Registration deadline: January 22, 2010
Application deadlines: February 17, 2010; April 12, 2010

The purpose of General Program Support (GPS) is to offer unrestricted support for specific ongoing literary programming. GPS is designed to support qualifying organizations with a consistent track record of artistic achievement, public service, and managerial competence in their programming efforts. GPS support reflects NYSCA's recognition of the artistic and programmatic capabilities of qualified arts and cultural organizations. GPS is awarded on a multi-year basis.

General Program Support is intended to serve

Arts and cultural organizations that have significant activities in this Program and receive GOS from another Council Program. Example: a theatre company offering an established literary reading series.

Organizations that are not primarily arts or cultural organizations but have significant cultural programming. Example: a YMCA with an ongoing literary reading series.

Organizations that would otherwise make two or more applications within this Program for support of ongoing activity. Example: a community arts center offering a literary reading series and a series of writing workshops.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for GPS, an organization must meet each of the following conditions.

Have significant ongoing literary programming  

Have three years of previous Literature Program support

Have administrative or professional staff in place to implement those specific programmatic activities

Eligibility for Other NYSCA Funds

Organizations receiving GPS from the Literature Program may also apply for support in the Translation and Services to the Field categories. Applications in the Translation category are exempt from the Council's four-request limit. Additional funds may be requested from other discipline programs of the Council. Please be reminded of the Council's four-request limit.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Complete the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet as part of this request. (Click on the link in the green navigation bar to the right of these instructions to access this form). 

Organizations interested in GPS are strongly advised to consult with Program staff well in advance of the January 22, 2010 registration deadline.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Literary Program Overview
A) Describe the literary programs and/or services planned for the coming year, highlighting your curatorial approach/es. B) Provide a representative list (up to 8 names) of the writers/teachers proposed for the coming year, including a one-sentence biography on each writer.   (Provide a complete roster of names on the Literary Presenters’ Fact Sheet.  You are not required to duplicate artists’ information provided in your printed support materials.)

2. Challenges/Developments/Challenges
A) Describe any significant changes or developments in your programmatic activity in the last three years. B) Detail plans for new, expanded or reduced programming over the next three years. C) Describe your goals/expected outcomes for these activities. D) What are your key programmatic challenges and how will you overcome them?

3. Artists' Fees
Discuss your policy regarding payment of artists' fees. Explain any changes or improvements planned.

Managerial/Fiscal

4. Staff
A) What is your staffing structure?  Please indicate the principal positions. B) Detail any changes of key staff members since the last Council review, noting the impact of those changes.

5. Governance
A) What is the size and committee structure of your board? B) How are board members recruited? C) How reflective are they of your community? D) Describe the involvement of your board in management and program oversight.

6. Organizational Changes and Development
Describe any significant changes or developments in your organization since the Council last reviewed it. 

7. Finances
A) Discuss how the current financial landscape is affecting your organization. B) Describe plans, projects and activities for meeting program expenses. C) Describe the ways in which the board and senior staff are involved in these efforts.

Service to the Public

8. Current Audience
A) Describe the audiences and communities currently served by your literary organization, noting any important changes or audience trends since your last Council review. B) What opportunities exist for audience growth and diversification? What steps are you taking to maintain, increase and diversify your audiences?

9. Membership
A) If you are a membership organization, how many members do you have, and how fully do they represent your audience and community?  B) What are some potential areas of membership growth? C) What levels of membership and benefits do you offer?

10. Marketing/Technology
A) What strategies are used for expanding and diversifying audiences through packaging, promotion and pricing of programs? B) Please describe a recent success. C) Discuss how your organization employs the internet, social  networking media and emerging technologies to better reach and serve the public, including artists and audiences with disabilities?

11. Assessment
How do you carry out the ongoing assessment of programs and services?

12. Facilities
A) Briefly describe your organization's facilities as they relate to literary programming and services. B) If you program in collaboration with other organizations, please discuss how facilities are shared.

13. Community Context
What other organizations provide similar or complementary literary services to the community, and how do you work in partnership with them?

Other

14. Fact Sheet
Have you completed the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet? See Support Materials for instructions. 

15. Fieldwide Issues/Technical Assistance
A) What do you see as the principal issues and opportunities facing the field of literature and literary artists at present? B) Beyond its grant-making activities and current technical assistance programs (see Technical Assistance) how might NYSCA assist the field in addressing these?

Support Materials

Support material must be postmarked, e-mailed or hand-delivered to the Program by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.

1. One copy of a representative literary publication and 3 copies of promotional brochures/calendars listing literary programs and writers presented in the most recently completed year and the current year, if available.

2. Updated resumés of key artistic personnel including literary curator/coordinator. (3 copies)

3. If workshops are part of your on-going programs, include a brief writing sample from a recent workshop.

4. Complete the Literary Presenters' Fact Sheet and email sheet to lit@nysca.org or mail with support materials. See link in green navigation bar to the right of these instructions.