The Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes design enhancement Fund
The Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Fund was created from the estate of noted designers Edith Lutyens and her husband, Norman Bel Geddes. Edith Lutyens Bel Geddes was a theatrical costume designer and producer, who also ran a costume shop in New York City. In 1954, she shared a Tony Award for the costume design of Ondine. Mrs. Bel Geddes was also the publisher of Theatre Arts magazine from 1958 through 1960. Norman Bel Geddes started his career as a scenic designer for The Metropolitan Opera. He eventually shifted his focus to industrial design and was the first person to seriously apply the concepts of aerodynamics and streamlining to that field. In 1939, he designed the General Motors Pavilion for the New York World’s Fair.
Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes created their namesake foundation to support the design and production costs of New York City-based nonprofit theatre companies. Grants from the foundation are intended to give a theatre company additional resources, beyond what the company can afford on its own, to more fully address the design needs of a specific project. It was the Bel Geddes’ desire that these awards have a significant impact on the production capabilities and creative life of designers. These are enhancement grants intended to augment the artistic needs of a production and allow a designer to more fully realize his/her artistic vision. In order to have the most significant impact, these funds must supplement the current production budget. Grant uses might include, but are not limited to: increasing the costume or set design budget, paying for additional lighting or sound equipment, or allowing for the use of alternative media.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The FY12 Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Fund grant cycle is now closed. Information on the FY13 grant cycle will be available in Fall 2012.
ELIGIBILITY
- Applicant must be a current member of A.R.T./New York;
- Applicant must have its own 501(c)(3) status (no fiscal sponsorship accepted);
- Applicant must NOT have had annual expenses totaling over $5,000,000 for its most recently completed fiscal year. This includes all non-theatre related programming and activities, except capital campaigns;
- Applicant must NOT have received funding from the foundation in both of the last two consecutive years;
- Applicant must only request funding for a project that occurs in New York City between January 1, and December 31, 2012;
- Applicant must NOT use grant money for salaries, fees, labor, training programs, or travel expenses. Applicants can ask for funding for only one production; however, funding may enhance more than one design element. Due to limited funds, grants typically do not exceed $10,000.
APPLICATION NARRATIVE GUIDELINES
The narrative portion of the application is your opportunity to not only describe your organization’s mission, core programming, and goals for the future, but also to distinguish your organization from others producing potentially similar work. As you write, please keep the following in mind.
- The requested grant amount should be based on a realistic evaluation of the needs of the project. Due to limited funds, grants typically do not exceed $10,000.
- The panel carefully considers whether applicants will have enough time to implement the design enhancement. Therefore, while all projects occurring during 2012 are eligible, applicants with projects in January must show they have sufficient time to execute the specific design enhancement requested.
- In cases where a funded project is delayed until 2013, organizations must return the funds to A.R.T./New York as soon as the delay is confirmed.
- Organizations should not rely on past accolades or assume any preexisting knowledge that panelists or the Foundation might have of their work.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Applicants are required to upload the following documents as part of the online application:
- Operating budgets for your most recently completed fiscal year and your current year-to-date actuals and year-end projections (template provided). If your theatre program is only a portion of your programming, please include a separate budget for the theatre program.
- Budget notes for any line item that changes more than 10% (up or down) between subsequent years.
- A full production budget for the proposed project that includes a separate column indicating where enhancement funds would be applied if awarded.
- A biography of the designer(s) who will be working on the funded elements.
- A copy of your 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.
- Your performance history for your most recently completed and current seasons. Download a template »
For more information about this program, please contact Zach Hollwedel at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (212) 244-6667 ext. 241.
FY12 EDITH LUTYENS AND NORMAN BEL GEDDES FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS
Big Dance Theater // Ich KürbisGeist
Set and lighting enhancement for designs by Joanne Howard and Joe Levasseur
Juneteenth Legacy Theatre // Diana Sands
Costume and set enhancement for designs by Ali Turns and Harlan Penn
Keen Company // Painting Churches
Set enhancement for designs by Beowulf Boritt
New Georges // Alicegraceanon
Set and sound enhancement for designs by Nick Francone and Marcelo Anez
Red Bull Theater // The Maids
Set enhancement for designs by Dane Laffrey
Red Fern Theatre Company // March
Set and projections enhancement for designs by James Sink
Treehouse Shakers // Hatched
Set and puppet enhancement for designs by Lauren Rockman and Patti Gilstrap
Yara Arts Group // Dream Bridge
Set and projections enhancement for designs by Mikhail Shraga
The Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Design Enhancement Fund was made possible by generous funding from the Edith Lutyens and Norman Bel Geddes Foundation.
