Applications undergo a multi-step community review process as follows:
Step 1: Eligibility Review – BIPOC Arts Network and Fund Administration
Applications are reviewed by BANF Administration team to verify eligibility and completeness.
Step 2: Panel Reviews
All applications will be reviewed and scored in relationship to the criteria.
We will be bringing in a number of reviewers nominated through community process to also be readers.
The general review will be led by our community consultants, AAC, and Steering Committee members.
A general panel will review all the applications to determine a partial list of finalists.
Each of two community-specific panels, led by our operational partners, will review applicants who self-identify as part of that community to determine their list of finalists.
Step 2B: Selected Conversations (New Step)
Following several rounds of online reviews by community readers, community stewards, and committee members, and panel discussions, we are now introducing in-person conversations to emphasize the importance of personal connections and collaboration within our network. This is an essential next step toward identifying the 25 Artist Awardees. A limited number of applicants will be invited to participate in direct conversations with one or more of our Community Panels: (BANF Community Consultants, the Black Community Panel, the Latinx Community Panel).
Step 3: Finalist Review
A panel of reviewers will review the finalists' applications and determine a slate of awardees who will be named part of the learning community.
Step 4: Verifications, Approvals, and Acceptances
Upon confirmation and administrative verifications (including a valid Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), the Project Director will notify awardees for acceptance in January 2025. After all agreements are executed, first payments are projected to be released by late-February.
In response to a question from the community: BANF will work with the artist to arrange the award payments that meet the needs of the awardees, whether it is a single payment up front or in installments. BANF will work with the artist to process the necessary paperwork that will allow payments to be made.