LCC Panelist Application

This is an application for people to apply to serve as jurors on the various Local Cultural Council panels. Completing this form will take between 5-10 minutes approximately.

Panelist Application – Somerville LCC Grant Panel

Apply to be a panelist for the Somerville Local Cultural Council (LCC) grant process! Working in different art genres, panelists help review LCC proposals for local projects and artist fellowship for funding. Applications are open now through October 1.

Who Should Apply?

The SAC Board welcomes a wide range of perspectives to create each panel. People who are artists, appreciate art, study art or have any interaction with art in the Somerville community are welcome to apply. We welcome experts and beginner’s alike. The recipe for putting together a panel is different every year and the program thrives because of that. We want panelists to have a sense of the local scene, but they do not have to be Somerville residents.

Who selects the panelists?

The Somerville Arts & Culture Board will assemble the panels based on applications received to represent a range of experiences and perspectives. Recreational and expert panelists are of equal value. The board aims to select four panelists and 2 alternates.

Conflict of Interest Policy

If you’re applying for an LCC grant this cycle, you cannot serve on the same panel that reviews your genre. However, you can serve on a different panel. For example, if you’re on the Dance/Theater panel, you may apply for a Visual Art Projects grant but not a Dance/Theater grant.

Panelist Application Questions

Name(Required)

First Last

Address(Required)

This is required for state records; residency in Somerville is not required.

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

Cell Phone(Required)

Country Phone Number

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Preferred LCC Genre Panel(Required)

Pick one genre you feel most confident in and passionate about supporting. If you don’t know where your experience would fit, make your best guess:

Cultural Heritage – Art projects that are by, for, or celebrate an aspect of a particular heritage or culture, for example cultural festivals, folk dance performances, world music performances, etc. Date TBD

Dance/ Theater – Art projects for communities or fellowships for previous work that is time based or live performances of dance, theater, puppetry, circus, etc. Date TBD

Interrelated Media/ Film – Art projects or fellowships that integrate or utilize a form of technology such as media, digital art, and or film. Date TBD

Music -Art projects or fellowships that support sound based art such as live performances, concerts, showcases of songs, albums, sound design, etc. Date TBD

Visual Art Projects -Funding for visual art proposals that will be created for a community, such as a mural, sculpture, etc. Date TBD

Visual Art Fellowships – Funding for visual art portfolios that individual artists have already created. Date TBD

Literature -Art projects or fellowships that are writing based art such as books, prose, poetry, zines, comics, scripts etc. Date TBD

Your Experience in This Art Form(Required)

Describe your experience in this form in a few short paragraphs. Describe if you participate in this art form as an artist of any level of training and or enjoy consuming this type of art form. Your straightforward response will help the board select for a group that has a variety of experiences within the genre. We are not looking for only experts, a long history with this category, a short history with this category, trained or self-taught they all have equal weight here. We need diversity of experience to make a solid panel, so share your life in art.

Your Connection to the Somerville Community(Required)

Name the ways you connect with the local Somerville art scene? Tell us what art things you attend in Somerville. Do you know every music venue, every niche festival, or belong to a studio? Familiarity and engagement in Somerville is important, but Somerville residency is NOT required.

How long have you been active in the Somerville community?(Required)

We welcome people at all stages of local art participation—newcomers and long-time contributors are welcome! (One straightforward line of text will do)

Are you a first time LCC panelist?(Required)

Yes

Time Commitment Description

Selected panelists are asked to commit to 8 to 10 hours total: 1-Attend an in-person orientation meeting where you will learn how to review and rate applications. (In late October in Somerville, MA) – (1.5 hours) 2-Review applications independently – (4 to 6 hours) 3-Participate in the in-person panel meeting for their genre – (2 to 3 hours)Time: ~6:30-9:30pm Date: TBD once selected.

Commitment Agreement Signing(Required)

To confirm that you’ve read the dates and commitments of the LCC panelist position, please type your name below:

Need based Compensation

The majority of panelists serve as volunteer. We’re working to make panelist participation accessible to all. A $200 compensation is available to those who need support in order to participate. Your response does not influence panelist selection.

Need-Based Compensation Response(Required)

YES -I would need this compensation to support my participation.

NO- my participation does not need compensation.

In the future, would you like to serve on various panels with the Somerville Arts and Culture Board?

Yes – Sign me up!

By clicking yes, you will be added to a contact list for SAC staff to use when gathering people for various panels.

Any other comments or questions related to this application, please write them here. This will be reviewed by Oct. 1. For a more immediate response, email SAC staff.

LCC Panelist Application