Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes County, North Carolina

Grassroots Arts Program

GRASSROOTS GOALS 2011-2012

During the recent North Carolina Arts Council Executive Director Board Retreat the new guidelines and procedures were announced. Please review carefully.

The North Carolina Arts Council allocates Grassroots money to all counties. We encourage all applicants to use the following guidelines and goals.

The Arts Council recognizes over ¼ of the state’s population are African-american, Asian American, Latino and Native American people. The Arts Council strives to provide a representative portion of grant funds for arts programming that reflects the racial and the ethnic diversity of the state.
In reviewing grant applications, the Arts Council takes into account all state funds to which an applicant has access or which the applicant has received.
Colleges and universities may receive grants for programs that are community-based or generate area-wide arts involvement. Grants may not support the institution’s internal programs.
Grant funds may not be spent on Grantees administrative or operating expenses
Grantees are held accountable for following all requirements related to project implementation and the expenditure of funds. Grantees who do not comply with these regulations may be ineligible for future funding.
· Grantees must submit a new recently notarized copy of the organization’s Conflict of Interest Policy and a No Overdue Tax form
Organizations may submit no more than one application per grant category
All programs must be accessible to people with disabilities and in compliance with the Americans with the Disabilities Act.
The Grassroots subgranting system was designed to decentralize the grant making process at the state level and to be a local source of state support for arts organizations. With this in mind, the first priority for awarding subgrants should be qualified symphonies, choral societies, dance companies, writer’s groups, arts festivals, theaters and galleries.
A second priority for subgranting is the support of arts education programs conducted by qualified artists. These can take place in after school, summer programs, or school settings, Grassroots may NOT be used for activities associated in school’s internal arts programs such as student performances, purchase of art supplies, or student arts competitions and publications.
Increase public awareness of the arts and coordinate this awareness into support of the arts
Assist the evolution of the arts by serving as a focal point of experimentation and innovation
Strengthen the producing, presenting and service capabilities of arts organizations
Encourage the integration of the arts into a broad spectrum of community life
Increase involvement and introduction to the arts at local schools
Include the following statement in press releases, brochures, pamphlets, invitations, etc., "this project (or program) is sponsored in part by the Grassroots funding from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency, through our local Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes".
Show your organizations strength
• Provide artistic merit, reaching new audiences (minorities, special populations groups or a large percentage of the community)
Demonstrates ability of applicant to carry out the project
Shows cooperation among existing arts and community organizations
The organization must be able to match dollar-dollar
Write a brief thank you to the Representatives and Senators for this district expressing our gratitude for the support they have given for the arts
Attend at least one program/project the Cultural Arts Council sponsors between September 2011 and June 2012.

AMOUNT OF GRANT

There is no specific limit; however, previous grants have varied from $60-$3000. The amount of grant money will be determined by past history of the applicant. As one of the purposes is to encourage and fund new programs/projects, former applicants will not be guaranteed funding each year. Applicants are strongly encouraged to become self-supporting.

The Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes can retain as much as 50% of the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots funding to support the organization's programs/projects and operating expenses.
The Cultural Arts Council will disburse funds when we receive the funds from the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.

FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Deficit reduction
Capital expenditures
Contingency funds
Food or beverages for entertainment functions
Fundraising events
Lobbying expenses
Tuition for academic study
Interest on loans
Administrative or operating expenses