Who May Apply:
Literary organizations and nonprofit organizations that produce literary programs. We encourage collaborations among such organizations and partnerships with literary organizations.

Description:
We fund projects that serve writers of fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and literary translation, and sustain and expand the audience for their work. We also consider projects involving writers in these genres whose work crosses into other art forms or whose work is addressed to children. Examples include workshops, publications, public readings, literary services, and projects that encourage experimentation or address important issues in the literary community.

We encourage presenters of public readings to charge admission as a way of asserting the value of those events and generating earned income to support them.

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the eGrant application and provide all required attachments. The application will be available on our Web site in mid January. Applicants will submit the form electronically, and must also submit a print version of the application form along with the application narrative and required support materials by 5 p.m. on the deadline day. Click here to access our eGrant system.

Application Narrative:
Attach an application narrative that provides all of the information requested below. Make sure the narrative addresses the evaluation criteria. You may use up to three 8 1/2 x 11 single-sided pages for your narrative. Clearly label the top of each page with your organization's name. Number your responses to correspond to the numbered instructions.

1. In one or two paragraphs, provide a clear and concise overview of your proposed project. Summarize what will happen, who will be involved, and a statement of the project goals.
2. Provide a detailed description of the artistic content of the project. Describe each of the artists involved in the project, explain how and why they were chosen, and state the rate of payment for their services. Provide a detailed description of the activities that will take place during the project period.
3. Provide a description of the project's intended audience and participants. Estimate the number of participants for all activities, and describe the racial and cultural composition of the participants. Describe how the artistic content will engage and is appropriate to your intended audience. Describe how the project will be publicized and promoted to reach intended participants.
4. Describe how you will evaluate the proposed project.

Support Materials:
All applicants should supply the following two bulleted items and the items requested specifically for your type of organization.

• Submit brochures or other information related to any literary activities your organization may have conducted during the previous twelve months. Call or write the Arts Council for the names and addresses of the Literature panel, so you can send the information directly to each panelist as well as to our office.
• Attach a list of key project participants with a brief biographical description of each.

Presenters of Public Readings

• Include in your application narrative your price range for tickets to all public readings. Also note ticket revenue as a source of income in your project budget. If you do not plan to charge admission to public readings, please explain why.

Literary magazines

• Send copies of all issues published in the previous 12 months to the Council's Literature Director and members of the Literature panel.
• Attach to the application form a statement noting the frequency of publication, number of copies printed, subscription price, number of paid subscriptions, single-copy price, average number of single copies sold in the previous twelve months, description of how the magazine was distributed beyond the home county in the previous twelve months, and any changes in distribution anticipated.

Book publishers

• Send copies of all books published in the previous 12 months to the Arts Council's Literature Director and members of the Literature panel.
• For each book published in the previous 12 months and each new title proposed in the grant application please state the print run, wholesale and retail prices, number of copies sold or expected to be sold, and a description of marketing and distribution beyond the home county.