Grant Opportunities

2012 Guidelines

Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission

Community Arts Grant Guidelines

Purpose of the Grant Program: The goals of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC) Grant Program are to promote awareness of and appreciation for the arts in Lawrence, Kansas, and encourage collaboration within the Lawrence arts community.

Deadline: Submit your application by 4 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; modifications are not allowed after submission.

Level of Support: The maximum award will be $7,000, with most grants anticipated to be in the $500-$1,000 range. LCAC awards can equal no more than 50% of the total eligible cash expenses of the activity. The required cost-share is required can come from both cash and in-kind sources and must be supported by letters of commitment confirming the contribution to the project from any third-party contributors.

Project Timeline: The proposed arts project or program must begin no earlier than May 1, 2012 and end no later than April 30, 2013. The final report is due no later than August 1, 2013.

Eligible for LCAC grants are organizations with a Lawrence, Kansas, address proposing projects sited in Lawrence that meet the LCAC Grant Program goals. Preference is given to new projects and innovative components of established programs; for example, projects that:

• Encourage interest in and/or expand access to the arts
• Incorporate innovative approaches to the arts and/or arts audiences
• Aim to create and present art in non-traditional venues
• Generate new collaborations or support established collaborations related to the arts
• Increase exposure for Lawrence-based artists or Lawrence arts organizations
• Help leverage major grant funding for the arts in Lawrence

Ineligible for a Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission grant are:

• Educational activities for college students that are a requirement of their major discipline
• Projects that are not collaborative in nature
• Projects that do not take place at least partially within the Lawrence community
• Projects that are not submitted by a Lawrence-based organization or individual

Criteria for Selection:

Community Value

• Degree to which the project meets the LCAC Grant Program goals: to promote awareness of and appreciation for the arts in Lawrence and encourage collaboration within the Lawrence arts community
• Project’s anticipated impact on the Lawrence art community
• Evidence of matching support sufficient to demonstrate collaboration and community interest

Project Quality

• Artistic value of the project as described by the applicant
• Qualifications and strengths of the collaborators proposing the project
• Soundness of the detailed timeline for implementation
• Budget supports the proposed activities

Application Quality

• Completeness, organization, tidiness, and clarity of the application packet

Post Award Requirements:

• Awardees must acknowledge the support of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission in publicity associated with the programming funded by the LCAC Grant and during presentation of the project or program.
• Awardees must submit a final report detailing the outcomes of the project to the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission no later than August 1, 2012. This report consists of the final report form and documentation of the event, project or program such as photographs, reviews, programs.

APPLICATION PROCESS

A complete application packet is comprised of the following in the order indicated:

1.   Application Form
·   Complete the form using a typewriter, or fill it in on your computer and print it out
·   Form must be signed by the organization’s responsible fiscal agent and the project director

2.   Project Description Narrative: Is limited to no more than (3) single-spaced typewritten pages with one-inch margins using a font no smaller than 11 pt. Describe the project in detail. For example:
·   Describe your target audience and strategies for engaging new audiences or participants in the arts.
·   How will your project broaden and/or deepen community participation in the arts? What is your vision for the project in this regard?
·   If this is a new project or new component of an existing program, in what way is it new?
·   With what other Lawrence organizations are you collaborating on this project?
·   What is the source of your match and how does this collaboration reflect community interest?

3.   Schedule of Events
·   Provide a narrative, timeline table, or calendar detailing activities related to the project or program.

4.   Budget and Justification
·   Show estimated project expenses and sources of funding (LCAC Grant, cash and in-kind)
·   Explain your calculations (how did you come up with the numbers), specify where the LCAC funds fit into the picture, and identify the contributors of the cash and in-kind match.

5.   Resumes, bios, or artist’s statements for artists and key personnel

6.   Letters of support and commitment from collaborating organizations and contributors of in-kind and matching funds are required–applicants that do not provide current letters confirming at least one such collaborations will be disqualified

4.   Support Materials: No more than five pages of support materials

Applications must be received by 5:00 pm, Monday, March 26, 2012. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; no modifications are allowed after submission. Mail the packet to:

Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission

City Manager’s Office
Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
P.O. Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044

Alternatively, email application packets to Diane Stoddard at dstoddard@lawrenceks.org If choosing this option, compile the components into one (1) PDF document in the order indicated above and attach it to the email. Type LCAC Grant Application in the subject line.