Deadline: 06-Nov-20
Erie Arts & Culture requests proposals for 2020 Ignite Arts Grants. Ignite Arts Grants are designed to provide up to $2,500 in financial support to a variety of arts, cultural, and heritage activities to help strengthen the vibrancy and vitality of the Erie Region and enrich the lives of our residents.
To support an enriched life for all, Erie Arts & Culture commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, and equitable region. They believe that equity is crucial to the long-term viability of both the arts and culture sector and communities-at-large. In support of this commitment, their grant categories have been aligned to reflect the values and strategic priorities of Erie Arts & Culture.
Funding Information
- Ignite Arts Grants are designed to provide up to $2,500.
What types of projects are eligible for funding in 2020-2021?
- Bold and Innovative: Ignite Arts grants provide funding for innovative and experimental projects. Awards may support big ideas that push boundaries, engage participants in unexpected ways, pilot new solutions to challenging problems, or improve program design with calculated risk-taking.
- Preserve or Promote Cultural Diversity: Erie Arts & Culture Ignite Arts grants may be used to support new, existing, and emerging organizations whose mission, staff, programs, and board represent culturally diverse communities. Awards may fund projects that celebrate communities’ unique arts and culture or preserve culturally significant artistic traditions or practices.
- Building Relationships with New or Under-Resourced Communities: Organizations may use Erie Arts & Culture project funding to make accommodations for patrons and artists with disabilities. Awards may support one-time accommodations such as American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, captioning, or materials in alternative formats; or the purchase of durable equipment. This funding is not intended for physical space accessibility improvements.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be a registered tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) 3 of the IRS Tax Code, as demonstrated by a copy of the applicant’s IRS Determination Letter.
- The applicant’s principal office/activities must be located in Erie County, PA.
- The project must occur in Erie County, PA, and be accessible by the general public
- Applicants must not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, sexual orientation, marital status, gender, or gender identity in any program or activities receiving grant funds.
- Applicants must be in good standing in accordance with Erie Arts & Culture’s grant requirements and must have provided all contract reporting required to date.
Application Guidelines
- Applicants must identify the type of project (Bold and Innovative, Preserving or Promoting Cultural Diversity, or Building Relationships with New or Under-Resourced Communities) for which they seek funding. Erie Arts & Culture defines a project as an initiative with a clear start and stops date that is implemented to achieve specific goals and objectives. Annual programs, which are ongoing parts of an organization’s mission, are not eligible for funding.
- Applicants may submit up to two applications, and separate applications are required for each project. Similar projects are ineligible for funding. Colleges and universities may submit multiple applications as long as they are from different departments. No more than one application will be accepted per department.
- These funds cannot be used for an Arts in Education (AIE) Teaching Artist Residency host site match. Additional project costs associated with a residency can be covered through this grant program. Allowable expenses include supplies, public art installations, mileage, meals & lodging if applicable. Host sites cannot use grant dollars as a relief for the obligation of providing matching dollars.
- All applicants must demonstrate what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) look like when applied to their organization. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how they have advanced DEI within their organization over the past 12 months, and what the plans are to advance DEI over the next 12 months.
- Applicants may request up to $2,500 per project. Partial support may be provided. Applicants must have at least 10% of the project budget from other sources. This may include projected or estimated earned income.
- Full project budgets should be included using the Budget Worksheet provided in the online application.
- Final reports from organizations that have received funding in the past may be considered in the assessment of new grant applications.
- Individual artists or artist teams can be identified as an applicant, and they must have a 501c3 fiscal agent. Fiscal agents must provide a letter, on letterhead, stating that they agree to be included in an application as a fiscal agent. As such, they understand their fiduciary responsibilities.
- Organizations that are not independently incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit may apply through a qualified fiscal agent. Fiscal agents must provide proof of eligible tax status and submit a letter of commitment acknowledging the role of the organization, level of involvement in the project, and obligation to adhere to all funding requirements, project administration and reporting procedures.
- Capital expenditures over $500 and costs associated with benefits and/or fundraisers are not allowable. All proposals must be completed and submitted using Erie Arts & Culture’s online grant application. Paper applications will not be accepted.
For more information, visit https://www.erieartsandculture.org/blog/erie-arts-and-culture-2020-ignite-arts-grant-application-opens-sep-15