Grants & Services for Organizations
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Grants
GCAC recognizes the value of arts activities of an essentially recreational, avocational or therapeutic nature and the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program is designed to help support these activities. Whether it's participating directly in the production of visual art, literature, music, theatre, or dance; attending local arts events such as live performances, festivals, and exhibitions; or participating in educational workshops, classes, seminars, it's clear people of all walks of life and all ages throughout Franklin County want more arts experiences!
The Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program is a partnership designed to support artistic development within a wide variety of organizations and improve the aesthetics and quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Franklin County. This program directly impacts a variety of deserving audiences at a time when interest in leisure, cultural enrichment, and continuing education is growing by leaps and bounds.
The Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program is financially assisted by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. Views expressed by the program and its grant recipients do not necessarily represent those of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
The program is administered by GCAC's Community Arts Education Program.
To see a list of recent grantees, click here.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES & CERTIFICATIONS
The Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program assists a variety of neighborhood and community groups (including, but not limited to: amateur and avocational groups, traditional arts organizations, civic and neighborhood associations, guilds, social service, youth-centered, and cultural organizations) with arts projects in all arts disciplines, provided they are promoted and offered to the general public. The purpose of the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program is to increase community participation in the arts throughout Franklin County.
In addition to the completed application form, you must submit a detailed project budget and one letter of support for your project from a program partner or supporting organization. Please do not include any other printed materials, CD's, videotapes, or audiotapes; these materials will not be reviewed or returned. All applications must be completed in hard copy and delivered by mail or in person. Applications will not be accepted by e-mail or fax. Requests will be reviewed by the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts advisory committee.
Requests must be received (not postmarked) by the dates below for consideration, and any requests received after the deadline may be held for the next cycle. Projects cannot begin before the notification date for each round (e.g., applications submitted for the October deadline must be for projects that begin after the notification date of December 15).
Received by: February 28
Notified by: April 15
Received by: May 31
Notified by: July 15
Received by: October 31
Notified by: December 15
Workshop dates:
Tuesday, October 4, 2-3 p.m., King Arts Complex, Room 210 (867 Mt. Vernon Ave., 43203)
Thursday, October 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Greater Columbus Arts Council (100 E. Broad St. 2250, 43215)
For more details, or to attend the workshop, e-mail oregan@gcac.org.
Mail completed application to:
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts
Community Arts Education Program Office
Greater Columbus Arts Council
100 E. Broad Street, Suite 2250
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: (614) 224-2606
Download the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Application.
Download the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Guidelines.
Download the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Project Budget Guidelines.
Download the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts Letter of Support Guidelines.
Applicants are encouraged to attend a free GCAC-sponsored grant application workshop for the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program. The next workshops will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2-3 p.m., King Arts Complex, Room 210 (867 Mt. Vernon Ave. 43203) and Thursday, February 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Greater Columbus Arts Council (100 E. Broad St. #2250 43215). Contact GCAC at 221-8625 to register.
Eligibility
The Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program provides funding for arts projects employing any discipline of the visual or performing arts. Funds will be issued only to organizations, not to individuals. Franklin County Neighborhood Arts funding is for specific project support only, not for operating support. GCAC does not award grants for capital improvements, and the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program, in general, will not award funds for large equipment purchases whose useful life will extend well beyond the completion of the project (i.e.: computers, digital cameras, sewing machines, etc.).
The Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program assists a variety of neighborhood and community groups (including, but not limited to: amateur and avocational groups, traditional arts organizations, civic and neighborhood associations, guilds, social service, youth-centered, and cultural organizations) with arts projects in all arts disciplines, provided they are promoted and offered to the general public. Projects that are accessible to people of all cultural backgrounds, economic status, sexual orientation, age and physical ability will receive higher priority. Other priority funding criteria include arts projects involving organization partnerships, projects that target underserved populations and/or geographic areas within the county, and projects in which large numbers of beneficiaries may participate. The maximum award is $2,000, and applications that describe cash and in-kind matching funds will be viewed more favorably.
Religious organizations are eligible to apply for Franklin County Neighborhood Arts funding. Projects should be ecumenical or secular in nature, and open and promoted to the general public beyond the congregation of the applying organization. GCAC cannot fund projects when the purpose or content of the project is to advance a religious ideology.
Organizations currently receiving funding through GCAC's City of Columbus Grants Program are ineligible for consideration for the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program. Commercial, for-profit businesses or enterprises are ineligible. Franklin County Neighborhood Arts will not fund organizations or projects with a primary impact outside of Franklin County.
K-12 schools and universities throughout Franklin County may apply for this grant during all three funding rounds. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed projects will provide students with a unique arts-based experience that extends beyond the reach of traditional in-school instruction. Projects must offer students the opportunity for in-depth engagement with the arts; funding will not be awarded for singular arts experiences, such as assembly programs or field trips. Funding is not available to supplement regular instructional programming (teacher salaries, instrument purchases, etc.). School-based projects must include some component that is accessible to the general public beyond the school community. Preference will be given to projects that are designed as school-community partnerships.
Franklin County Neighborhood Arts funds cannot be used to support projects that are fundraising events. Projects with a start date that precedes the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts award notification date are ineligible for funding.
Please note that the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program is not intended to be a recurring funding source for organizations, as one of the goals of the program is to distribute funds across the many geographic regions and cultural communities of Franklin County. In general, organizations can only receive one grant per calendar year. Recurring projects (e.g., an annual summer music festival) will not be funded beyond two consecutive years. Organizations may apply for funding for new projects from year to year, but applicants should make sure to explore all possible avenues for funding and sustainability.
Grant Terms
Organizations receiving funds through the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program must acknowledge support through the placement of the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program logo on all project-related printed materials, including sites on the World Wide Web or other presence on the Internet. Verbal acknowledgment must be given where printed acknowledgment is not possible.
Organizations receiving funds through the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program must submit a brief final report on the funded project, including actual date(s) of occurrence, project outcomes, summary of expenditures paid for with awarded funds, photo documentation of project, and evaluation results including audience/beneficiary feedback, within 30 days of its completion.
Organizations submitting the attached application must read these Guidelines of the Franklin County Neighborhood Arts program and assure compliance with those terms. Applying organizations certify the information contained in the application and supporting materials to be true and correct to the best of their knowledge. Each award recipient guarantees nondiscrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical ability, age, or veteran status. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training. Evidence of such action and/or policies shall be maintained and made available for review upon demand.
