St. Louis Symphony  IN UNISON Chorus | photo,  Dilip Vishwanat

ADVISORY PANELS

Advisory Panels are a critical part of our funding process. The panelists, who volunteer from throughout the state, review and evaluate all grant applications.

We rely on people who reflect a broad range of artistic and professional viewpoints to bring a spectrum of knowledge and experience to the application review process. Each panel is chaired by a member of the Missouri Arts Council board.

Serving on a grant panel is hard work, but our volunteer panelists say it is worth it. Here are just a few comments from the most recent survey we conducted with our panelists:

  • “It is an honor and pleasure to be a part of a process that helps such a wide array of organizations.”
  • “This experience has been wonderful, and I’m so thankful to MAC for inviting me to participate! I’m encouraged and excited by everything these organizations are doing for the arts in Missouri.”
  • “I am so very proud to have been a part of this wonderful process! Thank you.”

Our panel system is designed to ensure that public funds for the arts are distributed fairly through a transparent process. Panelists also advise the Missouri Arts Council board and staff about policy and program development. All panel meetings are open to the public.

We conduct all panel activities virtually, so panelists can participate no matter where they live.

For more information, contact Michael Donovan, executive director, at 314-340-4740 or  michael.donovan@ltgov.mo.gov.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PANELISTS

We use these criteria to select panelists and create panels:

  • Personal integrity, objectivity, and ability to work as part of a group
  • Expertise relevant to the reviewed art form
  • Knowledge and experience in arts or nonprofit management
  • Familiarity with arts groups in Missouri
  • Access to technology to review applications and support materials online
  • Limited or no conflicts of interest as a member of the board or staff of organizations that are potential applicants for grants
  • Residence in Missouri (except for Established Institutions, Mid-Sized Arts Organizations, and Folk Arts panels)
  • Varied representation from communities throughout Missouri
  • Expertise in a desired skill or knowledge area

These are the sorts of people we’ve found make excellent panelists:

  • Arts professionals (for example, artist, artistic director, manager, administrative staff)
  • Educators (for example, K-12, higher education, and specialized)
  • Professionals and board members from arts or non-arts nonprofit organizations
  • Community members active in an arts or non-arts field (for example, accountant, attorney, board member, civic leader, humanities scholar)

For each panel, we select one person to serve as Panel Alternate. If a chosen panelist has to withdraw from the panel due to an unavoidable schedule conflict or last-minute emergency, we will ask the Panel Alternate to serve. We request that Alternates hold open the dates for the orientation and panel meetings in case their service is needed.

PANELISTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Evaluate applications. Each panelist reviews and scores 13-25 applications (20 on average). The total time involved ranges from about 20 to about 40 hours (25 on average), depending on the number of applications you are reviewing and how much time you spend with each application. Each application usually takes 45-60 minutes to review.
  • Participate in the online panelist training in March and panel meeting in May.
  • Commit to at least one year of service. Panelists may be asked to return, if needed, for up to three years total.
  • An honorarium of $300 is available to all panelists as appreciation for your time and expertise.
How to review the applications

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Determining numeric score and written comments

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Reviewing average scores and compiled comments

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Using the online panel review

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During the panel meeting

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After the panel meeting

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PROCESS FOR NOMINATING PANELISTS

Nominations for panels are accepted year-round. We keep nominations on file for at least two years.

The Missouri Arts Council board approves the one-year term appointments. We are unable to appoint every qualified nominee due to limited openings.

To submit a nomination, please complete the  nomination form and attach the nominee’s resumé. You may nominate yourself or another person.

PANEL SCHEDULE

Advisory Panels will convene to review applications for the annual grant cycle (July 1–June 30). Off-Year applications are reviewed by Missouri Arts Council staff for verification for eligible projects and appropriate budgets.

October–November

First round of panels approved and panelists notified.

March

Panel training by Zoom.

March–April

Panelists evaluate the application materials online based on the review criteria. They submit their written assessment and numeric scores to Missouri Arts Council staff a week before the panel meeting. Then, for each evaluated organization, Missouri Arts Council staff average the individual scores given by each panelist, and compile a written assessment for panelists to review before the panel meeting.

For their honorarium payment, panelists complete state vendor registration and submit signed expense reports.

May

The panels meet by online conference with the panel chair, Missouri Arts Council staff, and applicants. During the meeting, panelists discuss applicants’ average scores, with the opportunity to change them. Panelists do not make monetary funding recommendations; the grant awards are determined after the panel meeting by a funding formula.

We approve the honorarium payment after participation in panel meeting.

June

The Missouri Arts Council board approves the funding.