Guiding Principles
The Commission works to ensure that quality arts are accessible to all Virginians regardless of race, age, gender, income, disability, geographic isolation, or social barrier. The Commission
supports existing arts organizations in all parts of the Commonwealth and encourages new organizations that serve people with limited access to the arts.
In addition, the Commission makes a substantial investment in performing arts touring each year as a way of increasing the availability of high quality arts throughout the Commonwealth.
All applicants are expected to consider the needs of special populations, such as older adults and individuals with disabilities when planning their programs.
The Commission works to ensure that quality arts are accessible to all Virginians regardless of race, age, gender, income, disability, geographic isolation, or social barrier. The Commission supports existing arts organizations in all parts of the Commonwealth and encourages new organizations that serve people with limited access to the arts.
In addition, the Commission makes a substantial investment in performing arts touring each year as a way of increasing the availability of high quality arts throughout the Commonwealth.
All applicants are expected to consider the needs of special populations, such as older adults, individuals with disabilities, and the institutionalized, when planning their programs.
The Commission believes that it is through the arts we celebrate the diverse cultures of this country.
The Commission funds arts organizations, artists, and arts activities that preserve and present the many cultures of contemporary life in the Commonwealth.
Commission grantees that are serving racially, ethnically, and/or culturally diverse communities are expected to actively seek racial, ethnic, and/or cultural diversity in their artists, audiences, boards, and staff. Applications for funding should fully describe all efforts to create this diversity.
Assistance to Individual Artists
Central to support for the arts is support for the work of individual artists of all disciplines.
If the arts are to thrive, there must be a receptive environment. The Commission hopes to develop a broad interest in and demand for new art in the Commonwealth by assisting in the acquisition, commissioning, presenting, and distribution of work by Virginia artists of all disciplines. The Commission's goal is to foster a climate in which artists of exceptional talent may work full time at their art. Arts organizations receiving funding from the Commission are encouraged to pay their artists.
Additionally, the Commission supports artist retreats, access centers for equipment and studio/rehearsal space, and organizations that provide information and advisory services for individual artists.
Development of Arts Organizations
The Commission provides ongoing support for established arts organizations and helps in the development of new arts organizations which fill a community need. In deciding which organizations to support, the Commission looks for high standards of artistic quality and management and the amount of local commitment to an organization in terms of attendance and financial support.
The Commission funds both professional and nonprofessional organizations that strive for artistic excellence. The Commission defines a "professional" organization as one composed of, hiring, or serving artists who earn or endeavor to earn their living through the practice of their art.
The Commission provides technical assistance to arts organizations, including paying for staff and board members to attend workshops and seminars and funding short term consultations on management problems.
The Commission views its financial assistance role to arts groups as that of a catalyst, helping to strengthen private and local support of the arts. The Commission believes in a diversified funding base for arts organizations.
Organizations receiving funding from the Commission are expected to earn as much income from ticket sales/admission fees as possible, while seeking contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government. This philosophy recognizes that government resources are limited while demands for services are high and that the arts are healthier when open to diverse influences and not financially dependent on any single source of support.
Some arts organizations exist to present the work of one artistic leader and are not intended to continue after that leader is gone. Other, equally worthy arts organizations have a more broad-based artistic philosophy and are intended to continue serving their communities beyond the tenure of the original artistic leader. The Commission strongly encourages this second group of organizations to build cash reserve funds and endowment funds to ensure financial stability in the future.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts is committed to strengthening arts education in the Commonwealth. The arts are an essential component of our communities, education, and lives. It also nurtures the development of cognitive, social, and personal skills which lead to improved academic performance in all subjects.
The study of the arts should be a part of the education of every young person, whether that student grows up to be a performer, a scientist, or an athlete. A complete curriculum in the arts includes both training in performance and in the creation of art work.
The Commission supports artist residencies in the schools and the educational programs of not-for-profit arts organizations. None of these educational resources, however, take the place of sequential, curriculum-based arts instruction delivered by certified arts teachers. These supplemental arts programs reinforce and expand upon the arts curricula.
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Virginia Commission for the Arts ▪
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223 Governor Street ▪
Richmond, VA 23219
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