The purpose of this grant is to provide operating funds over a three-year period. The funds are intended to help arts organizations maintain, strengthen, and/or develop long-term partnerships in their communities. Organizations supported through this grant program must demonstrate they provide a consistent presence in their community as service providers and that their programs and services reflect the Council’s mission “to advance and preserve the arts at the center of Vermont communities.”
To support arts organizations who are endeavoring to make the arts a part of the fabric of Vermont community living;
To ensure broad access to the arts through associations and partnerships within and beyond the cultural sector; and
To broaden the recognized value of creative enterprise and the creative workforce.
Grants range from $4000- $7000.
Grant amounts are subject to change and are dependent upon federal and state funding.
This program operates on a three-year grant cycle starting September 1, 2011. After an organization is funded for the first year, support for the subsequent two years will depend on the organization’s ability to fulfill the terms of the grant contract and on the Arts Council’s ability to maintain the Arts Partnership grant program budget at the same level each year.
Grants require a 2:1 non-federal cash match.
Your application must be submitted electronically no later than midnight (EST) on April 15, 2011. All application materials must be submitted via the Council’s online granting system.
| Deadline |
Notification |
Year 1(FY2012) Activities take place between |
| April 15, 2011 |
July 15, 2011 |
September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012 |
If funded, activities for year 2 (FY2013) take place between September 1, 2012 – August 31, 2013 and for year 3 (FY2014) take place between September 1, 2013 – August 31, 2014.
Since this is a three-year grant cycle, this program will not be open for applications again until the spring of 2014.
Arts Organizations interested in applying to this grant program must contact Sonia Rae, Artist and Community Services Manager at 802-828-5425 prior to submitting an application.
Vermont arts organizations that:
- are a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization (except for municipal arts agencies) whose primary mission is to serve the arts;
- have a minimum annual operating budget of $50,000;
- have an independent audit or review of annual financial reports;
- have been in continuous operation for a minimum of 5 years;
- have at least 1 full-time professional (paid) staff member;
- have regular office hours;
- provide year-round programming;
- provide programs and services by and for Vermont artists (i.e. fiscal agent services, training, workshops, residencies, employment opportunities etc.);
- provide ongoing services in communities in collaboration with other civic, non-arts, or educational organizations;
- comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Arts organizations whose primary focus is a single event(s) held over the course of a single day/weekend, or festivals are not eligible to apply.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While applying for a Partnership Grant does not preclude applying for an Arts Learning or Community Arts Grant, organizations that receive an Arts Partnership Grant are not eligible to receive Arts Learning Grants or Community Arts Grants during the fiscal years in which the Arts Partnership Grants are received.
The Council is interested in funding arts organizations that have demonstrated a long-term consistent presence in their communities providing regular programs and services, and that have created partnerships with non-arts organizations or entities.
The Council looks upon these arts organizations as its partners in fulfilling its mission of “placing the arts at the center of Vermont communities.”
Examples include but are not limited to partnerships with:
- Social service agencies and organizations (i.e. for artist–led programs and residencies in community centers, low-income public housing, after-school programs, hospitals, and institutions dealing with incarcerated persons);
- Community business consortia (i.e. to develop cultural districts and community festivals);
- Local and/or Regional planning and development organizations (i.e. to address community cultural plans or engage in public art projects/activities);
- Schools and/or other Educational Institutions (i.e. for artist-led arts programming);
- Municipalities and town governments; (i.e. that address civic design issues, public art projects, etc.).
Funding will not be available for:
- Capital expenditures
- Equipment purchases above $300
- Construction or renovation of facilities
- Academic tuition
- Deficits from past activities
- Food or beverages
- Fundraising events or activities
- International travel
Arts organizations that have received Arts Council grants but have not submitted the required reports on funded activities will not be eligible for support through this program.
Organizations that receive funding must abide by the Legal and Other requirements as stated for all grant recipients. In addition, organizations:
- must attend regularly scheduled Council sponsored meetings which may include updates/information on a variety of topics such as accessibility, advocacy, technology, marketing etc. (Exact topics and schedule to be determined);
- must submit a completed/updated access self–assessment survey and implementation plan to the Council in the third year of funding;
- must promote and prominently display the Vermont Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts logos in publications and at events;
- must maintain a listing in the Vermont Arts Council’s Arts Directory;
- must list their events regularly in the Vermont Arts Calendar;
- are encouraged to attend the Council’s annual Arts Achievement/Advocacy Day;
- must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number
- must agree to enter operational and financial data from the last two fiscal years into the Council’s new “Cultural Data Project” (CDP) database. The database will open on August 1, 2011; initial data entry must be completed by April 1, 2012. Training on the use of the CDP will take place in September/October, 2011 (More info on the CDP will be available at a later date.)
All applications are reviewed by peer professionals drawn from a variety of organizations around Vermont and New England. Funding recommendations from the peer panel are then presented to the Council’s Board of Trustees for their review and approval. Also see General Program Guidelines.
Applicants will be evaluated on:
Impact (40%) of the organization’s service and partnership activities based upon evidence that the organization demonstrates:
- multi-year community partnerships and collaborative activities/services that significantly support the goals stated in the Vermont Arts Council’s 2008-2012 strategic plan (i.e. creative economy activities; arts education activities; outreach to underserved communities; employment of Vermont artists; local partnerships with non-arts organizations);
- employment of Vermont artists;
- involvement in arts advocacy efforts;
- compliance with the Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Artistic Quality (30 %) of the organization’s programming based upon evidence that the:
- programming is of high artistic quality and is closely aligned with the mission of their organization (evaluated by website content or artistic support materials).
Planning & Evaluation (15% ) of the organization’s activities based upon evidence that the:
- management and staff are appropriate to support the work of the organization (evaluated by key individual bios, financial statements etc.);
- evaluation plan is appropriate to the organization’s goals and activities.
Promotion (15%) of the organization’s activities based upon evidence that the:
- promotion plan is appropriate to the organization and its activities;
- organization has adequate outreach to and inclusion of diverse populations.
The Council reserves the right to reject incomplete applications. Applications missing any of the following items will not be reviewed.
- Application narrative;
- Supplemental & artistic support materials;
- Annual report and financial statements (independently reviewed or audited statements preferred);
- Signature of individual(s) authorized to commit the parties to the project.
Applications missing other components such as required attachments may fare poorly in the review process.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the grant amount for the first year will be paid to the grantee after the Council receives the signed contract and any outstanding reports due from previous grants. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) will be paid after the final report is received, due 45 days after completion of the grant year no later than October 15, 2012. Grant contracts for year two and three of the funding cycle will be generated after the final report from the prior year has been received and approved by the Council.
The first payment for each year takes place after September 1 due to Federal funding restrictions.
All applications must be submitted online via the Council’s online granting system. Online applications must be submitted electronically no later than midnight (EST) on April 15, 2011.
Note: Staff will only be available to assist applicants until 4:30 p.m. EST
You must speak with Sonia Rae, Community Programs Manager, before beginning your application.
Submission Instructions:
1. COMPLETE YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION: Login here to begin your online application which will include the following sections:
- Organizational Overview
- General Information Page (grantee contact & legislative info)
- Impact Numbers & NEA Statistics
- Narrative Questions
- Key Individuals (bio(s) of current staff)
2. Upload additional SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS that help portray and define the organization:
- Link to organization’s website (included on applicant profile page)
- Information from the organization's most recently completed Fiscal year:
- Annual Report from most recently completed fiscal year;
- Financial statements (balance sheet and income & expense statement--independently reviewed or audited statements preferred).
- Information from the organizations Current Fiscal Year:
- Income & expense statement comparing budget to actual as of February 28th, 2011;
- List of current Board members.
- Artistic support materials generated within the last 2-3 years: (this is only required if samples of the kind of programming your organization offers is not available on your website). Season brochure representing artistic programming.
- Up to 3 Additional support materials generated within the last 2-3 years: Sample brochures, newsletters, letters of support, photos, and/or newspaper articles etc. (pdf) Be sure to include samples that demonstrate the use of accessibility symbols and materials provided in alternative format.
If you have any questions regarding this grant program, contact Sonia Rae, Artist and Community Services Manager at 802-828-5425.