Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 08:24:04 -0700
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Who Pays For It?


Susan ,

Here is a list  of grants and AIE programs I have 
done over the years.   My first in Alaska came 
out of my fathers  meeting the booking agent for 
the Alaska Arts Counci who mentioned she was 
looking for a puppeteer to go into the bush. I 
called her and they made the proposal to me and 
my wife. It practically killed us but it was the 
experience of a lifetime.  That was in 1976 
during the height of the oil crisis. I went back 
to AK on many junkets up through 1990 sometimes 
1 to 2  times a year mostly in the dead of 
Winter. At this time I discovered that Art 
Councils were the a great source of funding for 
residencies. I made applications to them. I also 
Planned parenthood approached me two times . The 
first time they had a script that I thought was 
so funny an challenging I did it for free in a 
large mall.  I have always looked for problems to 
be solved and offered a way to do it with 
puppets. the California council on the arts was 
always good in picking up my applications as I 
did them through the School District. In the 60's 
and 70's there was ready money available. Today 
it is a lot harder  and you have to root around. 
However, the  Arts Councils in a variety of 
states often publish bulletin board asking for 
submission. Our Metro Council puts things out to 
contract every year or so after each program has 
run it course.
I got the Pittsburg  grant of a P of A listing 
and that lead to the Carniegie Grant. The real 
secret is find out what people need and write a 
one page proposal and submit it to  to whatever 
agency is in need. I did a 3 year Nutrition 
project  for a schools food service program that 
came about because the feds were truing find out 
why school cafeterias  had a 60% waste problem in 
the lunch program. We reduced that waste by 60% 
in three years with our  program..I self 
published two books and a video on my own hook 
and they are still selling. My reputation spread 
and brought me more work Alot pf my ideas were 
crazy enough to create an interest. One of these 
days I 'll get it all written up.

Bruce K. Chesse


GRANTS
1994	Scottish Mask and Puppet Center, Glasgow, Scotland 10/94  =A3 4000
1991	Oregon Arts Commission Arts Fellowship 
$3000 to Puppetry Artist Bruce K. Chessé
1990	Metropolitan Service District, City of 
Portland "One Percent for Recycling" for "Recycle 
Rescue, $20,000
1989	Metropolitan Arts Commission " Return of the Golem " production grant
1986	Heinz Foundation/ Pittsburgh Children's 
Museum. Artist residency, created hands on 
visitor's puppet               
programs, staff training, developed 2 original 
production 
		                                 
 
 
1982	Metropolitan Arts Commission
1962                  Planned Parenthood health services puppet production
1976	Alaska Arts Council, $30,000,  for a 4 
month tour from the Petersberg in the Southeast to
                             Togiak in the Lower 
Kuskokwim. We went to a different school every 1 
to 2 weeks. Never less than 300
                             students at each school

ARTIST IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
1999 Utah Arts Council, Cleveland, UT and Manila Elem Manila, UT
1999 Alaska AIS Homer, AK and Willow Elem.  Willow, AK
1998 Utah Arts Council Plain City, UT and John C Fremont Elem (SLC)
1997-Chalis, Idaho 5 week AIS residency, 4 Week 
AIS residency, Cold Bay and Nelson Lagoon, AK
1996 Newtok, Toksook Bay, Nome Arts Council, 
Bering Straits SD Unalakleet & Shaktoolik, & 
Sears ElementaryKenai, AK.
1995 Malad Elementary, Malad, Idaho through the Idaho Counil on the Arts
1994 Resident Artist Scottish Mask and Puppet 
Center, October 94' Glasgow Scotland
1983 Rostered with Portland AIE, Eastern Oregon 
AIE, OACA, Idaho Arts Commission and Alaska Arts 
Commission through Young and Associates, 
Anchorage, AK
1976-95 Mr. Chesse' has conducted scores of 
workshops in Oregon, Alaska, and California. He 
has shared the art and skills of puppetry in 
settings ranging from the whaling community of 
Wainwright, AK to the inner city schools of 
Portland.




>Susan-
>For my odder stuff and some of the adult shows I have worked on I 
>have gotten grant money from various places to produce the show. Many 
>times the place that the performance takes place gives me the seed 
>money. In other cases the producer has gotten some form of corporate 
>sponsorship. I remember having to promote Shasta products before a 
>show. Sometimes the money comes from the government but for me that 
>is rare. The biggest problem about getting grant money is the number 
>of hoops they make you jump through to get the funds. Also sometimes 
>there are some very strange strings attached to the money. The 
>paperwork alone can drive you crazy. At the Yale School of Drama one 
>of the courses offered to the students is a one semester course on 
>grant writing. One of the best classes I took there in terms of 
>practicality later.
>Hope this helps-
>Kath
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