PURPOSE
Public Art & Cultural Facilities grants encourage local, public, and private support for feasibility studies, renovation, or construction of performance, exhibition, or artist spaces, for capital purchases for those facilities, and for public art projects. These grants fund single-phase and multi-phase projects.

SINGLE-PHASE PROJECTS are requests for funding that can be completed in one year.

MULTI-PHASE PROJECTS are requests for funding different phases of the same project over a period that does not exceed five years. Funding for the first phase does not guarantee subsequent funding. In addition to a complete application focusing on the next phase of the multi-phase project, a full report relaying the progress of the prior phase(s) is required (See How to Apply below). Please communicate with the director of Community Development for further clarification.

Public Art & Cultural Facilities projects eligible for support might include:

Architectural and feasibility studies for the construction or significant renovation of a cultural facility.
Renovation or construction, including alterations needed to comply with regulations concerning access for persons with disabilities.
Purchase of equipment, such as sound, projection and lighting systems.
Public art projects.
Building and construction plans or blueprints.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet the general eligibility criteria for organizations found on Grants to Organizations Overview page.
Renovation or construction plans must include alterations needed to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or Americans with Disabilities Act 1990 concerning access.
Multi-phase applicants must provide a report of accomplishments of the prior year.
Applicants for major renovation or new construction projects must have a feasibility study that was conducted within the last three years.
Projects for historical museums and historic preservation, museums or tribal headquarters, meeting halls, senior centers, or ethnic centers will be eligible for funding if the primary purpose of construction or renovation is for the presentation of the arts.
Renovation and construction plans for facilities currently on the National Register of Historic Places must comply with those regulations.
Projects must comply with building code requirements.
Applicants who have received Public Art & Cultural Facilities grants for five consecutive years are ineligible for one year.
Educational institutions such as private and public schools, colleges, and universities, and their affiliated nonprofit foundations are not eligible for Public Art and Cultural Facilities grants.
Public Art and Cultural Facilities grants will not fund the purchase or maintenance of motorized or non-motorized vehicles, such as cars, vans, buses, or trailers.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES
A feasibility study is an analysis to determine if a project is possible. Applications for renovation or construction must include an adequate feasibility study as support material. The extent of the feasibility study should match the significance of the project. It is not necessary that a renovation or construction project be preceded by a Commission-funded feasibility study, but the existing study will need to exhibit extensive vision and planning about the proposed project.

GRANT AMOUNTS
Qualified organizations may apply for up to $10,000. Grant funds must be matched 1:1 with cash.

HOW TO APPLY
Application should be in 12-point font or neatly handwritten. Since copies will be duplicated, please do not use staples. Fill out the checklist, include the narrative, all required materials, and comply with the postmark deadline.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
In the narrative responses or in other areas of your application, provide evidence that the organization meets the evaluation criteria below.

Capital Purchases, Feasibility Studies, Facility Renovation or Construction requests:
Planning (50 points)

Evidence of community-wide involvement and need.
Maintaining the building's historic integrity is addressed, if applicable.
Capital Expenditure applicants considered the adequacy of the facility to house the equipment, and its relevance to the organization’s mission or programming.

Management (50 points)

Evidence of community impact or support.
Applicant demonstrated that it could accomplish a quality project in a timely manner.
Application is clear and complete; the budget is realistic and correlates with the narrative.
Multi-phase funding applicants provided evidence that they are on schedule.

Public Art:
Artistic Merit (50 points)

Artistic merit of the applicant is strong, as evidenced by previous projects, marketing materials, work samples, and so on.
Selection process and criteria for choosing an artist is appropriate and adequately described.
Demonstrated the excellence of the participating artist(s) in the narrative and with support materials or work samples.

Planning (25 points)

Evidence of community support and need.
Attention has been given to maintaining the site’s historic integrity, if applicable.
Evidence of community involvement in the process for selecting the public art site and artists.

Management (25 points)

Ability and plan demonstrates the applicant can accomplish the project in a quality and timely manner.
Application is clear and complete; the budget is realistic and correlates with the narrative.

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NARRATIVE
Submit a clear and concise narrative of up to four pages. Number, repeat the appropriate questions below, and answer in order. Keep in mind the evaluation criteria.

Feasibility Studies, describe:

1. your organization; include structure, mission and brief history, programs and services.
2. the project for which you are seeking funds (if applicable, include the initial designs and intended aspects of the feasibility study)
3. your community, including location, occupational and economic base, and involvement with this project.
4. the planning process, including obtaining community input, selecting contractors, consultants, or advisors, and/or the development of the feasibility study.
5. how your plans address ADA and Section 504 accessibility requirements.

Renovation or Construction, describe:

1. your organization; include structure, mission statement, brief history, and programs and services.
2. the project for which you are seeking funds.
3. the steps you have taken to make sure the project feasible.
4. the groups in your community that will use the facility.
5. the overall plans for construction or renovation and how progress to date corresponds to the feasibility study or other planning documents.
6. how your plans address ADA and Section 504 accessibility requirements.

Capital Purchase, describe:

1. your organization; include structure, mission statement, brief history, and programs and services.
2. the equipment to be purchased, the need, where it will be housed, and how it will be used.

Public Art Projects, describe:

1. your organization; include structure, mission statement, brief history, programs and services.
2. the public art project for which you are seeking funds, timeline, proposed accessibility of public art site, and plans for long-term care and conservation.
3. the process for selecting artists or consultants.
4. the artist's involvement with this project.
5. the community involvement with this project.
6. how your plans address ADA and Section 504 accessibility requirements.
   

BUDGET
Applicants must furnish a projected budget for the proposed project at the time of application. Using budget form 5-B, clearly itemize expenditures and income that directly relate to the cost of the project. See budget hints.

POSTMARK DEADLINES
See the deadlines here.

Courtesy review deadline is three weeks before the postmark deadline.

FINAL REPORTS
Final reports must be submitted before the end of the fiscal year (more about Final Reports).

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