calling mgm creatives! 

MAP360 Collaboration Grants

Theme: Together We Take Flight

Inspired by Farid Ud-Din Attar’s 12th-century poem: Conference of the Birds

 

GRANT FAQ: 

1. Can my collaborator live outside Montgomery or even outside Alabama?
Yes—as long as part of the project takes place in Montgomery or creates a meaningful benefit for the Montgomery community. We encourage projects that build bridges across geography, but the impact within Montgomery must be clear and intentional. If one of your collaborators ends up living outside of Montgomery, we will arrange for round-trip domestic transportation for them to be able to attend the culmination event in January 2026 (we unfortunately do not have the budget to provide transportation for anyone living outside of the U.S. in this current program scope) and will also determine a way for them to engage virtually in the workshop with Brandon Santiago this summer. 

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2. What if we want to work with more than two collaborators?
Totally fine. The minimum is two, but you can propose a team—just make sure roles, responsibilities, and the budget is clear. We recommend keeping teams small enough to maintain genuine collaboration and to ensure everyone is getting paid at least an honorarium for their time working on the project. 

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3. Can I still apply if I’m unsure who my collaborator will be?
Unfortunately, no. We ask for confirmed collaborators at the time of application.

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4. What counts as “public sharing” or “community engagement”?
This can be flexible and doesn’t have to be a big event. Examples might include:

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•  A small exhibit, piece of public art created, or a pop-up performance

• A public workshop or a talk / lecture

• A digital sharing

• Hosting a community gathering

•  Doing something in a local school

It should be public-facing in some way and/or provide direct value to a specific Montgomery community.

 

5. What if my project isn’t finished by December 15?

The expectation is a finished output by that date. If your project is delayed for reasons beyond your control, communicate with the MAP360 team early. We want to support completion, not penalize honest challenges—but extensions are not guaranteed.

6. How is the grant money distributed?

Grants are typically disbursed in two parts:

●      75% upon all collaborators signing a simple grant agreement

●      25% on or slightly before December 15, 2025, once your project is completed.

That said, we understand that cash flow can be a real challenge. If your project is nearly complete and you need access to the final portion of the grant earlier, just reach out—we’re flexible and want to make sure this process supports you rather than creating a financial burden. The structure is meant to encourage project completion, not cause stress.

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7. Can you give us an example of what a proposed collaboration budget might look like? 
Yes! Here's a simple example for a $3,500 collaboration between a poet and a chef hosting a community dinner and poetry reading in Montgomery:​

 

Expense                 Amount                Notes              

Artist Stipends.       $2,000                $1,000 for poet, $1,000 for chef

Food & Supplies     $600                   ingredients, serving materials, beverages

Venue Rental.         $300                   Local community space for dinner + reading

Printed Materials.    $350                   Postcards, menu cards, poetry zines

Contingency.          $250                   Thank-you gifts for community volunteers and last minute unknown expenses

 

 

8. How should I think about budgeting for the assigned filmmaker?
You don’t need to budget for the student filmmaker—that cost is covered separately by MAP360. However, you should coordinate your month by month plans with them so that they can help tell the story of this collaboration as best as possible. 

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9. How will you handle payment processing for the grants? 
We’ll work directly with each team to determine how you’d like the grant funds split among collaborators. If part of one person’s grant is being used for supplies or other direct project expenses (rather than personal income), we’ll account for that—those amounts will be excluded from the 1099 we issue to you at year’s end.

Our goal is to keep things simple, transparent, and tailored to your project needs.

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10. Can we partner with a nonprofit or business?
Yes—but the project must be led by individuals. Organizational partners can offer space, co-host events, or participate, but they shouldn't be the grant recipient or primary driver.

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11. Is there any preference for newer vs. more established artists or creatives?
No - in fact, we encourage applications from people who haven’t received many grants before or who work outside traditional institutions. Bold, collaborative thinking matters more than your resume.

 

12. What kind of documentation artifacts should we plan to submit?
Besides the student film, each team must submit at least 3 artifacts that show your process. These could include but are not limited to:

• Behind-the-scenes photos

• Journal entries or a short essay that explains your process

• Concept sketches

• Video diaries taken with your smartphone

•  Interviews conducted with community members who experienced your public sharing

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You’ll receive a toolkit in the first few weeks of the program with ideas to help guide you.

 

12. Will MAP360 own the work we create?
No. You retain full rights to your work. However, by accepting a grant, you agree to give MAP360 permission to share your project description, headshots, bios, documentation artifacts, and any related materials across its website, social media, and other communications. This helps amplify your work and the impact of the program.

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