NSN Member Grants
Application Process OPEN
Application deadline April 1, 2012 June 1, 2012 June 15, 2012 July 15, 2012 |
To further its mission of “bringing together and nurturing individuals and organizations that use the power of storytelling in all its forms,” the National Storytelling Network supports a Member Grants Program through which NSN individual, associate, and affiliate members may apply for funding up to $1,000 to develop new projects. Support is available for the development of individual work, for collaborative projects, for community-based storytelling programs, or for scholarly research.
In extending direct support to members through this program, the NSN Board of Directors has several goals. Though the grants available are not large, we hope that they will both enable storytellers to develop new ideas they might not otherwise have time or funds for and increase public outreach and awareness of the power of storytelling. In all grant proposals, we encourage innovative and experimental thinking. We recognize that "innovation" and "experiment" are relative terms, situated within specific social, personal, and intellectual contexts. One valid proposal may present a storytelling idea never before invented on the planet; another, also valid, may seek to build on an important existing idea or adapt a program, already successful elsewhere, to a very different setting. As creative storytellers, we certainly delight in the unique but we also value insightful development of tradition.
NSN members may apply for grants in the following areas:
Individual Storytelling Projects
A member may apply for a grant for the development of an individual storytelling project. Grant funds must be used to cover expenses directly connected with the project, including travel, living expenses, research, and purchase of necessary materials.
Collaborative Storytelling Projects
A group of individual members, or an NSN affiliate member organization, may apply for support for collaborative development of storytelling events or new story work.
Storytelling Projects to Benefit Local Communities
An individual member, an ad hoc group of members, or an NSN affiliate organization may apply for a grant to support storytelling in new ways within particular communities. (Some examples: a youth storytelling club in a detention center; collection and public presentation of stories of recent immigrants within a community; multigenerational storytelling workshops.)
Scholarly Research on Storytelling
A member may apply for a grant to aid in research focused on the value and functions of storytelling in particular contexts, such as education, business, or community. The research should lead to public dissemination: it may contribute to an academic requirement (for instance, a thesis or dissertation), a public scholarly lecture or conference presentation, or a printed publication.
Jack and Carole Ann Huebner Award
NSN is honored to collaborate with the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association and the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild to offer a grant in memory of the late Carole Ann and Jack Huebner. The Huebners worked tirelessly to encourage other tellers and build community awareness of storytelling. Founding members of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild, both Carole Ann and Jack (“TreeTop Wilson”) sponsored many Youth Storytelling workshops, and, in the 1990s, presented a national public radio program, “The Story Tree." The Jack and Carole Ann Huebner Award, up to $500, will be given to one of the NSN Member Grants applicants whose proposal involves the telling of traditional folktales or historical stories. Those applicants applying for the Huebner Award will answer the Huebner Award question on the Member Grants application.
Eligibility
Any current NSN individual or affiliate member who has been a continuing member since a date prior to October 31, 2011, is eligible to apply for a grant. Only one grant will be awarded to any one applicant in a single year.
NSN Committees or Special Interest Groups, members of the Board of Directors and the Member Grants Committee, and full or part time employees of NSN are not eligible for these grants.
Accessibility
NSN does not discriminate against any category of persons in any of its services, including this grants program.
Criteria
In evaluating applications, the Grants Committee will consider the following questions:
- Is the project consistent with the mission of NSN?
- Do the project personnel have appropriate experience and skills to carry out the project?
- Is the scope of the project appropriate within the limits of the grant?
- What audience is this project likely to reach?
- What is the artistic quality of the project?
- In the case of community projects, is there sufficient commitment and support from the community?
In the case of research projects, is the researcher familiar with current scholarship related to the project, and will the research constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of storytelling?
Notification
All 2011-2012 applicants will be notified of the Grants Committee’s decision by June 1, 2012.
Payment of Funds
Grantees will receive 80% of awarded funds approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of their grant period. The final 20% will be sent within 2 weeks of receipt of the final report at the NSN offices in Jonesborough, TN.
Completion of Projects
Projects may be completed any time before December 1, 2013. The final report must be received by NSN within 30 days of the completion of the work.
2011 Member Grant Recipients
Congratulations to the following members who have been awarded an NSN Member Grant to support their storytelling project: (Award amounts varied from $500 to $1,000 each, with a total of $5,100. Funding made possible from the proceeds of the 2010 National Story Night.)
Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi –“Reach for the Stars: Developing a Culture of Storytelling with Early Childhood Educators”
Storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi will conduct 6 storytelling workshops and 2 observation & evaluation sessions with teachers/director of Duchess Community College Lab Nursery School to:
A) Teach storytelling fundamentals
B) Develop strategies for teacher storytelling in classroom
C) Develop ways for children to retell stories
D) Observe and evaluate teacher skills
Utah Storytelling Guild (Rachel Hedman) – “Youth Storytelling Chapters: Guiding the Next Generation in the Art”
The Utah Storytelling Guild will jumpstart youth storytelling chapters geared for 8-17-year-olds. Two adult volunteer leaders will hold monthly meetings from September 2011 to May 2012 with at least one concert open to the public. The students will also perform for their schools and act as ambassadors within their neighborhoods.
Jill Johnson- “Rebecca: The Story of Rebecca Ebey” (Huebner Award)
This project recreates-through the words of her diary-the life of Rebecca Ebey, wife to well-known Washington State pioneer, Issac Ebey, and one of the first Anglo-American women to settle in the north Puget Sound area of Washington State.
Janice Kelley – “If This House Could Talk”
After completing a series of story writing/art workshops, residents and businesses in Sacramento neighborhoods will post signs in front of their properties that describe engaging stories and tidbits about owners from the recent and distant past. Special events include a free walking tour of storytelling and special library exhibits.
Robert Kikuchi Yngojo (Eth-Noh-Tec) – “Tales of the Kojiki”
The ‘Kojiki’, written in the 7th century Japan, describes the origins of Japan’s geography and the exciting adventures of those first gods and goddesses, ancestors of Japan’s Emperor. Eth-Noh-Tec will tackle the first of three large volumes for a 2-hour performance in Eth-Noh-Tec style.
Liz Nichols – “Creative Storytelling Workshop for Seniors with Memory Loss”
This project brings a professional storyteller's unique ability to demonstrate and coach dynamic oral expression to frail elders and their caregivers. Using a proven methodology, TIMESLIPS, this project will elicit, record, publish and publicize richly imaginative storytelling by people with Alzheimer's and memory loss.
Nancy Wang – “Red Altar”
1850: Chinese junk boat crashes into California coast; six teenagers saved by Rumsen Indians start fishing industry in Monterey Bay area amidst anti-Chinese violence and laws. Nancy Wang’s contacts with her extended family members give her, as a direct descendent of the first fisher people in Monterey, access to professors, other researchers and the museums for interviews, which will result in a story performance. The majority of information for “Red Altar” came from her Aunt Mary who is now 97.
