Lakes of Fire: Great Lakes Regional Burn

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JUNE 20-23 2013 - Lucky Lake Camp Ground - Rothbury Michigan

Art Grant Application

Art Grants

With immense pride, G.L.E.A. Inc. / Lakes of Fire announces this year's art grant cycle.

On behalf of the organizing team and future funded artists, thank you Lakes of Fire community for your incredible support! It truly is your participation that has made this program possible, and it is quite literally your money that will be funding these grants.

If you'd like to donate more to this important program, please contact

Applications must be received by 11:59 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) on Friday, March 29th, 2013 for consideration.

Interested artists should see our policies, found here, as well as our Frequently Asked Questions page, found here.

We also have a sample application found here.

Got questions? .

Art Grant Policies

The amount of funds awarded in a G.L.E.A. Inc. / Lakes of Fire Art Grant cycle is determined by the G.L.E.A Board with the consensus approval of the Board of Directors before the cycle starts.

Funded art projects must appear at Lakes of Fire in the year the funds are awarded, that is, the late-June event immediately after the award is announced.

Awarded art projects must adhere to the detailed production schedule. Artists will work with a Grant Facilitator to assist them through the process. Funded artists will need to provide their Grant Facilitator with progress reports at each milestone as detailed in their contract.

Grants are intended to cover materials, creation and transportation of the project / piece. They are not to cover labor costs or personal transportation.

Funding requests for renovations to existing projects can also be submitted.

Funding requests for transportation and display of existing projects can also be submitted, although in general, priority will be given for the creation of new work.

No funds will be dispersed without a signed contract between Lakes of Fire/G.L.E.A. Inc. and the artist, and a signed IRS W-9 Form.

In the event that a project is not completed, the artist must return all disbursed funds within 15 days of the closing of the event.

IRS 1099 forms will be filed for those receiving at least $600 in one year. Artists are responsible for reporting income and deducting expenses.

Current Art Grant Committee members and the G.L.E.A. Board of Directors are prohibited from applying for an art grant.

Lakes of Fire Art Grant FAQ

What is the purpose of Lakes of Fire’s art grant program?
These art grants are intended to help Great Lakes-region artists cover the costs of creating and presenting works of art Lakes of Fire. They’re not to cover labor costs or personal transportation.
Who is giving out these grants?
Great Lakes Experimental Arts, Inc. (G.L.E.A. Inc.) - a West Michigan-based 501(c)4 non-profit corporation that operates Lakes of Fire through its Board of Directors and advising Team Lead Committee - is responsible for administering this grant program. Funds have been accrued over the course of several successful Lakes of Fire events, dating back to 2009. This money comes ultimately from participants of Lakes of Fire. The Board members of G.L.E.A. and the Team Lead Committee members are the volunteers who lead all the various teams to help make Lakes of Fire happen. This is the Great Lakes Experimental Arts Statement of Purpose: "The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to receive and administer funds for charitable purposes and for the public welfare. The corporation's focus will be raising funds for art projects and performances, which will be administered primarily through grants to artists or performers."
If I get a grant, where can I show my work?
Your project must appear at the Lakes of Fire event in the year you receive your grant. Beyond that, your work is your own, and you may show it wherever you please.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
Anyone is eligible to to apply for an art grant. Grant award winners must have their own Lakes of Fire ticket for the year they received their grant, in order to attend, and show their work.
If I win a grant, the ticket to Lakes of Fire comes with my award, right?
No. A ticket to Lakes of Fire is the responsibility of each participant, including artists and their crews.
What if I don’t finish my project, and/or appear at Lakes of Fire?
If you can’t complete your funded project, or do not attend Lakes of Fire in the year you receive your grant, G.L.E.A., Inc./Lakes of Fire requires the return of the funds granted within 15 days after Lakes of Fire. If there are funds remaining after the project is completed, those must be returned to G.L.E.A., Inc./Lakes of Fire, to support other artists.
Can I re-apply for a grant if I didn’t get one last year?
Yes.
How are grant applications evaluated?
When considering funding a project we look at the following aspects of your proposed project:

  • Quality

    • Creativity
    • Interactivity
    • Thoughtfulness
    • Originality
    • Excitement
    • Inspiration
    • Social Value

  • Execution

    • Feasibility: Planning, Budget, Timeline
    • Safety Procedures
    • Leave-No-Trace plan
    • Past Work

  • Geography

    • This program's primary mission is to fund Great Lakes-region artists.
Do I need to have a budget?
Yes. Download a sample grant application here.
What are the sizes of the grants?
The grants awarded can range from just a few dollars up to $500 or more! That all depends on the amount of funding and the number of applications received.
Who owns the funded work?
Although G.L.E.A. Inc./Lakes of Fire does ask for publicity rights, the artist or collaboration that produces the work retains both ownership and copyright. G.L.E.A. Inc./Lakes of Fire is proud to help artists enact their work, and asks for no ownership of the produced work.
What does it mean when you say ‘G.L.E.A. Inc. asks for publicity rights?’
G.L.E.A. Inc./Lakes of Fire asks that all grant recipients place the phrase “Funded in part by G.L.E.A. Inc./Lakes of Fire” in any printed documents (and web pages) about the work. We also retain license to display images and descriptions of the work for publicity (such as on our web page) and for not-for-profit purposes.
What’s the grant cycle?
Lakes of Fire operates one grant cycle that begins in February and runs through Lakes of Fire. An AfterBurn report will be due 15 days after Lakes of Fire.
What are the artist’s responsibilities?
Here’s a summary (there is a more complete description in the grant contract):
  • Complete your work.
  • Keep G.L.E.A. Inc./Lakes of Fire updated via progress reports.
  • Communicate your progress with your assigned Grant Facilitator. Let us know how things are going.
  • Abide by the contract. Save and submit ALL receipts.
  • Let us know where else you are displaying your work.
  • Provide credit for the support given in print and web materials.
  • Submit an afterburn report for the project and your experience with Lakes of Fire within 15 days of the event.
How is this related to Burning Man?
The Arts Grant committee is a sub-committee of Great Lakes Experimental Arts, Inc. (G.L.E.A.), an independent Michigan not-for-profit organization. Members of Lakes of Fire/G.L.E.A. Inc.’s Team Lead Committee include current Great Lakes region Regional contacts from Chicago, Detroit, Western Michigan, and Wisconsin. Lakes of Fire/G.L.E.A. Inc. also has longstanding historical affiliations with regional contacts and large numbers of participants from Toronto, Ontario more generally, and Indiana. Lakes of Fire/G.L.E.A. Inc. does align with Burning Man’s 10 Principles through our events and general ethos.
Does our art have to be interactive / participatory?
One of the 10 Principles is that everyone should participate. In keeping with this ethos, participatory art is encouraged and interactivity is a judging category.
Will you be placing my art at Lakes of Fire?
Yes. Our Placement Team WILL be involved in helping you “find your home” at Lakes of Fire, the event. Luckily, you’ll have seasoned Art Grant Committee veterans to help you navigate this process, and make sure your art is seen and enjoyed by the largest number of participants possible.

Lakes of Fire Art Grant Recipients

Winners of the Lakes of Fire Inaugural year awards in 2012:

Touchy Duchess

Application submitted by Kurt Feuer

Miss Stilletta Heel

Application submitted by Ashley Bertling

Blitter Bike

Application submitted by Branden Hall

Moofi Habitat

Application submitted by Tim Dean

Mingus' Floating Emporium

Application submitted by Xiaorong Wu

Creative Cats

Application submitted by Jamie Billings

Mass Burn

Application submitted by John Mitchell of Ohio Burn Unit

Juke Box Island

Application submitted by Mario Corsetti