Nominations for Volunteer Panelists (2-year term) –

United Arts Grants Programs

Through Operating Support Grants and Artists in Communities Grants, United Arts supports arts and cultural organizations and individual artists, providing a variety of cultural experiences for residents and visitors in Central Florida.For more information about grants programs: , or contact Mary Giraulo at or 407.790.7844.

United Arts seeks community volunteers to participate in grant review panels. Qualified panel members will be:

  • Able to commit to serve a two-year term on one panel for either Operating Support Grants or Artists in Communities (renewable for a second two-year term; ¼ of panelists rotate off each year)
  • Actively engaged in creating, attending, supporting, promoting, or teaching about arts, culture & humanities
  • Knowledgeable about the cultural sector, such as prior board members, arts managers, donors or audience
  • (Operating Support Grants only) Experienced with cultural nonprofit organizations (three years or more), in areas such as management, planning, development/fundraising, finance, marketing & PR, ADA compliance, etc.
  • (Operating Support Grants only) Able to commit significant time in attending cultural events year-round.

Each panel will be chaired by a United Arts board member (non-voting, except in case of a tie) and the Operating Support Grants panels will have an advisory member (accountant, CFO, auditor) to review financials.

Panelist Responsibilities

  • Confidentiality regarding all application materials, site visits and panel discussions;
  • Review of applications on your own time, coming to panel meeting prepared to discuss and assign scores based on established evaluation criteria;
  • Attendance at the required panel meeting, to finalize scores and determine funding recommendations; and
  • Operating Support Grants only:
  • Formal site visits to at least 2-3 assigned organizations per year in Sept/Oct, meeting with the organization’s staff or volunteer leadership. A 1-page site visit report form is due a week after the site visit, and you will report (max 2 minutes) at the panel meeting.
  • Observations of arts events (rehearsal, performance, event or exhibition) for 12-18 organizations yearly – all organizations in the budget category. Tickets are on an as-available basis, requiring sufficient advance notice. Applicant organizations may limit to two per panelist, or redirect to other events when space requires it.
  • Copy on all communication with applicant organizations.

Program Timelines

Operating Support Grants (OS) (3 panels, divided by budget size)

December - OctoberObservation of 1+ arts events for each organization in the budget category (on own schedule)

This is a significant time commitment and should be noted.

Sept/OctFormal site visit meetings (each panelist will be assigned 2-3 organizations)

Sept/OctApplications review (10-15 hours over 3-4 weeks)

Oct / NovPanel Meeting (1 meeting, 4-5 hours). Max 10 minutes per application; discussion begins with site visit report and financial report.

Artists in Communities Grants (AC)(includes visual art, performing arts, literature, and film/digital media. Panels may or may not be divided by genre depending on the number of applications)

AprilApplications review (10-15 hours over 3-4 weeks)

MayPanel Meeting (1 meeting, 2-3 hours).

Conflicts of Interest (within 2 years)

Panelists must serve without self-interest, and for the benefit of the entire community. All potential conflicts within the last two years should be explained to United Arts; the committee will evaluate whether a significant conflict is in place that would prevent the panelist from discussing or voting on that application. Undisclosed conflicts of interest are grounds for immediate removal from the panel. A conflict of interest includes but is not limited to:

  • Would receive direct financial benefit from the applicant organization or the project;
  • Serves or has served within the past two years as an employee, volunteer or governing board member of the applicant organization; or as a consultant, assistant, or advisor to the applicant organization, with or without payment;
  • Has a familial relationship with the applicant or a staff member, volunteer or governing board member of the applicant organization;
  • Has applied but not been selected for an RFP or other opportunity within the last two years; or
  • Has a real or perceived bias regarding the applicant or its work that would make it difficult or impossible to render a fair assessment and/or funding decision; particularly if prior actions or statements have indicated bias.

Nominees with conflicts regarding one applicant may be eligible for a panel that does not judge that applicant or its peers (such as a different budget category in Operating Support Grants, or a different arts genre in Artists in Communities Grants).

Nominations by Grant Applicants: Grant applicants may nominate potential panelists or may forward this form to qualified individuals. Staff or board members of arts groups are encouraged to apply; nominees will be selected for a panel where they have no conflicts. To nominate, email with the nominee’s name, phone, and email, which type of panel (organizations or artists), and your reasons for nominating him/her.

SELF-NOMINATION FORM –VOLUNTEER PANELISTS
United Arts Grants Programs
Send the completed formwith a bio and/or resumé to or fax 407.628.9110, attention Mary Giraulo. Panelists will be selected based on applications and availability.Applications are accepted year-round but panel slots will become available on an unpredictable schedule; UA maintains a list of nominees.
Nominee Contact Information–Title and email will be made available to applicants if selected for OS panels.
Name: / Title (if any):
Employer: / County of Residence:
Email: / Phone:
Address:
Interest in Grant Panel(s)
Operating Support – small budget (under $250K)Artists in Communities
Operating Support– midsize budget ($250K-$749K)
Operating Support– large budget ($750K+)
References (optional) - Persons well known in the arts community are the best references.
Name: / Name:
Phone or Email: / Phone or Email:
List of qualifications
Arts Discipline(s) –as practitioner, educator, administrator, volunteer, board member or patron:
Arts Education / Media/Film / Theater
Dance / Multidisciplinary Arts / Traditional/Folk Art
Design/Tech / Museums / Visual Arts
Literary Arts / Music / Other:
Nonprofit expertise:
Management / Development/Fundraising / Other:
Planning / Finance / Other:
Marketing & PR / ADA Compliance / Other:
Other:
Familiarity with local cultural community (Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole counties)
Sensitivity in making constructive critical judgments
Time and willingness to commit to a two-year term, including application review (in advance of panel meeting), and panel meeting
If applying for Operating Support Panels, significant time available to attend arts events and exhibitions year-round (for 12-18 organizations depending on panel, for operating support grants only), and time available in Sept/Oct to perform formal site visits of 2-3 assigned organizations
Explanation of qualifications – Please explain how your knowledge, skills and experience, in the areas indicated above, qualify you for this position. If you have a main area or area(s) of expertise, please explain. You can attach extra pages if necessary, and must attach a bio and/or resumé.
Prior Panel Service – List any past experience as a panelist or juror, including the location/organization.
Demographics (optional)
Please check your gender: Male Female
What is your race or ethnicity? (mark more than one if applicable)
American Indian/Alaska Native
Asian
Black/African American / Hispanic/Latino
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander / White
Multi-Racial (no single race applies)
Please check your age range: 18-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Conflicts of Interest (in last 2 years) - Operating Support Grants panels only; Artists in Communities Grants panelists will indicate conflicts after grant applications have been received. See the list of organizations on the next page, and the definition of conflict of interest in this document, and explain any perceived conflicts of interest here (attach extra pages if necessary):

This chart also asks you to identify which cultural groups you are familiar with. We are looking for panelists with a wide range of interest and who frequently attend events.

Familiar / Conflict / Organization / Category
Art & History Museums, Maitland / Large Budget Category
Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community-Zora! FestivalandThe Hurston Museum / Large Budget Category
Bach Festival Society / Large Budget Category
Crealdé School of Art(includingHannibal Square Heritage Center) / Large Budget Category
Downtown Arts District / CityArts Factory / Large Budget Category
Enzian Theater& theFlorida Film Festival / Large Budget Category
Garden Theatre / Large Budget Category
Mad Cow Theatre / Large Budget Category
Orange County Regional History Center / Large Budget Category
Orlando Ballet / Large Budget Category
Orlando Museum of Art / Large Budget Category
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra / Large Budget Category
Orlando Repertory Theatre / Large Budget Category
Orlando Science Center / Large Budget Category
Orlando Shakespeare Theater / Large Budget Category
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens / Midsize Budget Category
Bay Street Players / Midsize Budget Category
The Center for Contemporary Dance / Midsize Budget Category
Central Florida Ballet / Midsize Budget Category
Central Florida Community Arts / Midsize Budget Category
Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida / Midsize Budget Category
Mennello Museum of American Art / Midsize Budget Category
MicheLee Puppets / Midsize Budget Category
Mount Dora Center for the Arts / Midsize Budget Category
Orlando Fringe / Midsize Budget Category
Osceola County Historical Society / Midsize Budget Category
The Winter Park Playhouse / Midsize Budget Category
Asian Cultural Association of Central Florida / Small Budget Category
Creative Sanford / Small Budget Category
Florida Opera Theatre / Small Budget Category
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra / Small Budget Category
Florida Young Artists Orchestra / Small Budget Category
Global Peace Film Festival / Small Budget Category
HAPCO Music Foundation / Small Budget Category
Lake Eustis Museum of Art / Small Budget Category
Leesburg Center for the Arts / Small Budget Category
Melon Patch Players / Small Budget Category
Messiah Choral Society / Small Budget Category
Orlando Gay Chorus / Small Budget Category
Performing Arts of Maitland / Small Budget Category
Pinocchio’s Marionette Theater / Small Budget Category
Steinway Society of Central Florida / Small Budget Category
Urban Think Foundation / Small Budget Category
Winter Garden Heritage Foundation / Small Budget Category
Winter Park Historical Association / Small Budget Category
Other – please specify: / Other organizations may apply for this grant – lists updated annually in September.
Other – please specify:
Other – please specify: