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Wisconsin Arts Board reiterates 2,000-word limit, offers guidance on samples and narrative sections
Summary
At a virtual Wisconsin Arts Board question-and-answer session, staff confirmed the 2,000-word/4-page limit for the narrative and advised applicants how to use organizational-history and community-description sections and what types of art samples to submit.
Wisconsin Arts Board staff told applicants in a virtual Q&A that the grant narrative for Creative Communities applications is limited to 2,000 words (four pages) and offered specific guidance on using the narrative, the organizational-history and community-description sections and on what kinds of art samples to upload.
The guidance matters because the panelists read many applications and staff said the limits are intended to make evaluation feasible. "We are sticking to 2,000 words and 4 pages," a Wisconsin Arts Board staff member said, adding that applicants who struggle to cut text are welcome to submit drafts for staff feedback before the deadline.
Board staff advised applicants to avoid repeating organizational history inside the narrative because the application includes separate fields for organizational history and community description. The community-description field is the appropriate place to explain who the project serves and how the proposed activity aligns with local needs; organizational history is where applicants should summarize prior work and capacity.
On art samples, staff said applicants should submit the best examples they can provide: audio files or video with good audio quality are acceptable. If an applicant does not yet have named artists for a project, staff said it is permissible to submit samples that represent the quality of work the applicant expects to hire. Staff also noted Creative Communities awards can support projects for up to three years and that later project years are an opportunity to add other art forms such as theater or dance if those elements are not finalized in the first year.
The session also described how panels review applications: five panelists will participate, with primary and secondary readers taking deeper responsibility but all panelists reviewing the full slate at some level.
Staff encouraged applicants who have difficulty trimming their narrative to share drafts for review, and reminded applicants that support materials can be uploaded and referenced in the application when a visual or audio sample helps the narrative.
Applicants with questions about how to position content for the panel were told staff can look at drafts up to the deadline and, when capacity allows, briefly into the following week.
