Undergraduate Artist Grants

http://www.ucira.ucsb.edu/

Undergraduate Action Research Grants

The University of California Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA) is pleased to announce a new funding program dedicated to supporting undergraduate student-led initiatives in the arts. The undergraduate Action Research grants are aimed at supporting arts and cultural projects with the capacity to have a significant impact on campus/community life. Projects may include, but are not limited to: exhibitions, performances, concerts, guest-artist visits, site-specific art, workshops, festivals and publications that foster innovation and campus engagement through the arts.

The undergraduate Action Research awards, which range from $500-$2000, support student-led arts initiatives. Funds are available for any currently enrolled undergraduate UC student or student group on a competitive basis. Applications are due March 15th for projects taking place during the following Fall or Winter quarters.

All proposals must:
oDemonstrate art's potential to foster understanding, encourage the intersection of communities, and transform experience
oEmploy peer-to-peer leadership and expertise to promote undergraduate student learning through the arts

In Addition, proposals should meet one or more of the following criteria:
oExpose students and the public to innovative and experimental art forms
oFacilitate new ways of thinking about how the University can more effectively and imaginatively engage its students and their attendant communities
oUtilize the arts as a means of addressing challenging topics
oFacilitate collaborations between new and diverse communities
oIncrease understanding of or proficiency in the arts

Some background on the Action Research Initiative:
The UCIRA Action Research program awards are intended to support expanded praxis/participation-oriented proposals in which UC faculty and/or students partner as co-researchers and co-learners with representatives from a broad range of off-campus communities, organizations and agencies. Project proposals should be designed to develop and foster sustained relationships between academic and non-academic sectors and to encourage participants to work on mutually defined problems and projects situated within a real world context.

How to apply:
In preparing to apply you should:
1. Read the guidelines carefully
2. Write down any questions you have and call (805-893-7799) or email UCIRA for clarification (info@ucira.ucsb.edu).
3. Have someone unfamiliar with your project read a draft of your application for clarity.
4. Check the application deadline.
5. Download Summary Sheet (word document: 56kb)
6. Download Host Venue Form (word document: 34kb)
7. Obtain a letter of support from a UC faculty or staff member familiar with you, your group or your project.

Deadlines:
Applications will be reviewed twice annually. When applying, please make sure that your event takes place well after the notification date. We do not provide retroactive funding so you we encourage you to apply early!

For projects taking place Fall 2008/Winter 2009
Applications due March 15

Applications must be RECEIVED BY 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline. In the event that the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications must be received by the first business day following the deadline. Faxed applications will NOT be accepted.

Funding Process:
You must have an Office of Student Life trustee account or equivalent means of receiving the funds at your campus (note: each campus uses a different name for these accounts - check with your home department for details.) In order to do this you may be required to register as an official student activity group, or obtain permission through your department to receive the funds there. If you are awarded funding, we will send a record of the transfer to OSL or your departmental administrator, through whom you will be able to access your funds.

The Application Package:
To apply for a UCIRA grant, please submit 1 copy via U.S. mail and 1 copy via email in PDF format of the following set of materials:

Application Package:
1. A completed UCIRA summary sheet form (attached)
2. A narrative description of the proposed project
(Limit your Proposal Narrative to one page, with not less than 0.8 inch margins, 12 point font or larger)
3. The project budget proposal
4. Host Venue Form (attached)
5. Letter of recommendation from a UC faculty or staff person

Send completed applications to:
UCIRA
6046 HSSB
University of California
Santa Barbara CA 93106-7115