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

 

Overview

This summer, MAP360 invites artists and creatives to apply for our first-ever Collaboration Grants program. With a total of $10,000 available, this pilot initiative will support up to 5 collaborations that explore what it means to “take flight” through shared creative endeavor.

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In The Conference of the Birds, a group of birds sets out together in search of deeper meaning—and are transformed through the journey itself. In the same spirit, this program will support collaborative projects that invite self-discovery through the act of working with someone you might not normally work with. 

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We’re looking for projects that cross boundaries—between art forms, cultures, generations, professions, and more. That could mean a dancer studying at ASU partnering with a chef who’s called Montgomery home all their life, a seasoned poet paired with a young social worker, or a data scientist re-imagining sound with a classical musician. If your project brings together people from different backgrounds and experiences to create something new, you’re in the right place. We want to see what emerges when creative people come together in unexpected ways.

 

Grant Details

• Total Grant Funds Available: $10,000
   

• Grant Size: Individual project grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the scope and needs of the proposal. MAP360 aims to fund a mix of small and ambitious collaborations.
   

• Application Opens: June 3, 2025
   

• Application Deadline: June 30, 2025
   

• Grantees Announced: July 15, 2025
   

• Project Completion Deadline: December 15, 2025
   

• Public Showcase in Montgomery: January 2026

 

Who Can Apply

We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and disciplines, including those who have not previously received grant funding or who work outside traditional arts institutions. 

However, to be eligible for this program, all projects must meet the following criteria:

• The lead applicant must be an individual, not an organization.
   

• Each project must involve at least two collaborators, bringing different perspectives, skillsets, or lived experiences.
   

• At least one collaborator must be an artist, broadly defined (visual, literary, performing, digital, culinary, etc.).
   

• Projects may involve partnerships with organizations, but the individual collaborators must drive the project.
   

• At least part of the project must take place in or benefit Montgomery, Alabama.

 

What We’re Looking For

​Projects will be selected based on:

• Collaborative Depth: Is the partnership real, intentional, and generative?
   

• Creative Ambition: Is the idea fresh or compelling?
   

• Connection to Theme: Does the project engage the idea of “Together We Take Flight”?
   

• Local Impact: Does the project meaningfully engage / impact Montgomery?
   

• Feasibility: Is the timeline and budget realistic?
   

• Documentability: Are the collaborators prepared to document the process and outcome?

 

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What Grantees Will Receive

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• Grant range is $1,000–$5,000 to support your creative collaboration, including payments to each collaborator working on the project, any materials needing to be purchased, and any other project-related costs.
   

• Two-Hour Storytelling Workshop with Brandon Santiago, CEO of The Peace Studio
  A dynamic, interactive session led by Brandon Santiago—award-winning filmmaker, cultural strategist, producer, and nonprofit executive. In this two-hour workshop, grantees will craft and refine personal mission statements, explore the deeper meaning of their collaborations, and learn how to shape the narrative of their project with authenticity and intention. This workshop will support grantees in co-authoring the story of their work—guiding both their own reflection and the short film being produced by student filmmakers.
   

• Documentation Toolkit
  A practical guide that will build upon Brandon’s workshop filled with prompts, journaling exercises, and tips to help you reflect on and track your creative journey. The toolkit also includes best practices for working with filmmakers and shaping your narrative in collaboration with them.
   

• Filmmaking Support from Local University Partners
  Each grantee team will be paired with a university film student who will be given a grant to document your project over the course of six months and produce a 3–5 minute short film at the end of the process.
   

• Three “Collaboration Circle” Gatherings
  Virtual, hour-long gatherings bringing all grantees together to share progress, exchange ideas, and reflect on the creative process. Occasionally, the Circle will feature a pop-in from an inspiring guest artist or storyteller whose work exemplifies bold, cross-disciplinary collaboration.
   

• Visibility through MAP360’s Channels
  Each grantee project will be highlighted on MAP360’s website, social media, and in communications with funders and press, helping expand the visibility of and potential future support for your work.
   

• Opportunity to Present in a Public Showcase (January 2026)
  All grantees will be invited to participate in a culminating event in Montgomery produced by MAP360. This showcase will feature the completed projects and give everyone a chance to reflect on their learnings over the past 6 months. 

 

Impact Expectations

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Grantees must:

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• Have a clear, completed creative output by the end of the grant period. This could take many forms depending on your discipline, vision, and collaborators—but it should be something that captures the essence of your work together.

        Additionally, every project must either:

Be shared publicly in some way (performance, exhibit, public art, workshop, publication, digital sharing), or

 nclude a meaningful form of community engagement in Montgomery (education, community gathering, research    study, etc.). The public or community engagement element can be small, informal, or intimate but it must be part of your project.

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• Collaborate across at least one form of difference (discipline, background, generation, etc.)
   

• Engage or benefit Montgomery, Alabama in some clear way
   

• Submit at least 3 documentation artifacts of their process (photos, short video, reflections, sketches, etc.). This is in addition to what the assigned filmmaker will create. 

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Application Process

Apply on the MAP360.org website by June 30 via an AirTable form that will include:

1. Contact info for primary lead applicant
    

2. 150-word project description
    

3. 350-word overview of who’s involved, the form of difference you are crossing through this project, and why you believe this particular collaboration matters.

 

1. 250-word response to how this project benefits / engages Montgomery, AL and how it will be shared publicly or engage the community in some way
    

2. Month by month timeline of the project with key milestones
    

3. Simple budget breakdown (i.e. how you would spend the money)
    

4. Link or upload 1–3 samples of each of your collaborators past work
    

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a panel comprised of respected creative leaders from the Montgomery community, MAP360’s founder Sarah Beatty Buller, and an international arts producer and philanthropist. They will evaluate proposals based on the criteria listed above, under the header:  “What We Are Looking For.” 

 

 

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