Special grants available for arts projects
Culture Works and the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District (MCACD) are inviting local organizations to apply for Special Projects Grants of up to $10,000 to support arts and cultural projects occurring between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. In particular, MCACD, with funding from the Board of County Commissioners, is providing $166,000 for the 2021 grant cycle.
“The MCACD is happy to support programming despite the pandemic and especially as we emerge from the pandemic,” said Matt Dunn, MCACD executive director, who says it is the organization’s desire to support arts and cultural activities that will be available across the region. “The arts offer entertainment and healing and are more vital than ever.”
Small to midsized arts and cultural organizations, as well as other nonprofits, schools, colleges, universities, municipalities and government agencies located in Montgomery County can request funding. The arts and cultural projects to be created include performances, workshops, exhibitions, cultural events and educational programming. In addition, collectives and other unincorporated
organizations may also apply in partnership with a nonprofit, taxexempt fiscal agent.
The Special Projects Grant program is administered by Culture Works, the Dayton region’s united arts fund and local arts agency. In 2020, the program’s inaugural year, 15 organizations were awarded funding to create artist-in-residence programs, public art pieces, workshops, and community events celebrating local history and culture.
Due to the challenges in relation to COVID-19, many of the 2020 grantees have adapted their projects to reach community members through virtual experiences.
“2020 has really highlighted the ways in which the arts help us to maintain a sense of balance and connection in our daily lives,” said Lisa Hanson, Culture Works executive director. “We’re grateful to all of the organizations that have kept us inspired during these challenging
times, and we look forward to seeing what they have planned for 2021 and beyond.”
Organizations interested in applying for funding in 2021 can submit an Intent to Apply form through the Culture Works website beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3. Eligible organizations will then be invited in March to complete a full grant application.
To apply for a Special Projects Grant:
First-time applicants must attend a free, virtual grant info session on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at noon. Details and a link to register are available at _blank>cultureworks.org.
All organizations must submit an online Intent to Apply form by Friday, Feb. 26 indicating the proposed activities, the amount requested and their nonprofit status. The form will be available at _blank>cultureworks.org beginning Wednesday, Feb. 3. Culture Works and MCACD will review all Intent to Apply forms for eligibility.
In March, eligible organizations will receive an invitation to complete the online grant application by Friday, April 23.
An independent panel of arts administrators, artists and other community leaders will review applications and evaluate each proposed project’s artistic quality and community impact as well as the administrative capability of the applicant organization. Funding decisions will be made during a virtual public meeting in late June.
Full eligibility requirements, guidelines and the Intent to Apply form for the Special Projects Grant program will be shared via the Culture Works website at cultureworks.org/apply-forfunding/#special-projects. For more information about grant opportunities available through Culture Works, visit cultureworks.org or e-mail Karen Maner, grants manager, at kmaner@cultureworks.org.