Grants & Services for Organizations
Grants Guidelines › Project Support
Register or Login to use GO Arts, GCAC's online application system for Project Support.
Project Support provides funding for the numerous short-term cultural activities that give Columbus its vitality. In 2010, Project Grant deadlines will be offered quarterly, accessible to both planned activities and newly discovered opportunities. We welcome the opportunity to support new organizations and new projects. Supporting the ever-changing potential of talent in Columbus benefits all types of art and culture in our community.
Types of Eligible Projects
Examples of the artistic disciplines served by GCAC are dance, design, literature, media, multi-disciplinary art, music, opera/musical theater, theater and the visual arts. Refer to the goals for the Grants and Services.
General
General types of projects funded by GCAC include:
- Public performances or exhibitions
- The creation of new work
- Special initiatives designed to significantly enhance an organization’s earned income potential or position in a broader market
Experimental Projects
Experimental projects will be considered for their potential to produce unique art of high quality. Although broad community support and matching funds are important to all activities, GCAC understands that the early stages of experimental projects may not show a strong record in these areas. After three years, the project should show increases in audience attendance and matching funds in order to strengthen the case for continued grant funding.
Salary Assistance
GCAC may support an arts organization’s request for salary assistance for a limited time. The applicant must clearly define the terms of employment and describe a concrete plan for the future funding of the position. Salary assistance is generally considered seed funding for a new position.
Examples of organizations that are not eligible to apply for salary assistance include: state agencies, units of government, college or university departments, non-arts organizations and organizations that serve primarily a national or statewide constituency. These types of organizations may not include salaries or overhead costs in any request for GCAC funding.
Arts Education
The Grants Program may consider a limited number of arts education projects for funding, when resources are available.
Eligible arts education projects:
- Are not intended for schools or for individual instruction
- Are promoted to the general public by nonprofit arts organizations
- Involve professional artists
In most cases, arts education projects will be a portion of a request for public programming. Funding may also be requested for master classes. Organizations seeking support for arts camps and after-school activities for youth may apply for artists’ fees, art materials, and scholarships.
Because GCAC supports arts education through its Community Arts Education program (which includes the Artists-in-Schools program and the after-school and summer program titled Children of the Future), arts education projects will receive lower funding priority.
Support for Multiple Activities
Organizations exhibiting the following characteristics may apply for multiple activity support:
- Minimum three-year history of successful programming
- Current with all federal and state regulations for 501c3 organizations
- Code of regulations/by-laws that provide for community involvement (refer to Best Practices)
- High quality artistic programming
- Annual and long-term financial plans
- Commitment to paying artists, with a proven track record
- A loyal audience base that is renewed or extended with the introduction of new programming
- Ability to meet a 1:1 private match with support from individuals
Organizations applying for multiple activities grants should apply within the cycle in which their activity begins. For example, if a concert series begins on Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 1, the organization should apply for the Jul. 15 deadline for the fall series of activity.
Organizations requesting grants for Multiple Activities must demonstrate planning and ability to book concerts, exhibitions, or performances in advance; negotiate successfully with the intended venue; and produce materials that promote ticket sales and/or subscriptions for two or more activities.
Grants for Multiple Activities are limited to annual submissions. Funds may be used for artists’ fees, administrative expenses, venue rental, marketing, and production expenses for the named productions. Priority will be placed on paying artists’ fees.
A grant for Multiple Activities is not to be considered substitute for unrestricted Operating Support. No organization will be granted funds from both GCAC funding categories. However, grants for Multiple Activities are restricted to no more than 30% of the organizations’ annual budget.
Project Grants for Operating Support Organizations
Operating Support recipients may not apply for Project Support funding.
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Required Materials for Project Support
GCAC provides an application form for organizations to request funding. Applications for Project Support, Operating Support and Technical Assistance must be submitted through our online application system, Go Arts.
Organizations are required to submit one copy of each document listed below:
- Project Support application cover page
- Organizational financial information, as listed in Documentation for All Programs
- Current staff/trustees lists
- Job descriptions/ brief resumes of key personal
Organizations are required to submit samples of work in a combination of no more than three of the items listed below:
- Media clips or multi-media presentation(s) (DVD format)
- Musical selection(s) (CD format)
- Catalogue or exhibition catalogue (one hard copy or PDF file)
- Newsletters (one hard copy or PDF file)
- Two press articles (one hard copy of each or PDF files)
- Event program (one hard copy or PDF file)
Note: At least two minutes and up to five minutes of video will be reviewed for your application evaluation. Total time viewed is at the discretion of the staff and may in some cases be less than five minutes. Keep this in mind as you select and cue materials for review. Please ensure that your samples are of the highest quality and the best representation of your work.
For first-time applicants only:
- Letter of federal tax exemption
- Organizational history and philosophy
For all applicants: Avoid federal penalties. Check the status of your 501(c)(3) annually.
Project Support Application and Review Criteria
GCAC utilizes an online application system comprised of four narative sections that address Public Value, Artistic and Project Quality, Organizational Goals & Implementation and Marketing & Audience in addition to supplemental materials that include a listing of board and staff members, project and organizational budget, samples of work and more.
Refer to Appendix 1 (Project Support Application Review Criteria/Evaluation Measures) for the complete listing of narrative questions, criteria/evidence and rating scale. Click here to download a PDF file of Appendix 1.
Awards:
The Grants Committee will determine grant allocations based upon two criteria - the application evaluation / rating and the amount of funds available - by applying a percentage to the request based upon these.
Recent Project Support Awards.
Grants staff:
Ruby Classen, Grants & Services Coordinator, 221-8406, rclassen@gcac.org
Click here to register for GO Arts, our online application system.
