Eligibility:

Arts, humanities or interpretive science organizations

Individuals including artists, science educators, historians or other humanists, parents, community members, etc.

Community organizations including, but not limited to, schools, social service organizations, business and civic groups, churches, neighborhood centers, youth, senior and family associations, etc.

Incorporated organizations must be nonprofit

Unincorporated associations must have a nonprofit purpose

Individual applicants are required to be residents for at least one year; organizations must be organized and operating in the state for at least one year.

Applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding outside the grant process to allow limited funds to support more projects.

Criteria:

Preference is given to projects that encourage community-wide participation/benefit.
Preference is given to Bedford based non-profit organizations (arts, cultural, community, or educational), to local applicants, and to first time funding of programs. Applicants from outside Bedford should partner with a local non-profit community, arts, cultural, community or educational organization, and must provide a confirming letter from the Bedford partner.

Proposals are evaluated by a municipally appointed panel of artists, humanists and community representatives. Criteria include artistic, humanistic or scientific quality, value to the community, quality of planning, community support and/or involvement and the track record of the applicant. The applicant's qualifications must be demonstrated, and if the applicant is not directly leading the activity (i.e., a community agency is hiring an artist), then qualifications of the individual(s) leading the activity must also be described. Proposals from schools and libraries must not request support for activities that should be or have been part of the municipal budget (i.e. teacher salaries, classroom supplies, school-sponsored clubs and organizations, library books/videos, etc.). Enrichment projects utilizing outside professionals are allowed. Bedford-based applicants are given preference over those from out of town. Funded activities must take place in physically accessible spaces. The Council will carefully scrutinize repeat requests; such proposals should include other sources of support to show the project is not dependent solely on Council funding.

Application Procedure and Location

Applications must be received or postmarked by October 15, 2008, you must include an original as well as 10 copies.

All applicants must submit their proposal on an official application form. Forms are available at the Library and the Town Clerk's office. The application form can also be completed online and printed out for submission to the council. Go to www.massculturalcouncil.org. When filling out the application, use the space provided to answer questions. One original and 10 copies are to be submitted. One additional 8 1/2" x 11" page to complete questions is allowed. Completed applications must be received at the Town Hall (address: Bedford Cultural Council, Bedford Town Hall, Bedford, MA 01730) by Oct. 15, 2008 (valid postmark is acceptable).

Conditions

All grants are subject to the following conditions. Failure to comply may jeopardize full payment of the grant award:

Projects must demonstrate their relationship to the town

Projects must be completed within one year of the date of the final written notice of grant award approved locally and by the state.

Events/activities must be held in physically accessible facilities.

Payments are on a reimbursement basis after the project is completed.

Payment requests must document expenses with invoices, canceled checks, receipts and/or contracts.

A final narrative report and expense documents must be submitted within 60 days of project completion.

The Bedford Cultural Council must be notified two weeks prior to the commencement of funded projects.

All applications must be complete, and clearly legible.

In all published materials and announcements regarding the activities supported by LCC funds, the sponsoring group or individual must acknowledge this support with a written and verbal credit statement and by using the MCC logo. The credit statement is "This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency." The logo is available at the MCC's web site: www.mass-culture.org or from the MCC on request on a camera-ready sheet or on diskette (Mac or PC).

*Credit is required by the MCC and failure to comply may jeopardize future funding.

Support Materials

Applicants may submit one set of supporting materials. These may include slides, tapes, videocassette, resume, publicity, critical reviews, photos, printed materials. Applicants may be asked to supply supporting materials. Letters of support/commitment from local sponsoring organizations are encouraged. If an applicant states that he/she will be working with or for another person, organization, or conducting the project in a specific facility, a letter of commitment or agreement from the individual/organization/facility's representative must be submitted with the application. All applicants proposing to work in the Bedford public school system must contact and receive approval from the Superintendent's Office for the Bedford Public Schools.