Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship

Subject: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 05:05 PM

Please read THIS PAGE.

I think it would be possible for many of us to nominate several Mudcatters who come to mind, in particular, Sandy & Caroline Paton, Dick Greenhaus and Susan of DT, Art Thieme.

Nominations are made by the public and one cannot nominate oneself, so who better than for some of us to do it for them?!

we have time, as the deadline is not until Oct. AND it is for $10,000, which I am sure would come in handy for any of these phoaks.

So, is this something we can pull together? Anyone willing to work on coordinating it?

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: DougR
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 07:47 PM

I think this would be a good idea, particularly if someone all of us could endorse is selected. It would be good to get a list of previous grantees. That would give us a pretty good idea of the type candidate the panel appears to favor. I would think, of those you mention, that the Patons might fill the bill, because they are not only performers, but with their Legacy Records Company, they are encouraging the preservation and continuance of folk music by other performers.

DougR

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: DougR
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 07:48 PM

I think it might even be conceivable that Max might qualify due to his originating and maintaining this site, which is of such help to the folk and blues community.

DougR

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 09:44 PM

Thanks, Doug, I had meant to include Max and forgot. I think Sandy and Caroline would be good candidates, too. There's a lot fo information to gather and some writing to do, but wouldn't that be a neat thing to ahve happen? Good idea about who they've awarded it to in the past, too.

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 09:49 PM

I'll back whomever kat...All good choices. Lemmee know what I can do when I get back.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: RichM
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 10:58 PM

All the proposed nominations are worthy.

I think that we should first nominate Max--for the fine site he has here. Without it, many musicians and worthy events would not be as widely known.

How about it?

Can we nominate Max/Mudcat?

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: CarolC
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 11:02 PM

It would be nice if all of those fine folks could get it, but if it boils down to one, I vote for Max.

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 11:07 PM

I think Max should get it.john

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: JenEllen
Date: 18 Jun 01 - 11:21 PM

I've got a stack of grant-writing stuff and a teensy bit of experience. You need anything, give a holler. I'd be glad to help.

~J

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: DougR
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 12:52 AM

Well, JenEllen, I'd suggest, if you're taking this on, that you get the guidelines for the award. That's probably available on the NEA's Web page.

I worked for the NEA for a couple of years, but it was many years ago. It doesn't appear, though, based on the info kat provided, that things have changed much as far as evaluation of grant requests is concerned.

Get as much information as you can gather on Max's efforts to establish and maintain this website. Write a narrative about the value this website is to folk, and blues artists and it would be particularly helpful to get, from Max, his reasons for establishing this site. Letters of support from recognizable folk and blues artists would be very good. The NEA panels are composed of knowledgeable individuals in the various areas NEA programs support. Therefore, "names" would be helpful, so that the panel members can say, "Yeah, I know that guy/girl, and if they say Max is doing a good service for folk and blues music, I'll accept it.

If I can be of further help, let me know.

DougR

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:10 AM

Well, I hate to say it, but I would suggest the Paton's first, mainly because they've been at it so long. No offense to Max and I know a lot of us wouldn't even know about oen anothher were it not for him and the Mudcat, but what they've done to keep the music going, before Mudcat, is pretty incredible.

Either way, I will support it, of course. It's just someone else is going to have to step up to the plate and run with it. It's more than I can take on or know enough about. Jenellen? You volunteering for the lead or a supporting role?**BG**

Thanks,

kattheideapersonhandsofftosomeoneelse

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: wdyat12
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:27 AM

The NEA needs the recommendation of at least three well known professionals in the field for any grant nominee. The artist has to solicit these professionals for a favorable recommendation and the recommedees have to respond favorably for the NEA to consider the artist for any NEA grant in that field. The artist also has to fill out the grant and provide a resume. This is how it works. I have never applied for an NEA grant, but I was privy to the process when I was involved with a woman repected in the art field who wrote reccomendations for NEA grants.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:33 AM

Wdyat12, did you look that page over that I linked? I think this is a little different. It says they must be nominated by the public and it talks as though the person(s) doing the nominating provide all of the information necessary. Certainly, your experience is valid, I am jsut wondering if this one is a little different.

Also, good news! We could do the Patons AND Max, as it says they award UP TO twelve per year!

kat

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: DougR
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:40 AM

Whatever.

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: JenEllen
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:41 AM

Oh sure! Why not? I just finished a load of grant stuff for a non-profit group for developmentally disabled adults. I have loads of time to kill! *bg*

I agree, most likely the Patons first, but there is no saying that the same (plus supporting docs) could be used for Max as well.

I'll read up more tomorrow and scratch something together.

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: CarolC
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:44 AM

I was thinking that too, kat/katlaughing, but I've gone over the language in your link two or three times and it looks like there can be up to twelve per year of this category...

...the National Endowment for the Arts annually awards up to twelve one-time-only National Heritage Fellowships for master folk and traditional artists...they should have a record of continuing artistic accomplishment and must be actively participating in their art form, either as practitioners or as teachers."

...but only one of this category...

"In addition, one National Heritage Fellowship per year may be awarded to an individual whose achievements have had major positive impact on the excellence, vitality, and public appreciation of the folk and traditional arts."

I'm not very familiar with the Patons. Are they recognized as artists as well as producers? If so, they could qualify for the first category, leaving the second for Max. If not, it looks like they would both fit into the second category.

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: wdyat12
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 01:47 AM

The weight of a professional recommendation in the field is needed and much sought by knowing candidates. Not much weight in the grant process would be given to my recommendation alone of these professionals you mention, but they are certainly worthy candidates for an NEA grant. We can all here at Mudcat have a voice, but these artists need the recommendations of other professionals too.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 02:23 AM

Thanks, Carol, yes, the Patons have performed forever, it seems.:-) So, I think they would qualify for the first.

Wdyat, I think there's be enough well-known folk names who would recommend and I am sure if we pushed Sandy a little, he could give us the names of some other biggies he might know from his early days on Broadway, as I've heard it. I think he taught some songs to Joan Baez. I would presume that well-known names in the folk world would count for something, but I do not know the process as you do, so how big of names do they have to be?

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: mooman
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 03:36 AM

Probably I'm not the best person to comment but I think I would nominate Art Thieme for a variety of reasons. However I think any of those already mentioned wouldbe worthy recipients.

mooman

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 06:58 AM

I guess we could all go on with our choices and reasons. For me, if I was forced to choose, it would be Dick Greenhaus and Susan of DT for turning their notebooks and a simple idea into the DT Database. I think the value of its presence at Mudcat is often underestemated by those of us who use and enjoy this site - it really does provide the focus....

Not saying this to detract from anyone mentioned - they all deserve it - more to question the judgement in trying to single out one nominee or maybe voice our own "favourites"/ areas we believe are most important amongst these worthy canditades in this excellent forum when they are all important and regular contributers here.

Can't we raise cases and put nominations in for all between us and let the panel judge.

Jon

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 09:49 AM

I don't see why not, Jon, although it will be a lot of work regardless for however many we choose, so there have to be those among us willing to pitch in as Jenellen seems to be doing.

Mooman, I agree with you totally on Art Thieme, for many reasons. I think,because of his activity here, we could get past the requirement that the nominee be actively particpating or whatever it said in the link. As far as I am concerned, he has been very active in teaching, inspiring, and sharing right here.

kat

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: MMario
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 09:54 AM

there appear to be a number of catagories - and different 'catter phoak would fit different catagories...

Subject: RE: Nominate 'Catters for NEA Fellowship
From: wdyat12
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 10:29 AM

Kat,

I think Joan Baez would be an excellent reference if she would write a letter of recommendation for Sandy. Sandy would also have to actively seek this grant, which means writing the grant and resume or getting some help writing them.

The more I think about your proposal to nominate artists associated wiyh Mudcat, the more names pop into my head for worthy recipients. Are there any grant writers in our midst who would be willing to help these artists apply for an NEA Grant?

wdyat12