Deadline: 16-Feb-21
The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) is seeking applications for its grants program to support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus.
The Arts Council receives funding through annual contracts with the city of Columbus and the Franklin County Board of Commissions for the purposes of expanding cultural services and community enrichment, primarily through grants.
Types of Grants
- Grants for Organizations
- Project Support:
- Annual Seasons Purpose: Provide unrestricted financial support for arts organizations presenting a full season of public activities.
- Events, Festivals, Short Series Purpose: Provide support for a broad range of arts and cultural projects, events, festivals and short series.
- Thrive:
- Purpose: To support organizations led by and serving communities of color through unrestricted funding and resources.
- Operating Support:
- Purpose: Provide an unrestricted source of financial support for core arts and cultural organizations that are well-managed, firmly established, have significant impact and broad community engagement
- Project Support:
- Grants for Professional Artists
- Individuals:
- Purpose: Assist artists in making new art, growing artistic skills and marketing to a broader audience.
- Groups:
- Purpose: Assist groups of artists creating together on a permanent basis in making new art, growing artistic skills and marketing to a broader audience.
- Big Ideas:
- Purpose: Uplift artist ideas and projects that bring art to the public.
- Project Support: Events, Festivals, Short Series (w/fiscal sponsor):
- Purpose: Provide support for a broad range of grassroots arts and cultural projects, events, short series and festivals.
- Individuals:
Funding Information
- The maximum award is $25,000.
What will not fund
The following activities, organizations, or expenditures will not be supported through the city of Columbus and Franklin County funded grants program:
- Units of government;
- Organizations that are not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
- Independent projects that do not have an eligible Fiscal Sponsor as a collaborative partner;
- Instructional/educational programming, when not part of a larger project;
- Religious programming;
- Fundraisers;
- Elimination or reduction of existing financial deficit;
- Previously completed activities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to apply for Project Support: Annual Seasons.
- Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is arts and culture;
- Note: Operating Support grantees are NOT eligible to apply.
- Be active and presenting arts programming for the public at least 6 months out of the year;
- At least 75% of annual activities take place within the city of Columbus
- Demonstrate compensation to professional artists involved in the project; and
- Be open and promoted to the broad public (free or ticketed).
Ineligible Organizations/Activities
- Fundraising events
- Temporary or permanent public art installations as the focus of the season
- Educational programs (including workshops) or youth programs as the focus of the season
- Arts therapy programs or projects that use the arts as a tool to raise awareness
- Projects that do not demonstrate a significant benefit to the broad public
- Projects that primarily feature, support or fund one individual artist
For more information, visit https://www.gcac.org/grants-services/guidelines/