One of my current roles at WESTAF is managing the TourWest Grant Program. It has been an online process now for about 5 years. In the first year, we had an application form that would save the information in a cookie and the applicant would print out the application and mail it into WESTAF.

Later we moved to CultureGrants Online(tm) Basic version 1. Version 1 of the software worked pretty well, but it was fairly ugly and the tools were rudimentary. Two and half years ago we rebuild the software from the ground up and built version 2. This package is much more robust with pretty significant ways of outputting data that has been entered into the database. It creates readable panel books, and saves some information from year to year for the applicants. Once the applicants have completed the project that they have been funded for, they can complete a final report online.

TourWest's application deadline is coming up on April 2nd. This is the time that many folks start applications and rush to complete them before the deadline. Many calls come into the office for support--questions about the software, about the guidelines, and what we are looking for in the applications.

One of the net results of placing the application online is the immediacy of the applications. I can review an un submitted application with an applicant on the telephone without the applicant having to mail or fax an advance review copy.

A second result of moving the application online is the timing in which applications are submitted. Applications are started later and submitted even closer to the deadline every year.

Soon the applications will all be submitted and I'll begin the prep work for setting up the panel. Samples will need to be collated. Panel books will need to be generated. The panel book Tablet PCs will need all of the information loaded up and shipped to the panelists. A very busy time indeed.

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