Register For The October 17 Nonprofit Board Boot Camp

Maine Association of Nonprofits 2012 Nonprofit Board Boot Camp 
October 17, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
University of Maine, Hutchinson Center, Belfast

Nonprofit boards need to strengthen their skills and enhance board engagement and leadership to adapt to increasing demands in this rapidly evolving environment. This event has been designed to provide nonprofit board members with practical information, resources, tools and practices that can help the nonprofits they serve accomplish their mission related goals more effectively.

The event will include: Beginner and advanced training session tracks and networking and peer-learning opportunities

Please join MANP on October 17, 2012 at the Hutchinson Center.  Cost: $90-MANP Members, $165-Non-members

More information and conference schedule can be found at the MANP website.

Grants in Film and Music.

Deadline: September 7, 2012
MacArthur Foundation Announces Open Call for Documentary Film Proposals

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's Media, Culture, and Special Initiatives program supports the production and distribution of social-issue documentary films that address important contemporary topics and are intended for a broad audience, particularly in the United States. The program seeks to fund documentary projects that address the significant social challenges of our time or explore important but under-reported topics.

Applicants may request any funding amount, but the typical grant range is between $50,000 and $200,000. In each round of funding, the foundation is able to support eight to twelve projects.
 Link to Complete RFP

Deadline: October 1, 2012 
Grammy Foundation Accepting Letters of Inquiry for 2012-13 Grants in Music Research and Preservation Projects 

Funded by the Recording Academy, the Grammy Foundation's grant program annually provides support for music archiving and preservation efforts and for scientific research projects related to the impact of music on the human condition. The scientific research projects grant program awards funding of up to $20,000 to organizations and individuals working to research the impact of music on the human condition. Examples include the study of the effects of music on mood, cognition, and healing; the medical and occupational well-being of music professionals; and the creative process underlying music. Priority will be given to projects with strong methodological design as well those designed to address an important research question.
 Full RFP here.

Deadline: November 5, 2012
Tribeca Film Institute Announces Guidelines for Documentary Fund

The Tribeca Film Institute Documentary Fund provides grants and guidance to exceptional filmmakers with character-driven nonfiction works-in-progress that sit outside of the social issue landscape. By supporting work that engages in unexplored perspectives, the fund aims to help take audiences into someone else's environment and spotlight the journey of the individual.

Grants of at least $10,000 will be awarded. The program will accept submissions beginning September 5, 2012, and close November 5, 2012.
Visit the TFI Web site for complete program guidelines and submission requirements.


  

Win Free Tickets to Penobscott Theatre!

The MainePerforms! initiative is looking make some Facebook friends. Like the "'Becky's New Car' opening October 17" post and your name will be entered in the drawing for two FREE tickets!

 Maine Performs FB

Penobscot Theatre 

 

Community Foundation Arts Grants, Sept 15.

The following Community Foundation arts grants have a September 15 deadline. Information about these, and other opportunities can be found at the Community foundation grants page. 

The Belvedere Historic Preservation Fund
Maximum grant size: $22,000
The Belvedere Historic Preservation Fundin partnership with Maine Historic Preservation Commission’s New Century Grant Program, is offering grants to support the preservation or restoration of historic buildings, primarily in Washington and Hancock Counties and in under-resourced rural communities in other parts of the state. The grant program focuses on the preservation and reuse of historic buildings that serve as civic, cultural, or economic hubs for communities. Grants will primarily be focused on capital projects.

Maine Expansion Arts Fund
Maximum grant size: $5,000
The Maine Expansion Arts Fund is the result of a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Lillian M. Berliawsky Charitable Trust, Maine Community Foundation, and Maine Arts Commission to strengthen and ensure the future of these artistic traditions. A permanent endowed fund held by the Maine Community Foundation, the Maine Expansion Arts Fund supports indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, particularly those that serve areas with limited access to arts events. Additional funding is provided through the Elizabeth Laughlin Anderson Memorial Fund at the Maine Community Foundation. The Maine Expansion Arts Committee seeks to support indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, particularly those that serve areas with limited access to arts events.

Maine Theater Fund 
Maximum grant size: $5,000 
Recognizing the connection between vibrant communities and support for the arts, in 2005 an anonymous couple established the Maine Theater Fund at the Maine Community Foundation. The goal of the fund is to strengthen and sustain theater performance throughout the state. Awards are typically between $2,500 and $5,000, although larger awards may be considered. The Maine Theater Fund is designed to support professional and community theaters in the production and presentation of live theater. Theaters whose main purpose is to present social messaging and/or health and wellness education will not be considered for funding. Proposals for funding will be accepted from local, regional and statewide nonprofit theaters or theater groups in Maine whose primary purpose is the production of live theater. Funds will be awarded for programmatic, capacity-building, operating, and capital support.

 

NEFA, Touring Grant Deadline Sept 4

New England States Touring (NEST) provides support to New England-based nonprofit organizations (presenters) for performances and community activities by select New England performing artists. NEST support is primarily designed to support presentations of New England-based artists from outside of the presenter’s state.

Any nonprofit, school, or government entity based in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) is eligible to apply for NEST funding. The nonprofit organization does not need to be an arts organization. An organization that does not have a federal tax identification number may apply as long as it is part of an official government agency.

NEST artists are performing artists from New England who meet the NEST Artist Requirements on MatchBook.org. They represent a wide range of disciplines, such as music, dance, opera, musical theater, poetry, writing, storytelling, interdisciplinary work, and folk arts, must be available for public performances, and maintain a permanent residence in New England.

Next Deadline September 4, 2012
More information can be found on the NEFA site.

Free Tickets to Performing Arts in Maine!

Maine Performs! is an initiative created by Maine arts organizations with support from the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Office of Tourism. The initiative was established to promote the performing arts sector of Maine.

This summer Maine Performs! is offering weekly drawings for free tickets to performing arts events. This week the tickets are for the Bates Dance Festival Finale on August 11. To participate, go to the Maine Performs! Facebook page and share the Bates Dance Festival post.

The Winner will be selected from a random drawing of entries on August 8.
Good luck.

www.facebook.com/maineperforms 

 

NEA Placemaking Grant and Webinars (Grant Deadline August 9)

National Endowment for the Arts: Art Works Design Grants. Funding typically ranges from $10,000 to $100,000.

The application deadline for all design projects is August 9, 2012. The earliest beginning date for the Arts Endowment's period of support is June 1, 2013.

The Art Works category provides support for projects that address the following outcomes:

• Creation: The creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence
• Engagement: Public engagement with diverse and excellent art
• Learning: Lifelong learning in the arts 
• Livability: The strengthening of communities through the arts

Also from the Endowment: NEA, webinars on creative placemaking about current trends, challenges and policies in the field will take place at 4pm EST and feature panelists that served on the Our Town review panel.

July 24: Creative Placemaking through Design and Cultural Planning
July 31: Creative Placemaking through Arts Engagement

To join a webinar: http://www.arts.gov/national/ourtown/2012-discussion-webinars.html
Grant Guidelines: http://arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP13/DesignAW.html
How to Apply: http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP13/DesignAW2.html

Questions: Contact Jen Hughes, Design Specialist, hughesj@arts.gov or 202.682.5547

Saco Museum Seeks Director

The Saco Museum seeks an experienced museum professional to provide leadership and creative vision for this regional museum of history, art, and culture.

The Director curates and coordinates exhibitions; generates revenue through grant funding, corporate sponsorships, donor cultivation, gift shop management, and assistance with the annual fund and fundraising events; provides public relations and publicity; manages the museum budget; and supervises and schedules a small staff, including an Education and Program Manager and a Collections Manager. The Museum Director plans for the museum’s ongoing sustainability (under the supervision of the Executive Director of the Dyer Library Association), including achieving and maintaining the high professional standards of the museum field.The Dyer Library Association, operating the museum and a public library, is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3).

Requirements: 5 years leadership experience in a museum setting required; Master’s Degree in a related field desired. Salary commensurate with experience. 80% health insurance coverage, 10 paid holidays, 19 days personal time in the first year.

Send cover letter, resume, and names, phone numbers, and emails of three professional references by August 18 to Leslie Rounds, Executive Director, Dyer Library/Saco Museum, 371 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072, lrounds@dyer.lib.me.us.

Arts Internships in Maine!

The Maine Arts Commission has compiled a comprehensive list of Maine arts organizations that offer opportunities for students seeking internships. The list can be found on the Maine Arts Commission intern pages.

If you have regular opportunities for interns and are not listed, you can be added by completing a short questionnaire. The agency will add your organization to the listings and then provide your contact details to interns who are actively seeking opportunities.

Internship Questionnaire

People seeking internship opportunities can use this resource to find appropriate placement. Interested parties should go to the listings page, or the page of full postings to see what is available, and can contact organizations directly.

A special thanks to all of the organizations who have already listed. The response to this initiative has been overwhelming.

 

Seeking Development Staff.

There seems to be a number of development positions available at arts organizations this month. Here are some listings:


Portland Stage Company - Development Director 
Portland Stage Company, a 38-year-old professional Equity theater with a $2.1 million budget, is seeking a Director responsible for development, improvement, and implementation of all aspects of a successful, comprehensive Development Program for Portland Stage.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent writing and public speaking ability, be an effective manager, and be a talented business strategist with proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with the community, donors, and board members. Qualifications include Bachelor’s Degree and non-profit management experience. Arts organization experience a plus.

For a complete job description, and more information about the Company and its programs, go to www.portlandstage.org. Applications will be reviewed beginning July 13, 2012

Center for Furniture Craftsmanship - Development Coordinator 
The Development Coordinator is responsible for administering development activities at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, including individual, corporate, and foundation giving. This is a part-time position (10-15 hour/week on average) that requires initiative and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines. Evening hours are occasionally required for special events and openings.

More Information here: http://woodschool.org/opportunities/employment-opportunities

To Apply To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and list of three references with telephone contact information to kat@woodschool.org.

Portland Symphony Orchestra - Development Coordinator 
The Development Coordinator will be responsible for the coordination of Development Office needs including scheduling donor meetings for the Executive Director and Director of Development; managing logistics for patron engagement events; working as a team player with the Development staff to accomplish the Symphony’s financial goals.

The Development Coordinator will work closely with Symphony leadership, including members of the Board of Trustees, to build relationships with patrons. A deep understanding of the PSO’s programs and passion for the Symphony’s service to the community is essential.

More information can be found here: http://www.portlandsymphony.org/content/about/employment/

To Apply Please send resume, cover letter and salary history by Friday, July 20th to: Portland Symphony Orchestra Attn: Leah Robertson, Director of Development P.O. Box 3573 Portland, ME 04104 Email: lrobertson@portlandsymphony.org

 

The Innovation Lab for the Performing Arts Grant

Round 7 of The Innovation Lab for the Performing Arts, designed and managed by EmcArts, with the generous support of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The Lab is a 12-month program that helps performing arts organizations incubate and test innovative strategies to address major adaptive challenges.

The Round 7 Application deadline is Thursday, August 9, 2012.

Most arts institutions operate using constantly stretched resources and consequently struggle to implement truly new ideas. At the same time, however, the capacity of American arts organizations to innovate—to find new pathways to mission fulfillment that are discontinuous from previous practice and that result from shifts in underlying organizational assumptions—is and will be a leading indicator of sustained marketplace success and viability.

The Innovation Lab was designed to serve as a catalyst for the journey to these new pathways: to help arts organizations challenge core operating assumptions, engage in intense planning on a practical innovation project, create a sense of organization-wide investment in change, and test innovative strategies with grants that help organizations prototype new practices.

Click to download the Round 7 Request for Proposals and the Press Release! MORE INFO HERE.

For clarification about the Lab program as a whole, please contact Liz Dreyer (ldreyer@emcarts.org), preferably by e-mail, and she will answer your questions.

Lincoln Theater Seeks Executive Director

Lincoln Theater (Damariscotta ME) is seeking an Executive Director.

The position reports to the Board of Trustees and is is responsible for leadership of Lincoln Theater, which includes the programming, administrative, operating, fundraising, and marketing functions within the budget approved by the Board of Trustees.

The ED oversees the design, promotion, delivery and quality of programs, products, and services of Lincoln Theater, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers. The ED is expected to further the mission of Lincoln Theater “to be the major community resource for the promotion and production of the performing arts” and to deliver upon the annually established Plan of Work. The position is a salaried full-time role and includes benefits.

To learn more about the theater please visit:  www.atthelincoln.org 
For a detailed position description, including qualifications and skill requirements, please visit  http://www.atthelincoln.org/lincoln-theater-staff.aspx

To apply,  please submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample of which you are the sole author, and the names and contact information for three references electronically to Chairman, Lincoln Theater Executive Director Search Committee, at info@atthelincoln.org.

The search will remain open until the position is filled.

One Longfellow Square Seeks Executive Director

One Longfellow Square (OLS), located at the gateway to Portland, Maine’s thriving arts district, is one of the most influential "listening rooms" in New England. Each year they showcase over 200 performances ranging from folk to bluegrass, jazz to classical, film, theatre, spoken word and more.

In 2011, OLS began transitioning to a nonprofit organization with a goal of collaborating with other programs to provide a voice, a classroom, and a stage for underserved creative youth in Greater Portland and beyond. OLS is thoughtfully positioning itself as a community music and arts venue.

The Executive Director is the chief executive/staff officer of the organization and is responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of OLS’ operations to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. The Executive Director will work with OLS’ Board of Directors, staff and volunteers to carry out the operational, programmatic, development and expansion work of the organization. Complete information can be found on the Maine Association of Nonprofits site.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, July 13

Please send all inquiries to the OLS Board President, Elisabeth Osborn Chase

resumes@onelongfellowsquare.com.

All applications must include a resume, three (3) references, cover letter, and salary requirements.

Grant Opportunity for Maine's Cultural Venues

Tourism Cares is offering nonprofit, tax-exempt public charities the opportunity to submit letters of inquiry for projects to conserve, preserve, or restore a site, and/or educate visitors. Funding requests may include brick-and-mortar capital improvement projects or educational programs that enhance interpretation of the site.

The site for which an organization is requesting funding must be a tourism-related site with actual visitation (not projected future visitation) and must be a cultural, historic, or natural site of exceptional significance, defined as "critical to the interpretation of the local area, or essential to the maintenance of the history or culture of local indigenous peoples."

Organization must be classified as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity, or be a federally recognized American Indian or Alaska Native tribe. Up to six grants of up to $10,000 will be provided through this round of funding. Visit the Tourism Cares Web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and the letter of inquiry form.

innOvation Grant for Arts in Communities

As part of its effort to recognize the role artists play in revitalizing their communities, Ovation television network has partnered with Americans for the Arts to launch a national grant program, innOVATION.
 This year's program will award three grants of $25,000, two grants of $10,000, and one viewers' choice award of $15,000.

Inspired by the community-revitalization effort documented in the network's recent original series Motor City Rising, the innOVATION Grant Program is designed to highlight similar stories of arts-focused, neighborhood-renewal initiatives in the United States and provide support to model projects.

To be eligible, applicants must be Americans for the Arts organizational members and must be nominated by an elected community official (mayor, county executive, etc.). Applicants' community-revitalization programs must focus on the arts and have a demonstrated record of success. Only one submission per community will be accepted. Grant recipients will be selected based on their creative, economic, and social impact, as well as their ability to pool public, private, nonprofit, and community efforts to improve and enhance a specific region through arts and culture.

 For complete innOVATION grant program guidelines and application procedures, as well as information on becoming an Americans for the Arts organizational member, visit the Americans for the Arts web site.

Freeport Factory Stage Seeking Artistic Director

Freeport Factory Stage is seeking a new artistic director.

 Located  in the heart of Downtown Freeport, Freeport Factory Stage grew out of a shared vision for a new black box theater in downtown Freeport. With seating for up to 90 people, the Factory Stage is an intimate performance space.

Bud Carlson and Julie George-Carlson will be leaving the company, creating this exciting opportunity. General manager Harold Withee and Eric Sawyer (technical director/ managing producer) will assist Bud and Julie in fielding inquiries from anyone who might be interested in taking on the challenge.

Plese feel free to contact Freeport Factory Stage,
5 Depot Street PO Box 13
Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 370-5340
eric@freeportfactory.com

 

FS2012: Design, Community, and the Sublime,

The Maine College of Art and the Furniture Society invite you to join them June 13-16 at the Maine College of Art in Portland for FS2012: Design, Community, and the Sublime, a conference dedicated to Maine's craft artist community.

Tours will be offered on Wednesday the 13 to: 

• Thomas Moser Studio, Pineland Farms and Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village 
• Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and Lie Nielson Toolworks 
• Watershed Center for Ceramics Arts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

From the 14 to 16 the conference will offer gallery receptions, keynote speeches by Sherwood Hamil and Angela Adams, workshops, moderated discussions, lectures and valuable opportunities to meet some of the foremost furniture and craft artists in Maine. 

A full listing of all that will be offered can be found here:

http://www.furnituresociety.org/furn/docs/conf/2012/fs2012_program.pdf

You can register for the conference here: 

https://www6554.ssldomain.com/furnituresociety/zen/index.php?main_page=quick_order&zenid=5t72ejunu5lcf1lduv25mgrt14

This conference was supported, in part, by the Maine Arts Commission.

 

Furniture Design Competition (and Exhibition)

re-posted from  ARTFIXdaily

The Farnsworth Art Museum, in Rockland, Maine and the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine, announce a collaborative design competition and exhibition. The challenge, which goes out to all Maine artisans and artists, is to design benches for the museum's galleries. Completed versions of the top 18 design entries will be exhibited at the Center's Messler Gallery from January 18-April 3, 2013. The Farnsworth will then make a select number of purchase awards from the exhibition to furnish its galleries.

The deadline for entries is August 1, 2012. Any material or combination of materials is permissible, and seating must be sufficiently moveable to accommodate flexible use within the museum's galleries. Individual units can be designed to seat anywhere from 2-5 people and must be available for the Farnsworth to purchase at a retail price not to exceed $3,300. Submissions may consist of images of completed work, prototypes, models or renderings.

For complete details of the submission guidelines please visit http://www.woodschool.org/wood-school-gallery/call-for-entries or farnsworthmuseum.org/call-for-entries-cfc

If you have questions, please contact Messler Gallery Manager, Victoria Allport, at victoria@woodschool.org or 207-594-5611.

 

Maine Arts Interns.

The Maine Arts Commission is putting together a comprehensive list of organizations in Maine who would value the assistance and expertise that college interns could provide.

If you take three minutes to complete a short survey we will add your organization to our website and then provide your contact details to college interns who are actively seeking opportunities to help organizations such as yours.

Take this survey 

Your input will help us create a concise database of organizations who wish to benefit from additional help throughout the year while offering valuable experience to Maine's college students. Thank you.
 

NEFA Presenter Travel Funds Available!

The Presenter Travel Fund provides monetary assistance to arts programmers and curatorial staff in New England and are distributed in the order of first come first serve. 

Applicants may apply for funding to help cover the expense of attending festivals, showcases, conferences, or other cultural events where they can see artistic work that they may present in their own community.

Any nonprofit, school, or government entity based in New England is eligible to apply. The nonprofit organization does not need to be an arts organization. An organization that does not have a federal tax identification number (such as a national historic park) may apply as long as it is part of an official government agency (such as the National Park Service).

http://www.nefa.org/grants_services/presenter_travel_fund

I highly recommend Maine programmers consider attending the Contact East Conference in September (Fredericton NB)

http://www.contacteast.ca/  

Other Canadian offerings include:

The Saint John Sculpture Symposium (Aug)
http://www.sculpturesaintjohn.com/

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (Sept)
http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com/

The Canadian Folk Music Awards (Nov)
http://folkawards.ca/

Some other things that you may want to attend include:

TCG National Conference (June)
http://www.tcg.org/events/conference/index.cfm

The Mass Moca Canada Exhibit (June)
http://www.massmoca.org/

NEFA Idea Swap (Nov)
http://www.nefa.org/grants_services/idea_swap

National Arts Marketing Conference (Nov)
http://artsmarketing.org/conference

Art Basel (Dec)
http://www.artbaselmiamibeach.com