AB 1.17AB 1.17 Standards for review of applications by individuals. Applications by individuals shall be reviewed on the basis of artistic merit as demonstrated by the work samples submitted with the application. In addition to artistic merit, the following standards shall be applied:

AB 1.17(1)(1) The applicant’s professional achievements as demonstrated in a resume or curriculum vitae.

AB 1.17(2)(2) The financial feasibility of the proposed activities for which the grant funds shall be used.

AB 1.18(1)(1) The board shall make all final decisions regarding the approval or rejection of a grant application.

AB 1.18(2)(2) The board shall give considerable weight to the recommendations of peer review panels.

AB 1.18(3)(3) The board may request additional information from an applicant following panel review and prior to final board action.

AB 1.18(4)(4) The board may request a revised budget and project description or both before taking final action on a grant application.

AB 1.19AB 1.19 Contingent payments. The board may make grant payments contingent upon the fulfillment of certain requirements including, but not limited to, the receipt of final reports, the receipt of certified financial audits, and the board’s direct evaluation of the grantee.

AB 1.20AB 1.20 Notification. All applicants shall receive a letter of acceptance or rejection within 30 days after final review of the application by the board. If the board awards a grant smaller than the amount requested, the applicant may be required to submit a revised budget or project description or both before the grant is awarded.

AB 1.21(1)(1) An applicant may appeal the rejection of its application to the board, within 30 days of receipt of a letter of rejection received pursuant to s. AB 1.20 for any of the following conditions:

AB 1.21(1)(b)(b) A member of the staff, peer review panel, or the board violated the board’s conflict of interest policy provided in s. AB 1.15.

AB 1.21(2)(2) Appeals shall be made exclusively on the basis of materials submitted at the time of application.

AB 1.21(3)(3) Evaluations of artistic quality or merit, artistic excellence and leadership, the quality of the artistic activity or artistic work of an individual, the amount of the grant and interpretations or judgments of relevant peer review panels are not subject to appeal.

AB 1.21(4)(4) The appeal shall be in writing and shall be submitted in accordance with instructions which the board shall include in the application form. Each appeal shall be reviewed to determine whether grounds for an appeal exist. If grounds for an appeal are determined to exist, the executive committee shall review the appeal and shall make a recommendation to the board. The applicant may appear before the executive committee to address the appeal. Statements by an applicant are limited solely to the grounds for appeal.

AB 1.22(1)(1) The executive committee may take one of the following actions in response to an appeal:

AB 1.22(1)(a)(a) Determine that there are no grounds for an appeal and recommend that the board dismiss the appeal.

AB 1.22(1)(b)(b) Determine that the applicant has grounds for an appeal and recommend the appeal to the board for discussion of its merits.

AB 1.22(1)(c)(c) Determine that the applicant has grounds for an appeal and recommend a grant amount for final approval by the board.

AB 1.22(2)(2) The board shall make the final decision on the appeal. A written decision of the final board action shall be mailed to the applicant within 60 calendar days after an appeal is submitted pursuant to s. AB 1.21.