Teaching, Nurturing And Supporting Our Local Artists
The Sierra Arts Foundation has provided grants to artists working in the northern Nevada and northeastern California region since 1986. Intended to encourage personal artistic growth, the awards are merit-based and free of obligatory stipulations. Applicants displaying defined plans to pursue educational opportunities and create innovative work in visual, performing, and literary disciplines have an increased likelihood of receiving funding. The Sierra Arts Grants Committee reviews each grant application in detail, taking time to carefully assess the level of quality made evident by the artwork and performances under consideration.
Instructions
We have one round of Artist Grants per year. Here is the 2015 Deadline Calendar:
Deadline for submissions: May 22, 2015
Grant Announcements: June 2015
SAF Gallery Exhibition during September, 2015
Eligibility –
Any individual artist residing within a 100 mile radius of Reno may submit an application. The following exceptions apply:
- Previous recipients of Grants to Artists are ineligible for a period of three (3) years regardless of change in artistic discipline or classification categories.
- Artists presented with the prestigious Rosemary MacMillan Award for Lifetime Excellence after 1999 are also exempt.
Procedure –
Submit a completed application (below), with the following required materials:
- Completed statement of limited liability form (Download here)
- Resume of artistic experience, education, and accomplishments (no more than 2 pages)
- “Documentation” sheet – refer to Guidelines section below for specific details
- One letter of recommendation (optional)
- Cover letter to clarify any information in need of explanation (optional)
Additionally Sierra Arts requests to retain possession of all audio, visual, and literary documentation materials of grant recipients for one year after awarding grants.
Guidelines for Support Materials –
Visual Artists
Artists working in visual arts are required to submit 10 images uploadable below (preferred) or submit on a PowerPoint, CD, or Email. Label both the disc and case with applicant’s name if submitting a CD. Save images with “.jpg” extension at 72dpi. Confine dimensions to 1000 pixels in any direction. If emailing your images please make sure the total file size does not exceed 10MB. Files should be named in sequential order and include the artist’s last name. Order files as they are listed on the ‘Documentation’ sheet which should include title, medium, dimensions, and year of completion for each piece.
Example:
| File Name | Title | Medium | Dimensions | Year of Completion |
| 01Picasso.jpg | Guernica | Oil on Canvas | 137” x 305” | 1937 |
Artists working in film/video are required to submit between 5:00 and 10:00 minutes of animation or live action production. We prefer a YouTube or Vimeo video link. Acceptable formats of documentation include DVD with label on DVD and case either as a self-playing DVD or “.avi”, “.mov”, “.m4v”, or “.mp4”. Multiple examples of work may be included, no more than 5. Provide a 5 second buffer between segments. The ‘Documentation’ sheet for film/video applicants includes information on the title, total duration of the work, time allotted on the media for each segment, and the year of completion.
Example:
| Artist | Title | Total duration | Time of media | Year of Completion | Online link (if applicable) |
| James Cameron | The Abyss | 138:00 | 0:00 – 5:30 | 1989 | http://youtu.be/QxssFawV9Ug |
Performing Artists
Performing artists are required to submit audio or video documentation between 2:00 and 5:00 minutes in duration. We prefer a YouTube or Vimeo video link. Acceptable formats of documentation include: Audio Files “.wma”, “.mp3”, “.m4a” or Video Files “.avi”, “.mov”, “.m4v”, or “.mp4”. If total size of the files are less than 10MB, please feel free to upload below or email. Or send a hard copy by either CD or DVD. Multiple examples of work may be included, no more than 5. Provide a 5 second buffer between segments if creating a self-playing CD, DVD or online video compilation. Though grants are awarded to individual artists, artists performing or creating in ensembles, companies, or collaborations may submit samples of work from these sources. A ‘Documentation’ sheet including the category of work, title, total duration of the work, time allotted on the media for each segment, and year of completion is required.
Example:
| Artist | Category | Title | Total duration | Time of media | Year of Completion | Online link (if applicable) |
| Steve Reich | Music | Piano Phase | 20:36 | 0:00 – 2:25 | 1967 | http://youtu.be/QxssFawV9Ug |
Literary Artists
Artists working in literary arts are required to submit 5 pages of original work typed in 12-point font, double spaced and numbered at the bottom either uploaded as a PDF below, hard copy, or by email as a PDF. Additional pages may be submitted but the committee may choose not to review more than the requested pages. All works should be clearly labeled with the artist’ name, title of the piece, and the date it was written or completed. Each page should include the artists’ name and the page number.
For applicants with questions regarding the submission process, please contact Sierra Arts Foundation at (775) 329-2787 or email emily@sierra-arts.org.
