The LexArts Board of Directors announced this morning that applications are now being accepted for General Operating Support (GOS) and Community Arts Development (CAD) Project and Program grants. Grants will be awarded to individual artists and arts and community organizations for specific programs with an arts or cultural focus that have clear artistic and social benefits and are accessible to the general public.
General Operating Support grants are made in amounts of $10,000 and above and provide unrestricted funds for general operating expenses including staff, overhead, and program costs. Funded arts organizations must demonstrate strong arts mission fulfillment, fiscal responsibility, sound management, and operate on a year-round basis.
Community Arts Development Grants are awarded on a competitive basis for project or program support. Projects may include festivals, exhibitions, readings, performances, planning grants and artist publications. Programs may include festivals, a series of visual art exhibitions, and performing arts series, including music, theatre, dance and spoken word.
Project Grants vary in amounts from $500-$2,500, while Program Grants range from $2,500-$10,000. Last year $63,000 was awarded in total to 14 organizations.
“LexArts’ support of the arts in Central Kentucky is actually the support of hundreds and hundreds of people and companies, funneled through a rigorous and objective grant application process,” explains LexArts President and CEO, Dr. Ellen A. Plummer. “Experts in many arts disciplines, along with a committee from LexArts’ volunteer board, evaluate an organization’s artistic quality, fiscal readiness, and level of service. For thirty years now, this process assures all those investors in the arts that their investments are well-placed. As a result, Central Kentucky has a rich variety of high quality arts offerings of which we can all be proud.”
Continued LexArts Grants Committee Chair David Smith, of Stoll Keenon Ogden, “Our Grants Committee has kept firm both the general operating and community arts development grants funding throughout and after the recession, at some internal financial distress to LexArts, and we look forward once again to providing as much support in 2015 to our cultural partners as our resources permit.”
Fiscal Year 2016 programming begins July 1, 2015 and continues through June 30, 2016. The application deadline for 2016 funding is March 13, 2015. Organizations who intend to apply for GOS funding, but have not previously received GOS funding, must submit an Intent to Apply form by February 13, 2015. Provided grant funds are available, LexArts may also elect to accept Project Grant applications for review on a quarterly basis.
A Grants Workshop will be conducted at ArtsPlace, 161 North Mill Street, at 4pm on Monday, February 23. Prospective applicants should become familiar with the guidelines prior to the workshop. LexArts staff is also available to provide technical assistance and review draft proposals via one-on-one consultation. If a draft proposal is to be reviewed, it should be sent to the Community Arts Manager Nathan Zamarron prior to the consultation. Please call 859.255.2951 or send an email RSVP for the workshop or to schedule a consultation to nzamarron@lexarts.org.
| Important Dates and Deadlines | |
| GOS Intent to Apply Deadline | Friday, February 13, 5pm |
| Grant Workshop | Monday, February 23, 4pm |
| Grant Application Deadline | Friday, March 13, 5pm |
| CAD Grant Review | Tuesday, April 21, 10am-Noon |
| GOS Grant Review | Tuesday, April 28, 10am-Noon |
More information, including eligibility and criteria guidelines, can be found athttp://lexarts.org/
