you are going to be unable to complete your project, please communicate with us as soon as possible at artgrants@kindlearts.ca. In all cases, if you feel that there is a problem with your project or grant, please communicate with us as soon as possible. We would rather support the art happening than get grant money back.
Unused grant funding is expected to be returned within one year of disbursement. If you’re not going to use the money to make art, you have to give it back, and we need to close our books on an annual basis.
Persons who have incomplete grants with outstanding obligations are ineligible for grants funding. If you owe us art or money, we’re not going to give you any more.
What can I use the money for? What can’t I use it for?
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Art can be almost anything. It can have utility and serve an observable function, can simply be about beauty and process, or can otherwise get people participating in our events. It can be a painting, sculpture, costume, or a prop for a performance. As long as it is open to all participants at the event, it will be considered for funding.
Grants are given to cover the cost of raw materials for construction or exhibition of the art.
Examples: The component parts you need to create the art like wood, metal, fabric, glass, lighting, electronics, nails, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, adhesives, paint, wire, cable, tubing, stakes, decorative items, etc.
While we will generally not reimburse the cost of tools (no outfitting your workshop), grant funds can be used for consumable items that are depleted during the construction or exhibition of the art.
Examples: sandpaper, saw blades, drill bits, glue, paint brushes, propane for fire art used at the event, fuel for generators used at the event
If you need to use specialized tools (bandsaw, welder, table saw, etc.) there are members of our community who may be able to offer advice or access to this kind of equipment. If you can’t find anything on your own, get in touch with us and we’ll see if we can point you in the right direction.
Grants may be used for project expenses such as equipment or vehicle rental, and fuel costs used to bring the project to and from a KindleArts event.
Grants may be used to offer participatory experiences:
Examples: Supplies for your poi making workshop, rope for your shibari class, body paint for your zombie yoga, plaster for body part casting class, alginate loob for slippery wrestling, etc.
Grants may be used for theme camps:
Basic needs and infrastructure like generators, domes, furniture, etc. are currently eligible for grant funds. However, the grants team may (read: will almost always) choose more exciting grant proposals. Large theme camp infrastructure intended to benefit all participants such as stages, generators, sound systems, facades, and other artworks will likely be supported. A tarp for the kitchen in your camp, or the countertop for your bar would not receive as much support, if any. Make us excited about the experience your camp is going to offer to the participants at our events.
Limited gifts of food for all participants at the event may be funded:
Examples: A popcorn cart or other snacks that anyone may access would likely be supported. A pig roast in a theme camp that only feeds the members of that camp would not.
Special note about food: Your application must clearly show how you’re going to keep food safe and not make participants sick. You assume all liability associated with distributing food and agree to follow established best practices related to food acquisition, storage, preparation, handling, cooking, and serving. Food also requires more rigorous Leave No Trace planning, as the unused portions can attract wildlife and pests. Please, share your gifts of food, but do so responsibly.
INELIGIBLE EXPENSES
Tickets to KindleArts events.
The cost of labour or tools.
Examples: No paid help, or outfitting your shop. No payment for artist time or for performers to appear.
We cannot give you a grant for alcohol or other intoxicants, or delivery systems for the same.
Examples: No booze, keg systems, or hookahs.
We cannot give you a grant for anything that is unreasonably hazardous or illegal.
Examples: No knife throwing machines or rocket propelled chainsaws.