Ode to Walt Whitman - Bart Buch

2005 Workshop Grant

 

Grant Application FAQ



Can I submit an application in September if I did not submit a letter of intent in April?
No – we cannot accept any new applicants after the letter of intent deadline has passed because applicants are invited to the next stage of consideration based on the letters of intent. Return to top

What is a fiscal sponsor, and do I need one?
A fiscal sponsor is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that will receive and administer your funds on your behalf should you receive a grant. 501(c)(3) status is the federal tax determination given to non-profit charitable organizations. Because funds can only be awarded to non-profit organizations, you must apply using a fiscal sponsor if your company does not have non-profit status.  Return to top

How do I find a fiscal sponsor?
One way to find a fiscal sponsor is through your current affiliations, such as theaters, libraries, community organizations, or professional societies that are familiar with your work. Puppeteers of America offers fiscal sponsorship to its members. The New York Foundation for the Arts offers a fiscal sponsorship program and provides a list of other organizations with fiscal sponsorship programs across the country. The Foundation Center also has information on finding a fiscal sponsor, along with examples of policies, procedures, and guidelines for fiscal sponsorship agreements. Return to top

Do I need a commitment from a fiscal sponsor prior to submitting my letter of intent?
You do not need a fiscal sponsor in order to submit a letter of intent. If you are invited to submit a full proposal, you must have a commitment from a fiscal sponsor when the complete application is due. Return to top

Can my organization serve as a fiscal sponsor for an artist if we are applying for a grant ourselves?
Yes. Serving as a fiscal sponsor for another artist will not affect our consideration of your own application in any way. Return to top

Can my organization serve as the fiscal sponsor for multiple applicants?
Yes. You can serve as a fiscal sponsor for as many artists as you like. It will not affect our consideration of the artist’s applications or your own application, if you are submitting one yourself. Return to top

Should I include a description of my company in my letter of intent?
While we are primarily interested in gaining a clear understanding of the content and execution of the proposed project, it is helpful to include some background information on your company in the letter of intent, particularly if you have not applied for a grant from the Jim Henson Foundation in the past.  Return to top

What sort of visuals and/or video should I submit with my full application if my piece is in an early stage of development?
Puppetry is a visual art form.  Images of the puppetry in the proposed production are essential to your application, even if they are sketches or early prototypes.  We do not fund work that is in such an early stage that there are no images. Return to top

I am submitting a full application: How do I include video of the piece if it’s not completed?
We understand that no piece will be finished in the application process, since we do not fund work that is already completed. The reviewing board needs to be able to see visually where you are at in your process. Please take these 4 minutes to showcase what you do have. We need to see the style of puppets in which you are working and excellence in performance.  If you are applying for a Workshop Grant, a minimum of 2 minutes of your video must pertain to the piece for which you are applying. The remaining time may be used to show work that relates in some way to the application project, whether it be aesthetic, performance style, or otherwise. We do not fund work that is in such an early stage of development that there is no video.  The video must emphasize the excellence of puppetry in the piece both in performance and design. Return to top

Do I need to specify whether I am applying for a Workshop Grant, Production Grant or Family Grant?
Please specify in your letter of intent the grant for which you are applying. If you are applying for further support of a piece that already has received a Workshop Grant, the piece is only eligible for a Production Grant.  Return to top

Will the foundation consider a proposal for a project that is not strictly puppet theater if it incorporates elements of puppetry?
We are happy to consider proposals for work that crosses or combines artistic genres as long as puppetry is integral to the entire piece. We receive far more proposals each year than we are able to fund, so we must focus on those projects that most closely fulfill our mission to develop new works of puppet theater. The sophistication of the design and the skill of the manipulation are just as important as the degree to which puppetry is utilized in the piece. For example, if your work is an hour long and features only ten minutes of puppetry, or if the puppets are used as props or manipulated by actors with no training in the art form, then we do not suggest applying for a grant from The Jim Henson Foundation.  Return to top

Where can I find information on other potential funding sources for my project?
The Foundation Center is an excellent resource for fundraising research, particularly the Learning Lab and Finding Funders sections. We also recommend NYFA Source, a national database of awards, services, and publications for artists of all disciplines provided by the New York Foundation for the Arts. Return to top

I just got a great idea for a show, can I apply for a Workshop grant?
Not Yet! You need to work through the idea of the show until you know what you want to create and what your timeline is. You need to have visual images and video. You need to have a clear idea of what you want the show to be and be able to express it. Return to top

If I receive a Workshop grant, can I apply for a Family grant the following year for the same show?
No. A Workshop grant recipient can return the following year and apply for a Production grant for the same show, but cannot apply for a Family grant. We expect shows that receive Family grants to be presented the year the grant is awarded. Return to top

Are there types of theater that the Foundation typically does not fund?
Because our primary mission is to support puppetry, we look for excellence in the performing of the puppet. A puppet is an object that is performed with the human hand to give the appearance of life, character, and emotion – usually within a narrative. We do not fund pageants, parades, cantastoria, crankie, or purely digital performance. Because Jim Henson created the Foundation to support artists performing their own unique style of puppetry, we generally do not support “muppet-style” puppetry. We look for innovation in the creation of tangible character driven puppet theater.  Return to top

How does the Foundation define “puppetry”?
One can debate the definition of puppetry, but we consider it to be the art of bringing inanimate objects to life.  Puppets should have believable characters and appear to be living breathing beings with personality and history of their own. They come in a range of techniques and can be operated by strings, rods, handles, or direct contact with the human hand. They are manipulated with intent to give them the illusion of life. We do not consider masks alone to be puppets, but in combination with puppets, masked work can fit with what we fund. Not all types of shadow theater are puppetry. Miniature environments alone are not puppetry unless they include miniature inhabitants that are brought to life. Crankies alone are not puppet theater, they are illustrations.  We do not fund theater that is primarily about illustrating a story or message. We do not fund visual theater alone. The puppets must come to life. Return to top

I received a Family Grant!  Can I apply for a Production Grant the following year?
No.  Only works that have received Workshop Grants can return the following year to apply for a Production Grant. Return to top

I applied but was not awarded a grant. Can I apply again in a future application granting cycle with the same show?
In order to be considered in a future granting cycle, the work needs to have made significant progress since the last application was submitted. The Letter of Intent submitted needs to reflect this. Return to top

Can I apply for a PATCH Residency?
There is no application for the PATCH residency. In general, it is offered to a few recent Artist Grant recipients in the New York area, often when they are preparing for a public presentation of their work. Return to top

What is a Dramaturg or Outside Eye and why do I need one?
A dramaturg is an expert in theater and plays. A dramaturg can offer insight into historical context and give advice about shaping a narrative. An Outside Eye is anyone who you trust and will listen to regarding how the piece will be received by an audience. We would like applicants to identify a specific person to advise on their piece as many puppeteers and directors become so close to their work that it is hard to comprehend how it will be seen by an audience. We strongly believe that engaging with an experienced puppet or theater artist will improve your show. Return to top