Partnership Grant Opportunity:
Regional Dance Development Initiative

Overview

The Minnesota State Arts Board in partnership with Minnesota's regional arts councils, the McKnight Foundation, and the Jerome Foundation intend to provide a new professional development opportunity for Minnesota dance makers—led by the nationally recognized New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). The intent of the Regional Dance Development Initiative (RDDI) is to build connections and relationships that will continue to nourish dance artists and benefit the dance community.

The goals of the project are to give professional artists opportunities to:

• Enhance stage craft
• Improve marketing and contextual materials
• Engage in critical discourse about their work
• Articulate their work
• Connect to regional and national presenters

The core of the initiative is a ten-day intensive laboratory/retreat experience that connects participants with peers and mentors who are experienced choreographers, managers, and presenters. Using NEFA's previous labs in other states as a template, Minnesota artists and partners have the opportunity to customize the curriculum and programming to meet the unique needs of our dance community.

Seeking proposals: Minnesota RDDI coordinating partner

The Minnesota State Arts Board invites qualified organizations that are interested in serving as the Minnesota RDDI coordinating partner to submit proposals.

The RDDI coordinator will lead the planning and implementation of RDDI/MN, with oversight and direction from NEFA. Planning will be informed by an advisory committee, to be selected by the sponsoring partners (listed in first paragraph above) and coordinating partner. RDDI/MN activities must be completed by June 30, 2011. Therefore, we expect the project period to last approximately 12 months. The coordinating organization will hire an individual to lead the effort; he or she should have a strong knowledge of dance in Minnesota. Workflow will vary during the contract period; the total time commitment is expected to be approximately 650 hours. The coordinator must be available for all dates of the dance lab/retreat, and related events and activities. The coordinator should be available to commence work by August 1, 2010.

Benefits to the coordinating partner:

1. Influence: Coordinating partner will be positioned to work with NEFA and the sponsoring partners to shape this initiative so that it best serves Minnesota dance artists and the broader dance community.
2. Relationships: Coordinating partner will be able to identify and build relationships with dance artists and dance presenters throughout the state, region, and nation.

Expectations of the coordinating partner:

1. Planning: Under oversight of NEFA and the local advisory committee, create a customized dance laboratory/retreat curriculum for Minnesota artists. Define and secure space for a ten-day laboratory/retreat to be held outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Manage all logistics of the lab/retreat including but not limited to travel, catering, and lodging, for participants and mentors. Secure supplies and equipment needed for the lab/retreat. Other responsibilities will be defined through collaborative planning with NEFA and advisory committee.
2. Artist and mentor selection: Create a broadly distributed application for participation by Minnesota artists. Coordinate a national panel of artists and presenters to select up to twelve artists for the dance lab. Identify and contract with mentors who will work with participating dance lab artists.
3. Implementation: Coordinate community events related to the initiative to serve a broader cross section of artists. Develop presenters' program for exchange with artists during and following the dance lab. Identify and secure participation from presenters from the region. Arrange for documentation and build on sharing the knowledge nationally. Facilitate the RDDI dance lab and presenter exchange and create a plan for continuing activities and presenter/artist exchanges that sustain relationships between dance makers and dance presenters.
4. Fiscal oversight: The coordinating partner must have the capacity to manage an initiative with a $100,000 budget including contracting for space, supplies, and staff. The coordinating partner will need to be able to provide the Arts Board with a final report, at the close of the project, summarizing what activities took place, what outcomes were achieved, and how funds were spent.

Grant amount

The coordinating partner may request a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board not to exceed $100,000. The grant should cover all costs of the initiative including but not limited to facilities, personnel, travel, stipends, promotion, and the selection process. Up to $20,000 of the grant may be spent on the staff coordinator (approximately 650 hours over the course of the project).

Who may apply

Applicant must be a nonprofit organization that has a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. Applicant must be located in Minnesota, and have a track record of activity and service within the field of dance in Minnesota for at least two years prior to the date of the application. The applicant selected to receive this partnership grant must be in compliance with any other Arts Board grant contracts that it may have.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit a two- to four-page proposal that addresses the points outlined below. Please include the following three sections in your narrative, and highlight the section headings.

1. Evidence: Why is your organization qualified to be the coordinating entity for this initiative? What have been your contributions to the field of dance locally/regionally? How does your organization engage a diverse range of dance artists?
2. Capacity: What administrative resources do you have in place to carry out this project? Who at your organization would be involved in working on this project and what are their qualifications?
3. Learning: How could the learning of the core participants be used to improve and strengthen the dance community in Minnesota? What could your organization gain from being the coordinating partner for this project?

Along with the narrative, applicant must submit the following:

• A copy of the applicant's IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter.
• Résumé(s) of the individual(s) who will be responsible for coordination of this project.

Proposal and materials should be sent or delivered to:

Regional Dance Development Initiative
Attn: Sandy Agustín
Minnesota State Arts Board
200 Park Square Court
400 Sibley Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101

Applications mailed after the postmark date will not be accepted or reviewed. The Arts Board is not responsible for the failure of the U.S. Postal Service or other agencies to deliver applications. The Arts Board cannot accept applications to this program via fax or e-mail.

If you have questions or need more information

Contact program officer Sandy Agustín at (651) 215-1603 or sandy.agustin@arts.state.mn.us if you have questions about RDDI or this partnership grant opportunity.

More information about NEFA's RDDI program is available at: http://www.nefa.org/grants_services/regional_dance_development_initiative_rddi

The regional dance development initiative is a program of New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). RDDI/MN will be made possible by The McKnight Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and Minnesota's regional arts councils. Major support will be provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature from the arts and cultural heritage fund with funds provided by the people of Minnesota through the vote on November 4, 2008.