Eligibility Policies for Specific Art Forms,

Copyright, and Intellectual Property 

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Video/Film/Television/Media Arts Policy

Video, film, television, and media projects must be creative and artistic to qualify for funding.

Eligible Projects:

  • Video, film, television, and media projects must be creative and artistic to qualify for funding.

  • Documentary films, podcasts, and Vlogs are eligible if they are not simply in a journalistic style. They must exhibit a creative perspective.

Ineligible Projects:

·       Projects that are promotional or instructional in nature are not eligible.

·       Works that are unedited recordings or performances are also ineligible.

    • Specific Ineligible Media Projects:

      • Live recordings, news reports, and current events or sports coverage.

      • Reality shows, game shows, quiz shows and talk shows.

      • Educational or instructional videos not related to art.

      • Awards shows, telethons, commercials, advertisements, tourism videos, "unboxing" videos, and other promotional media

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Public Art Policy

Public Art Involves partnerships, whether it is a performance in a public park or mural on the side of a downtown establishment, understanding who is involved in the partnership is an important first step toward planning a successful public art project and securing the appropriate permissions for your project.  All necessary documents, materials, and answers to the following questions must be included in your grant application to Region 2 Arts Council.

·       What will the project look like, sound like, be like? Provide a preliminary sketch or a sample of the kind of music or performance that is proposed for the public art project.

·       What is the site location? Include a photograph of the location of the project.

·       Who is/are the artist(s) involved? Include resumes and work samples of the artist(s).

·       Who is responsible for the installation of the art?

·       Who will maintain ownership and maintenance responsibility? Submit a short letter from the individuals who are responsible for maintenance of the artwork or the site.

·       What are the legal concerns or city permitting procedures? Submit copies of all secured permits.

·       Is the site publicly owned or privately owned? Submit a letter of agreement outlining the details of the project. Obtain signatures from the artist, the project director, and the site owner or city official in charge of overseeing the site. This agreement will state their approval of the project and agreement to the terms of the project.  Include answers to the following questions:

Does the site have any special considerations, such as historical status?

Is the art permanent or temporary?

How will the site be maintained?

Who owns the artwork?

Literary Arts Policy

Eligible for Funding:

  • Fiction

  • Poetry

  • Creative non-fiction

  • Opinion pieces

  • Memoirs

  • Rhetorical essays

  • Travel writing

  • Translation of literary works

  • Hiring a line editor for edits

  • Copy editing

  • Fees for typesetting

  • Cover art

  • Promotion of creative work

  • Self-publishing

  • Use of publishing services

Ineligible for Funding:

  • Works mainly meant to provide information, such as journalism, history, biography, and scholarly manuscripts

  • Translating non-literary works into another language

  • Anthologies or compilations of other authors’ work (for McKnight-funded grants only, such as R2AC Artist Fellowship, Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship, Individual Artist Grant, and Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant)

  • Publications distributed only to an organization’s members

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Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism or Misrepresentation

If an artist or organization is found to have plagiarized or misrepresented themselves on a Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) grant application, they will be banned from applying for any R2AC grants for one year from the date R2AC notifies them of the issue.

Ineligible Application

The plagiarized application will be disqualified and removed from the grant process.

Grant Writer Ban

If the person who submitted the application is an authorizing official, executive committee member, or project director for the organization, they will also be banned from applying for any R2AC grants for 12 months, including individual artist grants.

Other Applications

Any other applications submitted by the artist, organization, or grant writer in the same grant round will be removed.

After Awards Are Given

  • If plagiarism or misrepresentation is discovered after a grant is awarded, the award will be revoked and the contract will be canceled.

  • The grant writer (if they are an authorizing official, executive committee member, or project director) and the organization will be banned from applying for any R2AC grants for 12 months, including individual artist grants.

Any other applications submitted by the artist, organization, or grant writer in the same round will lose their awarded status.

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Intellectual Property Policy

Purpose
The Region 2 Arts Council (R2AC) values and respects the intellectual property rights of artists and creators. This policy ensures that all grantees adhere to proper attribution practices and comply with U.S. copyright laws regarding their creative works.

Scope
This policy applies to all forms of creative work funded by R2AC grants, including but not limited to visual arts, literature, music, film, theater, digital media, and any other original works of art.

Key Requirements

Attribution

  • All grantees must provide proper attribution to the creators of any work used, adapted, or incorporated into their projects. Attribution must follow the standards set by U.S. copyright law and any relevant licensing agreements.

  • When crediting others’ work, grantees must ensure that the creator’s name, the title of the work, and the source are clearly and accurately acknowledged in a manner appropriate for the medium in which the work appears.

Copyright and Royalties

  • Grantees must pay for all applicable copyright licenses, permissions, and royalties required by law to use copyrighted materials, including but not limited to music, literature, artwork, and film.

  • Grantees are responsible for securing permissions for the use of copyrighted works before incorporating them into their projects and must retain documentation of these permissions.

Ownership of Original Works:

  • Any work created with R2AC grant funds will remain the intellectual property of the grantee, unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement or through a separate written agreement.

  • Grantees must ensure that any third-party collaborators involved in the creation of the work understand and agree to the terms of copyright ownership and attribution.

Fair Use

  • Grantees may rely on "fair use" for copyrighted material only when it is legally permissible under U.S. law. However, they must exercise caution and seek legal advice when necessary to avoid infringing on copyright.

Compliance with U.S. Copyright Law:

  • All grantees must comply with U.S. copyright law, including obtaining necessary licenses, permissions, and paying royalties for any use of copyrighted material.

  • Failure to do so may result in legal consequences for the grantee and possible disqualification from future funding.

Public Distribution and Licensing:

  • If a grantee's project is distributed publicly (e.g., exhibitions, publications, performances), they must ensure that all copyright and licensing requirements are met for the use of third-party materials.

  • Grantees are encouraged to use creative commons or other open-license works when
    possible to reduce costs and legal complexities, while still respecting the rights of creators.

Reporting Violations:

  • If any grantee is found to have violated intellectual property rights or failed to comply with copyright laws, R2AC may request repayment of funds, disqualify the grantee from future grants, and take legal action as necessary.

Enforcement
R2AC reserves the right to request documentation of copyright licenses and royalties paid as part of the final report submission process. Failure to comply with this policy may result in penalties, including ineligibility for future grants and a requirement to return grant funds.

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