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Project Grants

• Purpose
• Description
• Eligible Applicants
• Eligible Activities
• Deadlines
• Amount of Assistance
• Criteria for Evaluating Applicants
• Fiscal Agents
• Application Review and Payment Procedure
• Application

Purpose
To increase access to high quality arts for all Virginians; to increase opportunities for artists to create and present their work; and to expand arts education opportunities for young people.

Description
This grant program is open to any not-for-profit organization, unit of government, or educational institution presenting the arts.  Generally, the Commission will not support the same project for more than three years. 

Eligible Applicants
Virginia not-for-profit organizations, units of government, or educational institutions that meet the Basic Eligibility criteria.  Each department of a college or university is considered to be a separate applicant.  Organizations receiving General Operating Support are not eligible for Project Grant funding.

Eligible Activities

• Commissions of new works of art
• Operating support for new and emerging arts organizations (organizations whose primary purpose is the arts, that are three years old or less, and that had a previous year's income of less than $50,000)
• New or expanded arts education programs, such as artist residencies, workshops, classes, or summer arts camps
• New or expanded performances or exhibitions
• Services to artists and arts organizations, such as research studies, shared administrative and/or technical services, professional development workshops, and shared promotional materials

Please Note

• General operating support or annual budgets for established organizations are not considered projects and are ineligible.
• Applications from colleges/universities should be for activities not otherwise available in the community.
• Commission grants to any established arts organization in one year will total no more than 30 percent of that organization's income for the previous year.  Most grantees receive much less than 30 percent of their income in Commission grants.

Deadlines
March 1, 2012, for projects taking place between July 1, 2012, and June 15, 2013

Amount of Assistance
Generally, the grant amounts will be between $1,000 and $10,000.  Applicants may submit more than one application for a combined total of no more than $10,000.  The Virginia Commission for the Arts will rarely grant more than 50% of the cash costs of any project.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

• Artistic quality of the proposed project
• Effective management of the applicant organization
• Extent to which the proposed project meets the needs of the community and/or state
• Financial need of the applicant for the requested grant
• Cost effectiveness of the proposed project

Fiscal Agents
A not-for-profit, tax-exempt Virginia organization or government unit may act as fiscal agent for a Project Grant request by an individual or organization that is not tax-exempt or not incorporated in Virginia.  The fiscal agent must sign the application and, if a grant is received, is legally responsible for the completion of the project and for the proper management of the grant funds.  The Commission requires that a fiscal agent have a written agreement with the individual or organization that will actually administer the project, to avoid misunderstandings.  The Commission requires a signed copy of the written agreement between the two parties as part of the application.

Application Review/Payment Procedure
Applications will be reviewed by the area advisory panels and approved by the board of the  Commission, following the same review and payment procedures as the General Operating Support applications.  The Commission does not accept application materials via facsimile transmission or other electronic means (e.g. e-mail).

Application and Final Report Forms

• Project Grant Final Report Form 2011-2012 (WORD)
• Project Grant Final Report Form 2011-2012 (PDF)

• Project Grant Application 2012 - 2013 (WORD)
• Project Grant Application 2012 - 2013 (PDF)

• Project Grant Final Report Form 2012-2013 (WORD)
• Project Grant Final Report Form 2012-2013 (PDF)

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Virginia Commission for the Arts ▪ Lewis House ▪ 223 Governor Street ▪ Richmond, VA 23219
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