Brattleboro NEA Our Town Call For Artists – Addendum 2

BRATTLEBORO PUBLIC ARTS PROJECT(S)
CALL FOR ARTISTS/REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
ADDENDUM # 2
JULY 14, 2015

1. The Budget for the Project(s) has increased.

Additional donations have been received. The total budget for the project(s) is now $56,000.

2. What is/is not a U.S. Artist?

The reference to ‘U.S. Artist’ as a qualifying characteristic was meant to make it clear to all potential proposers that we are not limiting participation to artists from Brattleboro or from Vermont. However, upon reflection in preparing to answer this question, we realize that ‘U.S. Artist’ is still unnecessarily limiting. Therefore, in the open spirit of this project which encourages maximum participation, we hereby eliminate the ‘U.S.’ so the applicable sentence in the CFA/RFP document would read, “Artists who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to apply.”

3. What is the difference between the Screening and Selection Committees?

The award process entails two phases of review by two different bodies, both of which will be appointed by the Selectboard. The Screening Committee will review all proposals and recommend finalists to the Selectboard. Once approved by the Selectboard, the finalists will refine and complete their proposals. The final proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Committee, which will recommend to the Selectboard the project(s) for award and implementation under the Our Town grant.

4. What is the definition of ‘family’ members in the applicant eligibility criteria?

Here ‘family’ means: parents, siblings, children (biological, adopted, or legal custody), spouses, and co-habitants.

4. What if a close colleague or business partner is on the Screening or Selection Committee?

You are ineligible to apply if your employer, employee, or someone with whom you have a business partnership is on the Screening Committee or the Selection Committee. However, simply knowing or occasionally doing business with a member of the Screening Committee or Selection Committee does not make you ineligible to apply.

5. Should an application involving multiple artists in a team or similar configuration submit multiple applications?

No. Such a group should submit one application that makes clear the relationship between the constituent members of the team.

6. What if an artist’s project does not propose using the entire budget?

Applicants are encouraged to carefully account for project costs. The Town may make awards to multiple projects, each of which will use less than the total budget. In that scenario, the combined cost of all awarded projects will not exceed the total budget.

7. How was the available budget determined? (Will funds be returned to the NEA if unused?)

The budget is based on the total funds available from all sources, including the NEA, the Town of Brattleboro, and donations from private organizations and individuals. Every effort will be made to ensure that all available funds are expended (to avoid any return of unspent funds to the NEA).

8. How is the CFA/RFP being shared?

The Town has compiled a distribution list of approximately 140 email addresses for people and organizations that have an interest in public affairs in Brattleboro and/or in promoting the arts (both here and elsewhere). Each time we distribute materials to this broad group, we also ask each recipient to share the information with other individuals and organizations whom they believe would be interested in this project. All potential proposers have been asked to register with the Town and are included in the distribution of all CFA/RFP addenda. Finally, all documents are disseminated to the local media (which has provided regular coverage of this matter as it has progressed) and also are posted on the Town’s website.

9. Public space and/or private space, how is that determined?

The choice of location is up to the applicant. The Selectboard and staff will judge the viability of the location as part of the review process. For proposals that involve permanent installations, use of public space is strongly recommended. More flexibility is possible for temporary installations and for performances or other events, but all proposed locations (whether publicly or privately owned) must be accessible to the public.

10. What if an artist is without a resume and formal portfolio BUT has a project and talent?

We encourage such an artist to submit.

11. Is the application scoring weighted?

The Screening Committee and Selection Committee will use the “Questions for Artist Selection Criteria” in the Town’s Public Art Policy and may establish other appropriate criteria for review. Any weighting system used for scoring during either phase of review will be clearly expressed to the public either during the review process or as part of the applicable committee’s recommendations to the Selectboard.

12. Will applicants need to review the Public Art Policy to make an application?

We strongly encourage all applicants to review this policy. Applications clearly in conflict with the policy will not be recommended. Applications that clearly comply with all aspects of the policy will be viewed more favorably than those for which such compliance is incomplete or unclear.

13. Is the ‘process’ weighted against an amateur applicant?

No. The Screening Committee will be looking for various attributes including artistic merit, feasibility (ability to complete), and compliance with the Town’s Public Art Policy. The question of ‘professional’ versus ‘amateur’ will not be a determining factor.

14. What is the screening process? What is the selection process?

As stated in #11 above, the “Questions for Artist Selection Criteria” section of the Town’s Public Art Policy will be utilized during both phases of review. Both the Screening Committee and the Selection Committee also will have the latitude to establish other criteria and to proceed with review processes that they deem fair and in keeping with established norms for judging public arts proposals. All aspects of this process during both phases will be made fully transparent to the public.

15. Where can I review the original grant documents?

On the website brattcorearts.org

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Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100