Professional Development Grants

Applications and Guidelines for fiscal year 2009 Quick Turnaround Grants will be posted online in May 2008. Applications for fiscal year 2009 Quick Turnaround Grants (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009) will be processed starting July 7, 2008.

Professional Development Grants are available throughout the year to help Arizona artists and representatives of, in general, small and mid-sized Arizona arts organizations attend out-of-state conferences/workshops/seminars/retreats that will contribute to their professional growth. Subject to approval, Professional Development Grants to artists or arts organizations are awarded up to $500. Grants up to $750 are only available to artists for extended out-of-state  or international study. (Due to current budget constraints, grants are likely to be lower than these levels.) The intent of these grants is as a learning/artistic/administrative development opportunity for the applicants, not primarily as a means to present or exhibit the applicant's work or serve as a speaker or panelist. If you have questions, please contact a Program Director in your discipline.

How to Apply (requests must be made in writing-no email):
Submit a typed letter of request (this must include name, address, phone and email and appropriate original signature) at least six weeks in advance of the conference/workshop/seminar/retreat. Your letter must include by mail:

1. date(s) and location of conference/workshop/seminar/retreat and justification for request *

2. a budget of the total cost to attend the conference/workshop/seminar/retreat. (The budget should include travel expenses, lodging, meal expenses, registration fee and related expenses; if assistance will be provided from other sources, list the amount/nature of this assistance in the budget); and

3. a flyer or brochure of information about the conference/workshop/seminar/retreat (if the information is in a language other than English or Spanish, please provide a brief translation)

Artists:

• describe how the experience will contribute to your personal artistic development; and

• include a resumé with your letter of request.

In some cases, a self-directed learning opportunity with professionals/master artists/mentors may be considered. An itinerary and description of the applicant's learning goals and activities, as well as a letter of support from the professional/master artist/mentor must be included with the application.

If your proposed project does not align with the educational intent of the Professional Development Grant, please have a look at the Artist Career Advancement Grant or the Artist Projects Grant. If you have questions, please contact a Program Director in your discipline.

Arts Organizations:

• describe how the experience will contribute to the development of the organization and name the individual/title designated to attend;

• the letter of request must be submitted and signed by an officer (preferably the president) of the organization requesting assistance. (The letter must specify the individual who will represent the organization at the conference/workshop/seminar/retreat, and must be someone other than the traveler); and

• include a resumé for the traveler with the letter of request.

Large organizations (with budgets of $1,000,000 or more) should talk with their ACA staff contact prior to applying for a PDG, and must describe how the professional development opportunity extends the organization's work or is for a special/unusual opportunity.

* Payment of approved funding will be made 30 days in advance of the event.

Those NOT eligible for Professional Development Grants:

• Full-time faculty at a college or university

• Artists or groups for self-presenting or supporting artist performances/exhibitions

• Applicants whose request is for activities connected to completion of an academic certificate or degree

• Non Arizona residents

• Applicants who have not submitted a Final Report for any previously funded Professional Development Grant.

Restrictions:

• One Professional Development Grant per fiscal year  - July 1-June 30 -  to an artist or arts organization (if more than one artist affiliated with the same organization applies for support, the award will be based on a first-come, first-served basis).

• Professional Development Grants will NOT be awarded to an individual to attend the same conference/workshop/seminar/retreat in two consecutive fiscal years.

• Professional Development Grants will not be considered for applicants receiving an Artist Career Advancement Grant within the same fiscal year.

For more information or assistance, contact Jaya Rao, Program Associate and Quick Turnaround Grants Coordinator at 602/771-6532 or jrao@azarts.gov.

Send to Arizona Commission on the Arts, 417 W. Roosevelt Street, Phoenix AZ 85003. Attn: Arizona Commission on the Arts, Professional Development Grants, Quick Turnaround Grants.