FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why do I have to make 6 copies?
2. Do I have to produce a body of work as a result of this grant?
3. Can an application be submitted by a group of artists (a collective) to explore collaborative interdisciplinary work?
4. Does the project mentor have to be a designated mentor, or could it be anyone elso who is collaboratively involved? E.g. peers, other artists, other emerging artists?
5. To apply for this grant does the full budget of the project have to be between $3,000-$5,000, or can the grant supply a part of the budget? If yes, should the entire budget be detailed or only the part that the grant can support?
6. Can I attend a workshop as part of my learning program?
7. How do I develop a timeline for my project?
8. How do I formulate my budget?
9. Since the artist statement (#8 in the application form) is optional, does that mean it does not affect the jury's decision?
10. What should I include in my CV?

1. Why do I have to make 6 copies?
This enables each of the jury members to get a copy of your proposal in advance to contemplate at their leisure. Last year VADA received nearly 180 applications. Your copies help save on copying and staff time, so there is more money to award to artists.

2. Do I have to produce a body of work as a result of this grant?
NO. In fact, the direction is not to produce a product but to learn a new skill. Proposals to complete work for an exhibition are not eligible.

3. Can an application be submitted by a group of artists (a collective) to explore collaborative interdisciplinary work?
NO. This grant is for individuals only.

4. Does the project mentor have to be a designated mentor, or could it be anyone elso who is collaboratively involved? E.g. peers, other artists, other emerging artists?
This award is not for collaborating with other peers and artists. It is for artists to learn specific skills. Remember that VADA is for artists to learn new skills in a non-institutional way. The idea behind a mentor is that a knowledge transfer takes place. When you apply, be specific about what you want to learn, how that new skill will complement your art practice, and how you will learn it.

5. To apply for this grant does the full budget of the project have to be between $3,000-$5,000, or can the grant supply a part of the budget? If their grant is for part of a larger budget, should the entire budget be detailed or only the part that the grant can support?
Yes, VADA can be part of a larger budget, but please detail the entire budget. What part do you want VADA to cover? What are your other confirmed funding sources? It is important to show that the project can be achieved.

6. Can I attend a workshop as part of my learning program?
No. VADA supports non-institutionally based learning – the acquisition of knowledge that cannot be achieved in structured coursework. If a workshop is essential to your program, you must articulate why the workshop is unique and how it is related to a broader non-institutional learning program

7. How do I develop a timeline for my project?
A detailed work schedule, whether it is mentor-led (Section 3, Question 6b) or self-directed (Section 3, Question 7), shows the jury that you have a plan to realistically achieve the goals set out in your proposal. You can lay out a work plan in any manner that works for you. A simple format may be setting up two columns that address A) dates and B) work to be done. Alternately, you can describe the steps and timings of your program in paragraph form.

8. How do I formulate my budget?
Like a timeline, your budget helps the jury determine the feasibility of your program. Jurors are trained to review budgets – a realistic work plan and budget is the sign of an achievable learning program. Be as specific as possible. If you are renting or purchasing equipment or computer programs, we recommend you attach backup documentation (a price quote) to support your estimates.

9. Since the artist statement (#8 in the application form) is optional, does that mean it does not affect the jury's decision?
In fact the artist statement can be very important tothe jury's deliberations. The artist statement is your opportunity to explain the reason behind your proposal and to provide other artistic and cultural content not found in other parts of the application.

10. What should I include in my CV?
Your curriculum vitae should outline of all professional training and activities in three pages or less. For guidance on writing a CV, please refer to the College Art Association website at http://www.collegeart.org/guidelines/visartcv.html, or About.com’s Curriculum Vitae Guide at http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?terms=curriculum%2520vitae.