Deadline: 01-Apr-21
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) is pleased to announce the Arts Access Grant Program to support new ventures or occasional arts programs executed by non-profit organizations, or groups fiscally sponsored by a non-profit organization.
Eligible programs should contribute to the vitality of the communities, the economy of the state, the arts education of Rhode Islanders, and the quality of life. Programs must demonstrate excellent artistic, educational, and cultural value, as well as engagement with and relevance to their community.
RISCA will and will not fund
Council support may be used for expenses related to arts programming and production of a single event or a series of events, such as the production, presentation, marketing, and for reasonable administrative expenses necessary for carrying out the project. Council support may not be used for:
- Capital projects. Bricks and mortar activities and capital improvements, or for the purchase of permanent equipment.
- Addressing Debt. Eliminating or reducing existing debt, or for contributions to an endowment fund.
- Any development efforts, such as social events or benefits.
- Prizes and awards. Note: your project having an award or competition component does not make the project ineligible; RISCA funds just may not be used for the prize or award.
- Hospitality expenses. This includes food and beverages for openings or receptions. Under no circumstances will the purchase of alcoholic beverages be supported. Note: your project can have hospitality expenses; RISCA funds just may not be used for hospitality expenses.
- Expenses outside of award period.
- Regranting funds. Applications where the purpose is to “regrant” or award funds using some or all of the RISCA grant funds.
- Undergraduate or graduate school activities. Activities which are part of a graduate or undergraduate degree program, or for which academic credit is received.
- Religious activities. Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities, or which take place as part of a religious service.
- Private functions, or programs that are not ADA complaint. Performances and exhibitions not available to the general public, or which are inaccessible to people with disabilities.
Funding Information
The maximum grant award in this category is $3,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Grantees in RISCA’s Investments in Arts & Culture (IAC) program are not eligible to apply for AAG support, but they may serve as fiscal sponsors for organizations applying in the AAG category.
- In order to qualify for AAG support, you must be:
- A non-profit organization. Your organization must be incorporated in and conducting business in the State of Rhode Island, with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the community at large and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization (for confirmation that your nonprofit organization is incorporated in the State of RhodeIsland, visit the Secretary of State’s online database) If your organization is incorporated in a state outside of Rhode Island, they may still apply for a grant. The organization must show that its principal place of business is in Rhode Island, it is registered with the Secretary of State’s office, it is producing programming predominantly in Rhode Island, and it is governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the Rhode Island community and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization. Please contact Todd Trebour, Organizations Program Director for more information.
- A non-exempt, Rhode Island-based organization using a fiscal sponsor that fits the above requirements.
- Organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service may be sponsored by an eligible nonprofit organization. In this case, the application must be submitted in the name of the sponsor organization. If a grant is awarded, it is understood that the sponsor organization is financially, administratively, and programmatically responsible for all conditions of the grant. The sponsor is also responsible for signing any grant documents, achieving compliance, and ensuring the submission of final report form.
For more information, visit https://risca.online/grants/arts-access-grant/