Artistic Sample Tips

Artistic samples are your opportunity to demonstrate the artistic quality of the proposed program. Here are some tips on preparing artistic samples. More information is available in the funding guidelines or by contacting the program coordinator for your category.

General

  • Show what the applicant is currently doing or has done recently.
  • Identify the work of students as well as teaching artists, if applicable.
  • Consider getting in-kind technical assistance to produce higher quality artistic samples.
  • Digital images are preferred over color photocopies. Do not send duplicate images.

Printed Material

  • Printed material should reflect work and/or programs from within the last two years.
  • Limited to three (3) total items, one item per plastic sleeve that will fit in a three-ring binder.
  • Collate and send eight (8) sets of the three (3) items (one set per panelist).
  • Printed material may include up to three (3) of the following items: season program/brochure, newsletter, magazine, anthology, review, article, letter of support, color photocopy, etc. List the three (3) items on Form F.

Audio/Visual Samples (digital images, audio CD, video DVD)

  • Audio/visual samples should reflect programs from within the last two years.
  • Avoid promotional pieces and talking about the organization or program.
  • Panelists want to see as well as hear the work that is being proposed for funding.
  • Be selective. Audio/visual artistic samples can be viewed for up to ten (10) minutes but panelists rarely use all that time. Present your best images, audio, and video in the first three (3) to five (5) minutes. Focus on quality, not quantity.
  • Music organizations should consider creating video DVDs in addition to audio CDs to enable panelists to see and hear performances.
  • Test and finalize the CD and/or DVD prior to submission. Finalizing is sometimes listed as “Make CD for use on another computer” on CD burning programs. Applicants must take this last step to ensure that other systems can read the CD and/or DVD.
  • Digital Images
    • Limited to one (1) CD or DVD of digital images.
    • Select up to ten (10) of the best digital images.
    • Position the images the way you want them presented (for example, not upside down).
    • Make sure the order of the images on the CD or DVD is the same as the annotated list of images on Form F: Artistic Samples Key of the application.
    • Images should be clearly visible, not blurred or too small.
    • Files should be no larger than 1.8 MB so they can be readily uploaded on the New Mexico Arts laptop computer using Windows. 
  • Audio CD
    • Limited to one (1) audio CD. If you have three tracks of audio, put them on one CD.
    • Audio should be clear and crisp. 
    • Audio recordings must be playable by Windows-based media players. CDs that are playable on standard commercial CD players are acceptable. Other acceptable formats are .cda, .mp3., .wav, and .wma.
  • Video DVD
    • Limited to one (1) video DVD.
    • Present the best three (3) to five (5) minutes of programming at the beginning.
    • Show brief montages of recent performances with shots of the audience.  This enables panelists to:
      • Determine breadth of programming for which funds are being sought.
      • Gauge audience size and demographics/diversity, including venue accessibility.
      • See as well as hear performers, including music and theater.
      • Video DVD samples should be audible and visible. When filming performances, make sure the lighting and sound are good.
    • Video submissions must be playable by Windows-based media players. DVDs that play on standard commercial DVD players are acceptable. Other acceptable formats include .mpg., .wmv, and .avi.

 

Form F: Artistic Samples Key

Specify timing in minutes and seconds of each video DVD segment or audio CD track on Form F: Artistic Samples Key of the online application. These timings enable the media manager to fast forward easily at the request of panelists.