PARTNERS IN ACTION: HOW TO APPLY

Ancient Chinese and modern-day American social justice heroes come together to defeat universal threats to humankind in the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company’s original piece “Together,” co-choreographed by Kerry Lee (Chinese dance) and AJ Paug (hip hop). A 2020-21 PIA Cohort member. Video stills from the film premiere by PandaKo Media, June 2021.

 

2022 PIA APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!

 

Partners in Action is a program that focuses on fostering strategic partnerships between Alternate ROOTS and artists/cultural organizers to support efforts of cultural equity and social and environmental justice. By providing technical assistance, resource mapping, staff support, funding, and connection to a larger network, Partners in Action offers artists and their community partners the vital support needed to do their work with more strategy and consistency. The 18-month Partnership runs from July 2022 to December 2023.

Before applying for Partners in Action, please review all application information below and all program information HERE.

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Application Open:                              Monday, February 28, 2022

Proposal Coaching and
Conversation of Intent
Requests Due:                                     February 28 – March 18, 2022

Technical Assistance Call #1:           Thursday, March 3, 11:00-12:15 pm EST
Register in Advance for this call.

Technical Assistance Call #2:           Thursday, March 10, 3:00-4:15 pm EST
Register in Advance for this call.

Technical Assistance Call #3:           Tuesday, March 15, 3:00-4:15 pm EST
Register in Advance for this call.

Final Application Due:                      Friday, April 8, 2022 by 5 pm EST

Notification of
Community Visits:                              May 2022

Community Visits:                              May –  June 2022

Final Notifications:                             July 2022

How to Apply
Who is Eligible?
Proposal Supports
Community Visits


HOW TO APPLY

The application period is now open! There are TWO ways you can apply. 

  • You can submit a full application (see all info below) by Friday April 8 at 5pm. All those who submit a completed proposal will automatically be included in the panel review process.
  • You can also submit a (much shorter!) Intent to Apply HERE. Those submitting an intent, may receive – but are not guaranteed – an invitation to submit a full proposal. Invitations will be made by Tuesday, April 12. Full applications will be due Monday, April 18 at 5pm ET.

 

To submit your application – including proposal narrative and budget attachments – through this form by (DEADLINE EXTENDED!) Friday, April 8, 2022.

______Partners in Action Proposal Narrative: Download the Word Document. 
  _____This Proposal Narrative document contains information about Alternative Format (video or ______             audio) application submissions.

_____   Partners in Action Budget Template: Download the Excel Form.
______  This Budget Template may be used for Partners in Action applications. You may also _______submit your own budget document.

Want to nominate an artist or organizer for PIA? Please fill out the short form HERE!

 


WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

To be eligible to apply for the Partners in Action Program, all of the following must be true:

  • Applicants must be a lead partner of the proposed work, 18 years or older living and working within the ROOTS service region by February 4, 2022.
  • The applicant must be a current dues paying general or voting member by February 4, 2022.
  • If you became a ROOTS member within the last 12 months, you must have at least one other ROOTS member on your partnership team.
  • You do not have any outstanding ROOTS grant or partnership final reports due.
  • While partnerships or projects may be underway before the program period begins, proposed activities specifically supported by Partners in Action must take place during the program period, from July 2022-December 2023.

Successful applicants will address one or more of the following objectives: 

  • UpROOTing oppressions that cut across the intersections of race, ethnicity, culture, class, climate, gender, sexuality, migration, access, ability, and/or place.
  • Upholding the values of individual and community transformation.
  • Researching or creating new artworks or collaborations with community partners.
  • Developing or strengthening relationships between artists and communities not primarily identifying as artists.
  • Using art/cultural organizing practices to impact policy in the local, state, and/or national spheres.

         You can view the full Partners in Action Evaluation Criteria HERE

All projects must take place within the Alternate ROOTS service area: 

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C.

Applicants from Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, and West Virginia are an organizational priority. 

Organizational Priorities

ROOTS seeks to build and deepen relationships with Native/Indigenous, Latinx, SWANASAAPI (Southwest Asian/North African/South Asian/Asian/Pacific Islander), TGNCNBI2-S (Transgender, Non-Conforming, Nonbinary, Intersex, and 2 Spirit), disability, and youth communities, as well as artists focused on climate justice and environmental advocacy.

 

At ROOTS Week 2017, Last Call presented Alleged Lesbian Activities, an original performance set inside Franki’s Bar. Photo: Melisa Cardona


PROPOSAL SUPPORTS

Because we believe that proposal writing should not be a barrier to artists accessing funding, we offer several different supports:

Technical Assistance Calls 

Technical Assistance Calls offer the opportunity to meet with staff and ask questions about the application and selection process.

Technical Assistance Call #1:       Thursday, March 3, 11:00-12:15 pm ET
Register in Advance for this call.

Technical Assistance Call #2:       Thursday, March 10, 3:00-4:15 pm ET
Register in Advance for this call.

Technical Assistance Call #3:       Tuesday, March 15, 3:00-4:15 pm ET
Register in Advance for this call.

Conversations of Intent

A Conversation of Intent is an opportunity to speak with a ROOTS  Team member, one on one, about your proposed project. In your Conversation of Intent, you’ll talk through your proposed project with a staff member, to make sure your project is appropriate for a particular program or category.

First-time applicants MUST schedule a Conversation of Intent by Friday, March 18, 2022, at 5 pm EST. To schedule one, please submit a request using this form.

Proposal Coaching

ROOTS provides free proposal coaching for all applicants who request it. Proposal Coaches are hired consultants who are experts in the field and can help you gain insight into connecting your proposal to the program goals and objectives. Proposal Coaches cannot advise if your project will be selected.

To set up a proposal coaching session, please submit a request using this form by March 18, 2022.


COMMUNITY VISITS

Community Visits are a key element of the selection process; they provide a more in-depth view and understanding of the proposed work, the partners, and the community. Notifications of Community Visits will be made in May 2022 and the visits will be held from May – June 2022. Only those applicants who advance past the first round will receive Community Visits. In addition to Community Visits, we may also engage in phone conversations with project teams as needed during this time.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions, please email partnerships@alternateroots.org or call 404-577-1079 x308.

Alternate ROOTS supports the creation and presentation of original art that is rooted in communities of place, tradition or spirit. We are a group of artists and cultural organizers based in the South creating a better world together. As Alternate ROOTS, we call for social and economic justice and are working to dismantle all forms of oppression—everywhere.