Creative Strategies Incubator 2014: Preparing Your Letter of Interest
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Transcript of Creative Strategies Incubator 2014: Preparing Your Letter of Interest
October 2013
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Preparing Your Letter of Interest
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Michael JonesProgram Director, Performing Arts
Heather DunfordGrants Manager
Metcalf Foundation Program Staff
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Background Introduction to Creative Strategies Incubator◦Supported Initiatives
◦Learning Network
◦Focus Issue How to Approach the Focus Issue
Agenda
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Making an Application Program Eligibility Letters of Interest◦Content
◦What is the Foundation looking for?
Agenda
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Learnings from 2013◦Based on last year’s applications, what is the
Foundation looking for?
Q & A
Agenda
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“…the Metcalf Foundation believes in supporting a diversity of responses to address complex challenges. We believe that this work will be more successful if people and organizations share what they learn and build on each other’s solutions. We also believe it is important to engage at an overarching, policy level in order to address systemic issues that go beyond the efforts of an individual company.”
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non-profit performing arts sector facing complex sectoral challenges
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non-profit performing arts sector facing complex sectoral challenges
complex challenges require different responses from a variety of organizations
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non-profit performing arts sector facing complex sectoral challenges
complex challenges require different responses from a variety of organizations
this work is strengthened if these different organizations have opportunities to share learning
Creative Strategies Incubator
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non-profit performing arts sector facing complex sectoral challenges
complex challenges require different responses from a variety of organizations
this work is strengthened if these different organizations have opportunities to share learning
some policy-level challenges are beyond capabilities of any individual organization
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Supported Initiatives Learning Network Focus Issue
Components
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“What’s the best new, creative way for my company to approach this particular challenge?”
Supported Initiatives
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“What’s the best new, creative way for my company to approach this particular challenge?”
looking to build Learning Network of most innovative responses to Focus Issue
has to be new approach/activity – this is not funding for ongoing operations
must be innovative for your company – should be innovative for sector
Supported Initiatives
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Metcalf will support the cost of implementing your Supported Initiative
funding parameters (2014)◦up to $75,000/year for 3 years
◦ can be a different amount in each year
◦ can request funding for only 1 or 2 years
◦ “cost of implementing Supported Initiative” can include salaries, but this is not operating funding
◦amount of request important – will address that issue in Letter of Interest requirements
Supported Initiatives
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comprised of representatives from all companies working on Supported Initiatives
Learning Network
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comprised of representatives from all companies working on Supported Initiatives◦asked to identify these people in letter of interest
◦as much as possible, should be more than one person from each participating organization
◦ should be organization personnel with ongoing knowledge and experience of the Supported Initiative
◦ these people should be prepared to make an active commitment, attending all network meetings
◦ should include artistic staff as well as administrative staff
Learning Network
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comprised of representatives from all companies working on Supported Initiatives
will participate in up to four day-long meetings each year
Learning Network
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comprised of representatives from all companies working on Supported Initiatives
will participate in up to four day-long meetings each year
will be expected to share learning with other organizations across performing arts sector
Learning Network
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comprised of representatives from all companies working on Supported Initiatives
will participate in up to four day-long meetings each year
will be expected to share learning with other organizations across performing arts sector
“shepherded” by a committee formed by Metcalf, that will assume responsibility for some sector-wide policy issues
Learning Network
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2014 “…engaging audiences and/or building
communities around your work”
Focus Issue
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2014 “…engaging audiences and/or building
communities around your work”
2015 “…will likely return to new or alternative sources
of revenue…”
Focus Issue
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2014 “…engaging audiences and/or building
communities around your work”
2015 “…will likely return to new or alternative sources
of revenue…”◦Metcalf is interested in continuing our work in this area,
keep flexibility in case pressing sectoral issue arises
Focus Issue
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strongest applications come from real knowledge and interest in Focus Issue
Focus Issue
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strongest applications come from real knowledge and interest in Focus Issue◦What are the important writings on audience
engagement and building community?
Focus Issue
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strongest applications come from real knowledge and interest in Focus Issue◦What are the important writings on audience
engagement and building community?
◦What are other companies trying, in or outside of Canada, that is particularly exciting or innovative?
Focus Issue
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strongest applications come from real knowledge and interest in Focus Issue
most successful applications start from this place of inquiry and then determine what their proposed Supported Initiative will be
Focus Issue
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Important Considerations the more creative, the better the likelihood of
funding… the more grounded in learning around this Focus
Issue, the better the likelihood of funding… really not looking for “We just want to hire
audience development staff… marketer… etc…”
Focus Issue
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“In addition to being a registered charity, applicants … must be professional theatre, dance, music, or opera companies, located in the City of Toronto, who have been in operation for at least three years.”
Program Eligibility
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“In addition to being a registered charity, applicants … must be professional theatre, dance, music, or opera companies…”
legal requirement for Metcalf funding will consider collaborative applications including
non-charities, but lead applicant must be registered and must be responsible for activities of partnership (not simply a conduit for funds)
Program Eligibility
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“In addition to being a registered charity, applicants … must be professional theatre, dance, music, or opera companies…”
are artists/performers paid for their work? is your organization funded by one of the arts
councils? (recognized by peer jury)
Program Eligibility
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“...must be professional theatre, dance, music, or opera companies, located in the City of Toronto…”
will consider collaborative applications, including companies outside of this description, but lead applicant must be a performing arts company
will consider applications from ASOs with focus solely on performing arts
excludes media arts (film, radio, television)and visual arts (including museums, galleries)
Program Eligibility
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“…theatre, dance, music, or opera companies, located in the City of Toronto, who have been in operation for at least three years.”
primary office/studio address in “M” postal code performances/season/work in “M” postal code eligible for Toronto Arts Council funding may consider companies based in GTA with
strong annual presence in Toronto
Program Eligibility
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“…theatre, dance, music, or opera companies, located in the City of Toronto, who have been in operation for at least three years.”
typically, three years of production history company need not have been a registered charity
for three years
Program Eligibility
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Other Considerations appreciate collaborative applications will not consider applications from companies
currently receiving Creative Strategies Incubator or Strategic Initiatives funding
contact Program Director with specific questions
Program Eligibility
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brief background to company
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company◦ least important section – brief
◦ if collaborative application, should introduce all partners
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative◦most important section
◦ Is your proposed initiative focused, clearly articulated, well thought out, achievable?
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative names/titles of people who will participate in
Learning Network
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative names/titles of people who will participate in
Learning Network◦ in full application stage, each of these people will need
to provide a statement regarding what they hope to gain from the Learning Network (ascertain their willingness before you put their names down…)
◦not so many people that it will become unwieldy for Learning Network (or application process)
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative names/titles of people who will participate in
Learning Network experience working in collaborative learning
environments
Letters of Interest
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brief background to company outline your proposed initiative names/titles of people who will participate in
Learning Network experience working in collaborative learning
environments◦ could be company or individual experience
Letters of Interest
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Important Considerations NEW FOR 2014 – electronic copy only, pdf
format; no paper copy at letter of interest stage need Metcalf cover sheet three page maximum (honest three pages…) description of proposed initiative most important
section for letter of interest application deadline firm – all materials must be
received by 5:00 pm on Monday, December 9
Letters of Interest
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Is the applicant eligible?◦ registered charity
◦professional performing arts organization
◦based in Toronto
◦ three years’ production history
◦addresses Focus Issue
◦not an operating request
◦applicant is not currently receiving Strategic Initiatives or Creative Strategies Incubator funding
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Is the proposed initiative compelling?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Is the proposed initiative compelling?◦ Is it new for this company? Is it innovative for the
sector?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Is the proposed initiative compelling?◦ Is it new for this company? Is it innovative for the
sector?
◦ Is it focused? Was the company thoughtful and rigorous in the development of this plan?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Is the proposed initiative compelling?◦ Is it new for this company? Is it innovative for the
sector?
◦ Is it focused? Was the company thoughtful and rigorous in the development of this plan?
◦ Is it achievable? Is it achievable on the proposed budget?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Is the proposed initiative compelling?◦ Is it new for this company? Is it innovative for the
sector?
◦ Is it focused? Was the company thoughtful and rigorous in the development of this plan?
◦ Is it achievable? Is it achievable on the proposed budget?
◦ Is the proposal clearly written?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Does the amount of funding requested feel appropriate for the proposed initiative?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Does the amount of funding requested feel appropriate for the proposed initiative?◦ Is it within the program parameters?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Does the amount of funding requested feel appropriate for the proposed initiative?◦ Is it within the program parameters?
◦ Is it too much money? Does it feel “padded”? Does it feel like a “disguised” request for operating support?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Does the amount of funding requested feel appropriate for the proposed initiative?◦ Is it within the program parameters?
◦ Is it too much money? Does it feel “padded”? Does it feel like a “disguised” request for operating support?
◦ Is it too little money? Is the proposed activity really possible for this amount of money?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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Does the amount of funding requested feel appropriate for the proposed initiative?◦ Is it within the program parameters?
◦ Is it too much money? Does it feel “padded”? Does it feel like a “disguised” request for operating support?
◦ Is it too little money? Is the proposed activity really possible for this amount of money?
◦Do you really need the same amount of money for every year of the proposed activity?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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How would this company and this proposal contribute to the Learning Network?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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How would this company and this proposal contribute to the Learning Network?◦ Is this a new, creative way to approach the Focus
Issue?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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How would this company and this proposal contribute to the Learning Network?◦ Is this a new, creative way to approach the Focus
Issue?
◦Would this company/these people bring diversity to the Learning Network? (discipline, company size, art form)
What is Metcalf looking for?
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How would this company and this proposal contribute to the Learning Network?◦ Is this a new, creative way to approach the Focus
Issue?
◦Would this company/these people bring diversity to the Learning Network? (discipline, company size, art form)
◦Would this company bring participation from both artistic and administrative leadership?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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How would this company and this proposal contribute to the Learning Network?◦ Is this a new, creative way to approach the Focus
Issue?
◦Would this company/these people bring diversity to the Learning Network? (discipline, company size, art form)
◦Would this company bring participation from both artistic and administrative leadership?
◦ Is this a company with a strong history of leadership in the sector, particularly at the local level?
What is Metcalf looking for?
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incredibly competitive program
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous strongest applications are based in real
knowledge and interest in Focus Issue
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous strongest applications are based in real
knowledge and interest in Focus Issue importance of innovation in strong applications
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous strongest applications are based in real
knowledge and interest in Focus Issue importance of innovation in strong applications “rational” funding request is likely to be favoured
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous strongest applications are based in real
knowledge and interest in Focus Issue importance of innovation in strong applications “rational” funding request is likely to be favoured consider the number of Learning Network
participants
Learnings from 2013
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incredibly competitive program planning must be complete and rigorous strongest applications are based in real
knowledge and interest in Focus Issue importance of innovation in strong applications “rational” funding request is likely to be favoured consider the number of Learning Network
participants importance of a clearly written proposal
Learnings from 2013
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Michael JonesProgram Director, Performing Arts
Heather DunfordGrants Manager
Q & A
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Choreographing Our Future:Strategies for Supporting Next Generation Arts Practice
Thursday, November 7, 2013; 4:30 pmWinchester Street Theatre◦ free event to launch Shannon Litzenberger’s Innovation
Fellowship paper
◦presentation of concepts and panel discussion with opportunity for questions
◦details and registration link on Metcalf Foundation website
Upcoming Metcalf Event
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Thank you for participating in today’s webinar.
Michael JonesProgram Director, Performing Arts
416-926-0366 x [email protected]
Creative Strategies Incubator 2014:Preparing Your Letter of Interest