The National Endowment of the Arts has announced a new “Arts in Media” grant program, with a September 1, 2011 deadline for applications for funds ranging between $10,000 and $200,000. Those monies are to go to projects that “support the development, production, and national distribution of innovative media projects about the arts, e.g., visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk & traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art) and media projects that can be considered works of art.”
The NEA’s grant highlights continue:
Projects may include high profile multi-part or single television and radio programs (documentaries and dramatic narratives); media created for theatrical release; performance programs; artistic segments for use within an existing series; multi-part webisodes; installations; and interactive games. Short films, five minutes and under, will be considered in packages of three or more.
The amount of financial award will be based on “the platform and the complexity and scope of the project.” This grant replaces the established The Arts on Radio and Television grant program. Although applications must come from non-profit 501 (c) (3) organizations (such as the Jazz Journalists Association) the new funding would appear to encourage relatively small projects, as organizations may apply for funding for multiple projects. JJA members interesting in applying through the organization for NEA funding should contact President@jazzjournalists.org.
An extension of the JJA’s eyeJAZZ project would appear to be well-suited for this funding. According to the NEA highlights, “priority will be given to projects that include substantive public engagement strategies, including well articulated social media strategies.” That element of eyeJAZZ has been well-established; the JJA also employs social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter to promote the Jazz Awards, and has considered moving some functions of JJANews to a Facebook group page. Live-online streaming of the Jazz Awards, this year a three-camera shoot to be viewable at www.JJAJazzAwards.org, might also seem to be qualified for funding under the new guidelines.
Great opportunity -- thanks for sharing, Howard!