Community Arts Grants
Community Arts Grants (DEC) & Individual Artist Grants
Applications for the Community Arts Grants Fund (Decentralization Program) for Columbia, Greene & Schoharie Counties will be available July 8 for the 2013 funding cycle. Application deadlines for 2013 are Sat, Sept 22 for Project Support/Conduit-Artist grants & October 20 for Individual Artist Support.
Could your nonprofit organization use a boost to its arts programming? Are you an artist or musician with an idea for an interesting program with a strong public benefit? Do you represent a village, library, conservation group or other nonprofit that wishes to showcase or explore the rich natural and historical heritage of our region through literature, music, film, or visual arts? An individual artist who has a community inspired idea for a body of your own work? Maybe we can help!
Community Arts Grants include three categories of support:
- Project Support for Not-for-Profit Organizations offers grants up to $5,000 to community-based nonprofit organizations, local municipalities, towns and villages.
- Conduit – Artist Project Support offers individuals or artistic teams the opportunity to partner with a nonprofit and apply for up to $5,000 for project support. The conduit (nonprofit) agency acts solely as a fiscal manager while the idea is initiated and implemented by the artist or team.
Have a solid idea but no nonprofit sponsor? Talk to our Director of Community Arts Grants. Often we can help create partnerships. Funding for Project Support and Conduit-Artist projects is primarily intended to be applied toward artist fees for programs that enable appreciation for and participation in the arts and provide a direct and economically accessible benefit to the public. If it’s your own individual muse that could use some rejuvenation, our Individual Grants program may be the ticket:
- Individual Artist Grants offer $2,500 to artists (visual, performing, or literary) for the creation of a new original work that significantly advances the work of the artist AND actively engages in a dialogue with a local community.
In the context of this program “Community” can be defined as geographic, racial, ethnic, or philosophical. “Community engagement” can be accomplished through setting; interaction between artist and public; public participation and input; presentation and discourse, etc. These grants are not artist fellowships and are intended to support original works by artists interested in working in dialogue with a community.
All three categories of funding are competitive and proposals are reviewed by local individuals who are sensitive to the needs and challenges specific to Greene and Columbia County artists and small nonprofits. Average Project Support grants are around $1,200. There will be a series of free 2-hour informational workshops in your county to clarify eligibility, guidelines, and offer guidance and extensive support to applicants. New Columbia or Greene County applicants should attend one single-session informational workshop (in either county) or meet with our Director of Community Arts Grants. New applicants must call or email at (518) 943-3400 or Colettegcca@hotmail.com before submitting an application. All Schoharie County applicants must attend informational workshops prior to submission. Contact Renee Nied at 518-788-7264 or Schohariedec@gmail.com for dates & locations.
The Decentralization Program (DEC) is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by your local arts council. Consequently, Decentralization funding does not support organizations already receiving funding directly from NYSCA. For NYSCA supported organizations in Greene County, GCCA offers the County Initiative Program (CIP). Those applications will be available toward the end of July. For CIP information, please contact Kay Stamer at the GCCA or email: gcca@greenearts.org
