The KET Fund for Independent Production

Application Guidelines

In 1990, the Kentucky Authority for Educational Television (KET) received the first appropriation of funds from the Kentucky General Assembly to promote independent video and film production within the Commonwealth. Since then, KET has awarded more than $1.2 million to fund projects that range from dramatic features to animated shorts. Every two years, KET solicits applications from individual independent producers to develop programs of interest and importance to audiences in Kentucky.

Independent Project Grants from the KET Fund for Independent Production will be awarded to independent producers who produce video or film programs suitable for broadcast on KET. Under the grant contract, KET receives broadcast rights to the funded program, plus the right to act as the originating station for distribution to other PBS broadcast agencies. The independent producer retains copyright and other rights to the programs.

Grants are for financial assistance only. No in-kind services or facilities are available from KET.

Eligibility

Any individual based in Kentucky who is engaged in independent video or film production is eligible to apply for an Independent Project Grant. Grants are not awarded to production companies, agencies, or producers who have previously received a KFIP grant but have not completed the project. KET employees are not eligible for grants, nor can they work on funded projects in any capacity in the production process.

Funding

Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $25,000. Funds may be requested for any expenses directly related to any phase of program production. No matching funds or in-kind contributions are required to be eligible for funding, though it is understood that some projects will require support beyond the maximum amount of the KET grant.

Funding Criteria

The following criteria will be considered in selecting projects for funding:

  • significance of the project to Kentucky audiences;
  • originality, content, and quality of the project;
  • the applicant’s previous record of producing high-quality programs.

How To Apply

The next round of applications will be taken in fall 2008. Call KET at (859) 258-7031 or e-mail if you would like to be notified of exact dates. The applicant is required to provide an original of the grant application plus eight copies. A printable version is posted here, or you may download the form in Microsoft Word® format.

Do not include any additional documentation (letters of support, journal articles, etc.) with the official grant application. Applicants will be notified if additional information is needed.

All proposals requesting more than $20,000 must include a video sampler that should contain applicant’s previous work or work in progress (if you are seeking completion funds). Video samples should be ten minutes or less in length and must be submitted on DVCam or BetaSP. Samples submitted on other formats will not be used.

Grant recipients are notified in January. The notification will be in the form of a Letter of Intent from the KET Fund for Independent Production.

Grant Contract

The successful applicant officially becomes a grantee upon signing a grant contract with KET. Grant funds will be allocated on a schedule developed for each project. The first payment will be paid upon completion of the contract. Other payments will be made based on submission of materials. All funds must be spent and projects completed by June 30 of the calendar year following that in which grantees receive notification—about 18 months after the grant is awarded.

All programs must conform to PBS standards and lengths. One 30-second video promo for KET on-air use must be supplied with the completed program.

Acknowledgement

In all published materials and announcements regarding funding activity, the grantee must acknowledge that the project is “supported by the KET Fund for Independent Production.” Each funded program must include a video or audio identification at the head of the program stating, “The following program is made possible in part by a grant from the KET Fund for Independent Production.”

Assurances

As part of the grant contract, KET requires that all grantees assure that they will comply with all existing local, state, and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.

Accountability

The grantee will be required to maintain auditable financial records reflecting generally acceptable accounting standards. A final financial report must be submitted to KET at the end of the project.