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Eligibility Criteria This category is designed to support mature arts organizations that, over time, have produced consistently strong arts programs and services and demonstrated strong management and financial accountability. State Arts Resources organizations typically excel at providing one or more of the following: - High quality programming to a regional service area
- Innovative new work in an art form
- Model programs that set standards of excellence for the state
- Appropriate and competitive fees to artists for services
- Opportunities to experience and engage with strong artwork and programs otherwise unavailable within the region
Organizations applying to the State Arts Resources category for the first time must have received Arts Council program grants for at least two out of the past three years with an average grant of at least $10,000. Colleges, universities and local arts councils are not eligible to apply in this category. Organizations must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for State Arts Resources grants: - Organizations must have consistently produced arts programs and demonstrated organizational stability for a minimum of five years.
- New organizations must have had an operating budget of more than $150,000 for the past three years.
- Organizations must have received Arts Council program grants for at least two out of the past three years.
- Organizations must have at least one full-time paid staff member.
- Organizations must be able to meet the State Arts Resources evaluation criteria.
Description Funds are provided to support the ongoing artistic and administrative functions of arts organizations. Fundable expenses may include but are not limited to salaries, artists' fees, production, travel, promotion, postage, telephone and facility operation. Grant amounts generally range from $15,000 to $95,000 and are based on the organization's application rating, operating budget size and Arts Council funding history. Organizations that have a recurring line item in the legislative budget have restricted access to State Arts Resources grants and should call Arts Council staff before applying. Grant funds must be spent between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. Evaluation Criteria Each full State Arts Resources application is reviewed and rated by one of the Arts Council's review panels based on the following evaluation criteria. The criteria are weighted, with ratings for the first two criteria counting twice as much as ratings for the last three.
Artistic Quality - Programs are recognized for high artistic quality. Appropriate payment of fees and other services are provided to artists and arts professionals. Programs demonstrate improvement and innovation within the context of the organization's mission, purpose and environment.
Education and Outreach - Programs are well attended and engage audiences and participants from a regional service area or greater.
- Programs are provided that involve racially and culturally diverse artists and participants.
- Outreach activities, educational programs, publications and/or interpretive materials are provided to broaden, deepen and diversify audiences and increase life-long learning through the arts.
- Efforts are made to make programs accessible to those who have limited arts opportunities due to educational, geographic, ethnic or economic constraints.
Arts Leadership - Organization demonstrates regional, state and national arts leadership by sharing programs and resources, providing mentorship opportunities, participating in advocacy activities, creating partnerships with arts and other organizations, or having its staff and board participate in statewide events or serve on the boards of other organizations.
Organizational Strength - Organization demonstrates stability and fiscal responsibility through effective board and staff leadership, sound administrative practices and long-range planning.
Racial and Cultural Diversity - Organization demonstrates a commitment to racial and cultural equity in its governance, administration and programming.
How to Apply
Application Instructions Visual arts and multidisciplinary organizations must submit a full narrative for 2013–2014 at the deadline. Organizations submit a full State Arts Resources application every three years. In the off years of the three-year cycle, organizations submit an update application, unless notified otherwise by staff. The application will be available on our website in mid-January. Applicants will submit the form electronically through North Carolina ARTS Grants Online (AGO). The following information will be requested of organizations required to submit a full application. Make sure that the information you provide addresses the evaluation criteria within the context of your organization's mission, purpose and environment. Organizations will also be asked to provide operating income and expense information for the last, current and upcoming fiscal years on the form provided. Artistic Quality - Describe all of your artistic programs and activities for the proposed grant period.
- Explain how your programmatic choices demonstrate improvement and innovation.
- Complete the appropriate attached chart for your art form (charts will be available after January 10 and are for visual arts applicants only) and describe the types of work and rates of payment your organization provides to artists. List the total fees paid to artists and the total number of artists paid in the most recently completed fiscal year and specify any operating agreements your organization observes regarding the payment of artists. Also list artist payment projections for this year and next year. State what percentage of artists receiving remuneration and services are from N.C.
Education and Outreach - Describe all educational programs, publications, discussion opportunities and interpretive materials that your organization will provide for the proposed grant period to broaden, deepen and diversify audiences and increase life-long learning through the arts and reach new audiences.
- Describe the audiences your programs currently reach and the intended audiences for your proposed programs. Include numbers and demographic statistics. Describe the geographic reach of your programs and services. Describe your organization's marketing and publicity strategies for the proposed grant period.
- Describe the specific outreach efforts your organization currently conducts to make programs accessible to those who have limited arts opportunities due to education, geographic, ethnic or economic constraints. Describe how your programs and facilities are accessible to people with disabilities. If you have an access plan, attach one copy.
Arts Leadership - Describe how your organization demonstrates regional, state or national arts leadership by sharing programs and resources, providing mentorship opportunities, creating partnerships with arts and other organizations, and having your staff and board participate in statewide events and serve on the boards of other organizations.
- Describe how your organization advocates for public funding for the arts.
Organizational Strength - State the names, titles and responsibilities of key staff members.
- How does your board oversee, promote, and provide resources for your organization? List key board members and cite examples within the last year that demonstrate how your board is engaged with the governance of your organization.
- Briefly describe the facilities in which your organization conducts its primary operations. Indicate whether you own, lease or occupy donated space.
- Describe your organization's financial condition. Include information about any accumulated debt, deficits, endowments, surpluses and cash reserves. Describe your principal sources of revenue and plans for long-term financial stability. Indicate any plans you have for a capital or endowment campaign. Attach your audit for your most recently completed fiscal year (20011-12), if you have one, or a financial statement for the period.
- Describe your organization's planning process. Briefly summarize key goals and objectives of your current long-range plan.
Racial and Cultural Diversity - Describe how your organization demonstrates a commitment to racial and cultural equity in relation to its mission and goals. Include specific examples of current and planned activity that illustrate this commitment to inclusiveness in administration, governance and programming.
The following information will be requested of organizations required to submit an update application. - Provide a description of your key programs for the proposed grant period July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, and attach a schedule of events.
- Describe any significant changes in your organization (i.e. changes in administration, board diversity, physical plant, financial condition, organization structure) that have occurred since your last year's application.
- Attach a financial statement or audit for your most recently completed fiscal year (2011–2012).
Support Materials and Work Samples Support materials and work samples are required for organizations submitting the full application and may be required for update applications. Requirements for performing arts and visual arts applicants may be found by clicking on these links: Performing Arts Requirements or VisualArts Requirements. Applicants to other disciplines should check with their staff contact.
New Applicants New applicants to State Arts Resources will be considered along with other organizations in their discipline when these panels meet to review applications every third year. This year, visual arts and multidisciplinary organizations that have never received State Arts Resources grants must submit a letter of intent to apply by Tuesday, January 22, 2013. The letter should describe how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and the evaluation criteria for the category. Address this letter to Jeff Pettus, Senior Program Director for Artists & Organizations, at the Arts Council and do not exceed three pages. We'll contact you to discuss your eligibility to submit a full application for the March 1 deadline and funding potential in this category. For More Information
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