ABOUT THIS GRANT: Epic grants from Canopy Portland Waterfront support Maine College of Art & Design alumni who make a positive impact in Portland through their work.
Canopy recognizes that artists play a critical role in the quality of life for residents and visitors of Portland. The Epic Grant supports creative activities that contribute to the culture of the city. MECA&D and Canopy Portland Waterfront will grant an artist or artist team $2,500 to support their work. In exchange, the artist(s) will host an activation at Canopy Portland Waterfront that will engage the community. This does not have to be a new project, it can be operational support for existing efforts as an individual artist, collective, business or organization. Grant recipients are expected to create an activation on site at Canopy Portland Waterfront within six months of receiving funds. Possible examples include a pop-up shop, a workshop, a retail display, or an event. The activation does not need to be tied to the use of funds, but is a part of the partnership between the artist and Canopy.
From Canopy:
At the core of Canopy, we have our EPIC team members or enthusiasts- they're Enthusiastic, Positive, Intuitive and Caring.  The expectation is for this EPIC heartbeat of ours, to trickle into our local community and enrich the neighborhood we hold so dearly.  For us at Canopy Portland Waterfront, we focus on the waterfront, the love for our furry companions and the incredible art scene.  The purpose of the EPIC Grant is to connect with talented MECA&D grads and help to launch their work here in the city of Portland and beyond.  We look forward to collaborating with these artists to showcase work on property and promote the talent from this school to our visitors and neighbors.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to Maine College of Art & Design BFA, MFA, and MAT graduates in the Greater Portland area. ACCEPTABLE USE OF FUNDS Funds are unrestricted and can be used to support the artist's work in many ways including operational support, rent, supplies, technology, etc. The use of funds does not need to be directly tied to the artist's activation event. In exchange for this funding, the artist agrees to host an activation that will engage the community on site at Canopy Portland Waterfront.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• A narrative about how you add to the culture of Portland and how these funds would assist you (500 words max)
• A proposal for your suggested activation project at Canopy Portland Waterfront (250 words max).
• 10 digital images: Only digital images will be reviewed for submission.
• Image descriptions: title, date, media, and physical dimensions.

All text documents listed above should be saved as a Word document or a PDF.
Late and incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Only online applications via Submittable will be accepted. TIMELINE: Deadline for applications is 11:59PM EST on July 31, 2023. Notification of awards will be made by the end of August.  

This form is only for use by students who applied for and received money supporting professional development from the Maine College of Art.

Congratulations on receiving a grant from the Maine College of Art to support your professional development and future creative and career growth!

This report form helps us keep track of what you did with your grant money, what you learned, and whether your experience is something we should encourage other students to pursue.