CREATIVE COMMUNITIES FUND

The Creative Communities Fund (CCF) supports emerging artists in our Flashpoint Gallery and Mead Theatre Lab programs as well as Source Festival. Through CCF, we give grants, space and professional development to visual and performing artists based in the Washington, DC region. These grants enable artists to present innovative projects while alleviating financial pressures that inhibit the creative process.

We awarded a total of $43,000 in grants for the 2011–2012 programming season to the 25 artists listed below:

SOURCE FESTIVAL | ARTISTIC BLIND DATES
Debbi Arsenaux, Director
Martín Gendelman, Musician & Composer
Tewodross Melchishua, Visual Artist & Filmmaker
Dave Bobb, Actor
Matthew Mann, Visual Artist
Lucy Bowen McCauley, Dancer & Choreographer
Cecilia Cackley, Puppeteer
Lee Gainer, Visual Artist
Haskell Small, Pianist & Composer
David Carlson, Visual Artist & Filmmaker
John Moletress, Director
Ilana Faye Silverstein, Dancer & Choreographer

SOURCE FESTIVAL | FULL-LENGTH PLAY PRODUCTION
Sonya Robbins, Director
Catherine Tripp, Director
Jason Schlafstein, Director

SOURCE FESTIVAL | 10-MINUTE PLAYS
Hannah Todd, Director
Ryan Taylor, Director

MEAD THEATER LAB | PERFORMING ARTS
Steven Spotswood, The Apocalypse Project in
    association with Bright Alchemy Theatre
Timothy Guillot, We Fight We Die in association
    with Junesong Arts
Carmen C. Wong, Into the Dollhouse, in association
    with banished? productions
John Milosich, The Nightmare Dreamer, in association
    with Tattooed Potato

FLASHPOINT GALLERY | VISUAL ART
Jacqueline Levine, Media: Installation & Mixed-Media
Andy Holtin, Media: Video, Sculpture & New Media
Margaret Boozer, Media: Sculpture, in collaboration
    with artists Mia Feuer, Talia Greene, Mariah Anne
    Johnson and curator Danielle O’Steen
Shana Kim, Media: Technology & New Media, in
    collaboration with Hana Kim-Lee

Artists are encouraged to apply during the Source Festival and Flashpoint calls for artists held each fall.

Please support CCF with a tax-deductible contribution today. Your contribution will directly enable the creation of new art by some of the area's most exciting up and coming artists.

For information on joining the CCF Commissioning Circle, please contact Cara Pomponio at 202.315.1330 or .

Want to know more? Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about Creative Communities Fund below:

Frequently Asked Questions about Creative Communities Fund
The Creative Communities Fund is supported, in part, by Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) as part of its Creative Communities program. Additional support is provided by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region and the members of the Creative Communities Commissioning Circle.

What can area artists gain through the CCF program?

By participating in the program, artists will receive:

grants of up to $3,000 to support the creation of new work (grant amounts vary by program);
space for a public presentation at either Flashpoint or Source in 2012 – 2013; or the opportunity to participate in a project at the 2012 Source Festival.
mentorship guidance for artists participating in the Flashpoint Gallery and Mead Theatre Lab Programs;
support in planning community outreach programs; and
marketing and communications/public relations support.

How do I apply for CCF support?

To apply for a grant, submit an application to any or all of the following programs:

Source Festival — Artistic Blind Dates or Full-Length Plays
Flashpoint Gallery
Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint

All applications are available via our website. We are now accepting applications for each of these programs. CCF applications to the gallery will be solicited in Phase II of the selection process.

How do I know if I’m eligible for CCF?

The following guidelines should help you determine whether you are eligible for CCF:

Residency — To be considered for CCF support, artists must live in the greater Washington region*.
Artistic Disciplines — Artists who work in one or more of the following disciplines are eligible for CCF support: dance, installation, film, literary arts, multidisciplinary, music, new media, performance art, playwriting, sound art, spoken word, storytelling, theatre, video and visual arts.
Professional Artists — Applicants must regularly engage in the creation and presentation of art to be considered for CCF support. (Eligibility is determined by the participation in an artistic practice regardless of the income generated from artistic pursuits.)
Individual Artists & Artistic Collaborations — Projects involving multiple artists, such as collectives, teams, ensembles, etc. are eligible to apply (at least one artist must meet the CCF residency requirement). Projects should designate a lead artist as the primary point of contact for CCF and only one artist per group/collective can apply. Priority will be given to projects where all collaborators live in the DC region.

* Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland; the District of Columbia; City of Alexandria, Arlington County, City of Falls Church, Fairfax County and Loudoun County in Virginia.

Do I have to present work at Flashpoint or Source in order to receive CCF support?

Yes, only artists who are presenting work at either Flashpoint or Source will be considered for funding.

When will grantees be announced?

Grant announcements will vary by program. Source Festival CCF grantees will be notified by December 2011 and Gallery and Mead Theatre Lab grantees will be notified by Spring 2012.

What can I spend the grant funds on?

If awarded a CCF grant, you must have a project budget approved by CuDC staff. CCF support can be used to cover your time spent working on a project, material and supplies and other project-related expenses.

Can I apply for more than one grant?

Artists may apply to more than one program at Flashpoint or Source (e.g. the Mead Theatre Lab Program and Source Festival) during one grant cycle. In addition, you may be accepted to participate in more than one program in the same grant cycle. However, artists will be limited to receive only one CCF grant per grant cycle.

Can a curator apply to exhibit the work of artists in the gallery & receive a CCF grant?

Yes.

Can an artist apply to the gallery & use part of the CCF grant to pay a curator?

CCF is intended to support artists creating new work. However, artists are not restricted from hiring professionals to support their projects.

Can an organization apply for a CCF grant & use the money to pay artists participating in the project? (e.g. Mead Theatre Lab Program)

We strongly encourage organizations to apply to participate in our programs, but CCF grants will be awarded only to individual artists. However, an individual artist may apply for a CCF grant in conjunction with a full application from an organization.

How can I get help with the application process?

CuDC program managers are available to assist you with your application. Please see program RFPs for specific dates, times and contact information.

Open House — Learn more about the Gallery, Theatre Lab or Source Festival application processes, plus programs and services.
Flash Chats — Chat online, in real-time, on Chatzy, with the Director of Visual Arts or the Director of Performing Arts.
Office Hours — Need one-on-one advice? Book a 30-minute slot to talk with the Director of Visual Arts or Director of Performing Arts.

Didn't find the answer your question?

Call Cultural Development Corporation at 202.315.1305 for more information.

The Creative Communities Fund is supported, in part, by Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC) as part of its Creative Communities program. Additional support is generously provided by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

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