Q: What is the Miami-Dade Artists Support! (MÁS!) Grants Program?
A: The Miami-Dade Artists Support! (MÁS!) Grants Program provides unrestricted mini-grants to individual artists, artist-entrepreneur, creatives, and cultural “gig” workers who have lost income as a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to cancelled performances, exhibitions, commissions, teaching jobs, workshops, speaking opportunities, etc.

Q: How much is the grant award?
A: Grants may be awarded up to $500 and are subject to the availability of funds. Applications will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis.

Q: If I receive MÁS! funding, can I spend the award on living expenses?
A: Yes, MÁS! emergency funds are unrestricted and may be used by artists to help with financial issues being faced as a result of the impact of this pandemic, such as rent, utilities, medical costs, insurance, food, etc.

Q: Do I need a Submittable account to apply?
A: Yes, you need an account with the application platform, Submittable (it’s free to register and use) in order to apply. If you don’t have an account already, you can sign up here: https://manager.submittable.com/signup.

Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: All professional working artists, artist-entrepreneurs and cultural “gig” workers residing in Miami-Dade County for at least one year are eligible to apply including, but not limited to, visual artists, media artists, composers, choreographers, playwrights, poets, actors, musicians, dancers, singers, performance artists, stage managers, production managers, technicians, theater/film directors, costumes designers, set designers, lighting designers, artisans, ceramicists, sculptors, teaching artists, etc. In addition, artists must over 18 years of age. Please review the guidelines for more eligibility criteria. 

Q: Who is NOT eligible to apply?
A: Students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees, non-professionals who engage in the arts as a hobby, and/or employees of Miami-Dade County are not eligible. Artists who do not live in Miami-Dade County are not eiligible to apply.

Q: I applied in June 2020 and received a MÁS! grant in the first round of the program. Can I apply to this second round of MÁS! grants?
A: Yes, artists who previously received a MÁS! grant award are eligible to apply in Category B of the second round of MÁS! grants in August. Artists who are first-time applicants to the MÁS! program are eligible to apply in Category A.

Q: How will the applications be evaluated?
A: Applications to the Miami-Dade Artists Support! (MÁS!) Grants Program will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis and are subject to the availability of funds. Application materials (such as resume/CV/bio, work samples and support documents) should substantiate your work as a professional artist, artist-entrepreneur or cultural “gig” worker.

Q: I am an artist who is part of a dance company, theater production or artist collective. Am I eligible to apply as an individual artist?
A: Yes, all individual artists that meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to apply.

Q: Is this grants program only for visual artists?
A: No, all art forms and disciplines are welcome to apply including Dance, Film, Video, Media Arts, Folk/Traditional Arts, Multidisciplinary, Literary Arts, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.

Q: I am an arts administrator or cultural manager. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Only individual artists, artist-entrepreneur or cultural “gig” workers that meet the eligibility criteria are eligible to apply. It is understood that many artists also work in administration. Please focus only on your artistic work for this application.

Q: Do I need to produce or present artwork if I receive MÁS! funding?
A: No, artists who receive a MÁS! grant will not be required to produce or present creative work. MÁS! emergency funds are unrestricted and may be used by artists for living expenses.

Q: What information should I gather before I apply?
A: It is suggested that you review the guidelines and application form before you begin to answer the questions. You will need the following documents: Resume, CV or Bio; the dollar amount of income loss due to COVID-19; brief Statement of Need (300 words or less, describing how the pandemic has affected your work; and 3 Work Samples. (OPTIONAL: Up to 3 Support Documents; and a brief Artist Statement with no more than 200 words)

Q: What should I include in my Artist Statement?
A: An artist statement summarizes your artistic practice, work, medium, influences and unique creative pursuits. Simply put, what you do as an artist, artist-entrepreneur or cultural “gig” worker in 200 words or less. Need more help? Try this: https://grantspace.org/resources/knowledge-base/artists-statements.

Q: What should I include in my Statement of Need?
A: Summarize the impact of COVID-19 on your artistic work from March 2020 to the time of the application, including details about any jobs you have lost, reduced or lost income and contracts that may have been cancelled or postponed. You may also include any increased expenses due to COVID-19.

Q: What if I have other questions?
A: If your questions are not listed here, contact MAS! Grants Administrator Roxana Barba at Roxana.Barba@miamidade.gov. 

Q: The Work Samples section on the application has a space for files and a space for links. Can I submit files AND links?
A: Yes, you can submit a combination of files and links - up to a total of 3 work samples. You could also submit either 3 files or 3 links. Only 3 work samples in total will be accepted.

Q: What file formats are accepted for the work samples?
A: Acceptable file types include: pdf, jpg, jpeg, mp3, mp4, m4a, wav, mov, avi, mpg, 3gp, flv, webm, wmv, ogg, aac, flac, aiff, wma, mkv, m4v. Links are also acceptable.

Q: Is there a size limit for the work sample and support document files?
A: No, there is no size limit or pixel size restriction, however, it is advised to keep files around 2-3 MB and use a resolution of 72-150 dpi for images.

Q: What can I submit as work samples?
A: Work samples should provide evidence of your work as a professional artist and may include still images, short videos; audio or dynamic media files; writing samples (excerpt of poem, script or play); program books/Playbills, copies of contracts, etc.

Q: What file formats are accepted for support documents?
A: Acceptable file types: pdf, jpg, jpeg, mp3, mp4, m4a, wav, mov, avi, mpg, 3gp, flv, webm, wmv, ogg, aac, flac, aiff, wma, mkv, m4v. Links are also acceptable.

Q: What can I submit as support documents?
A: Support documents are optional, however up to 3 are recommended. Support documents should provide confirmation of your work as a professional artist and may include catalogues, program books/playbills, postcards or flyers, news articles, letters of support, artist website, etc.

Q: If selected, what will I need to submit as proof of residency?

A: Upon selection, artists will receive an email notifying them of their award. At which point, they may be asked to submit one of the following as proof of residency: property tax record; lease agreement; voter’s registration; or IRS income tax return 2018. Artists must have resided in Miami-Dade County for one year at the time of application.

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