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Senior Artist Project

Application Information: The application deadline for the 2008 Senior Artist Project has passed. Applications for the 2009 Senior Artist Project will be accepted beginning January 5th 2009. Please contact the Foundation at 760-435-2205 or by e-mail if you would like to discuss your plans for a Senior Artist Project application in 2009.

1. Objective

The objective of the Senior Artist Project is to enable accomplished visual, performing and literary artists the opportunity to provide educational, mentoring and therapeutic experiences for underserved populations in North San Diego and Southern Orange Counties. The Foundation is well aware of the enormous therapeutic and educational contribution artists can make to those in-need within their communities. Artists often do not receive the support necessary to allow them to make this contribution. The Foundation also recognizes that significant therapeutic and educational impact rarely occurs in short “hit-and-run” programs. Therefore, the Foundation has developed a year long Senior Artist Project that will provide support for experienced artists who are motivated to make a contribution to their community.
The objectives of the Senior Artist Project are:

To provide accomplished visual, performing and literary artists the opportunity to help in-need members of the community
To provide very high quality educational, mentoring and therapeutic experiences to the underserved

2. The Stipend

The Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation will provide up to ten stipends in 2009 to artists age 55 and older. The selected artists will receive a grant of $12,000 for this 12 month project. The grant is intended to cover actual contact time and will be paid out at $1,000 per month. Artists may submit an additional request for reimbursement for materials directly related to service provision. Items such as the rental of office space, capital expenditures for permanent equipment, general office supplies, extra personnel, and travel expenses will not be reimbursed. The Foundation expects that the artists will devote a minimum of six hours of direct contact time per week to the people they wish to serve. Partial grants may be awarded to artists wishing to serve fewer hours. The Foundation will provide help in selecting a worthy nonprofit as well as support in preparing the application.

3. The Artist

Stipends are available to literary, visual or performing artists who are:

Fifty five years or older and
Residents of North San Diego or Southern Orange County.

4. The Community Project

Projects should be designed to serve an underserved and in-need population that normally would not have access to the proposed services. Projects should be educational, mentoring and/or therapeutic. If the artist would like help in locating individuals or groups that could benefit from an artist’s services, the Foundation staff will supply contact information. Applicants will be expected to present a signed letter of agreement from the agency or group they wish to help with their written application. Applicants will also be expected to participate in a project evaluation.

There are no restrictions regarding the age of the target population. Projects should be carried out in association with organizations that possess not-for-profit, tax-exempt status. The Foundation will consider an organization or group that does not possess non-profit status on an individual basis.

Projects are not limited to North San Diego or Southern Orange County based agencies or organizations, although preference may be shown for these projects.

Information about the 2008 Senior Artist Project grant recipients and their projects can be found on the Kenneth A. Picerne Foundation website (see contact information below). Examples of potentially fundable projects include:

Teaching ukulele to convalescing wounded war veterans
Helping homeless children create collages
Teaching drama to inner city African-American youth
Engaging youth in creative writing who have been identified by police as at-risk
Conducting nature photography on a one-on-one basis with autistic children
Leading interpretive dance in a retirement facility

The Foundation will not fund:

Performances, demonstrations or “showings” of the artist’s work
Projects in schools that are traditionally part of the academic curriculum
Projects that are primarily religious in nature
Projects where the primary applicant is a nonprofit or educational organization rather than a literary, visual, or performing artist

Artists are urged to contact the Foundation in advance of their written applications in order to discuss their intended projects. They can also receive assistance in connecting with a suitable group at this time, if needed.

5. Application Process

Application Timeline: Applications for the 2009 Senior Artist Project will be accepted beginning January 5th 2009. The Foundation is no longer accepting artist applications for 2008. Please contact the Foundation at 760-435-2205 or by e-mail if you would like to discuss your plans for a Senior Artist Project application in 2009.

Pre-submission: Prior to submission of an application, interested artists are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the Foundation staff in a phone call or e-mail. Qualified artists with ideas that appear to fit the project criteria will be encouraged to submit a formal application. Application materials can be downloaded from the Foundation website at the bottom of this page or obtained by phone or e-mail request.

Formal Application: Applications can be submitted by filling out the online application form or by sending in a written application by e-mail or by regular mail. The Foundation will evaluate all proposals in terms of the reliability and professionalism of the artist and the artist’s likelihood for success. Applicants will be asked to submit a resume of their art experience with the application. Foundation staff will also evaluate the educational and psychosocial impact of the proposed project.

It will be the applicants’ responsibility as part of the written application to describe the project they would engage in, the time they will devote and a budget detailing the material support necessary for the project. Artists will also be asked to provide a letter of support and understanding from the agency or organization they intend to work with.
Interview: Based on the written application, the Foundation will select artists for the consequent interview phase. The Foundation staff will discuss and review projects and budgets in more depth with the artists at this time. Applicants may be asked to present samples of their work in advance of the interview.

6. Summary of Criteria for Eligibility

The following criteria will be used to determine eligibility for the program:

Artist is age 55 or over
Artist is a North San Diego County or Southern Orange County resident
Applicant is a practicing artist in the literary, visual, or performing arts
Preference given to projects involving individuals, agencies or organizations located in North San Diego County or Southern Orange County
Projects will be carried out in association with organizations that possess not-for-profit, tax-exempt status. An organization that does not possess non-profit status will be considered if a non-profit organization agrees to sponsor it. Others will be considered on an individual basis.
Projects are to be educational, mentoring or therapeutic

Click here to apply online.

Click here to download an application.

Click here to request an application.