Policies and Priorities: MN/NYC Film and Video Grant Programs

The Film and Video programs award production grants to emerging artists, whose work shows promise of excellence, in the genres of experimental, narrative, animation, and documentary production.

Policies and Priorities

• Applicants must be residents of Minnesota or the five boroughs of New York City. For establishing residency, street addresses are preferred; however, Post Office boxes are acceptable, but only when proof of residency is also provided (such as a valid driver's license, or photocopies of utility bills mailed to the applicant).

• The Foundation supports artists whose work shows promise of excellence. These artists will most often be in the early stages of their careers and will not have had the support needed to achieve major recognition for their work. However, it is important to note that this program is not designed for students or people with little to no background as principal creators of film and video. Factors used to assess whether or not an applicant is emerging include production record/history, exhibition record, awards, grants, peer recognition, career stage, and critical response to the work.

• Only applicants who have total creative control of their projects qualify for support. This person is usually identified as the Director. The Foundation understands that this person may also wear "other" hats, such as Producer, Writer, Editor, etc.  Producers, editors, crew people and writers (who are not in creative control of the project) are not eligible to apply.
• These programs do not support installation, new media, or interactive work, which are subsidized in other Foundation programs.
• These programs do not support commercial, industrial, informational, or educational work.

• Budgets of any size are allowed. All budgets will be given the same consideration. Applicants with small budgets are welcome and encouraged to apply. The level of support offered by Jerome Foundation ordinarily ranges between $10,000 and $30,000. Budgets should have a fundraising plan in place.
• Subject matter of the proposed project is secondary to evidence of emerging talent except in cases where the subject clearly requires special expertise. The applicant must show evidence of having the capability to handle the subject matter. In instances where the artist wishes to move from one genre of production to another, it would be wise to explain why such a move is being made.
• The Foundation places emphasis on funding projects in their early stages. Requests for productions that are more than half completed are eligible but represent a lower priority. Supplementary grants will not be considered for projects previously funded by the Foundation.
• Artists provided with support through this program must draw their grant funds within 18 months of notification of the grant. Production must also begin within 18 months after receipt of a grant. Exceptions to this policy, such as personal emergencies, must be approved by Foundation staff.
• Artists apply as individuals, or as two-person teams with equal responsibility as co-directors, to the Foundation. This program does not accept fiscal sponsors.

• Nearly all of the Foundation’s funding in Film and Video supports individual artists in the form of production grants.  Exhibition and distribution are not supported.
• Students in K-12 educational programs are not eligible for Jerome Foundation support. In general, individuals enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs are not eligible, with one exception. If an artist enrolls in an undergraduate or graduate degree program on a part-time basis or takes classes while maintaining a current and active professional practice of creating and presenting work to the public, she/he is eligible.