The Cultural Facilities grant program is administered by the Vermont Arts Council in conjunction with the Vermont Historical Society and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
The purpose of this grant program is to assist Vermont nonprofit organizations and municipalities to enhance, create or expand the capacity of an existing building to provide cultural activities for the public.
Awards range from $1,000 to $30,000. Grant recommendations will be made on the basis of a competitive review of submitted materials with priority given to applicants articulating a compelling case for need. Organizations that received a grant last year are not eligible to apply this year.
Organizations may receive only one grant a year for a specific project from any of the following "Building Communities Competitive Grant Programs":
- Historic Preservation
- Historic Barns and Agricultural Buildings
- Cultural Facilities
- Recreational Facilities
- Human Services and Educational Facilities
Click here for more information about the Building Communities Grant Programs, deadlines and contact information.
- From House Bill H.405: "No grant shall be available for a project receiving funding from any other appropriation of this act."
- From Act 200 of 2008 Section 41: "No community shall apply for more than one grant under this chapter for the same project in the same calendar year."
Pictured above: Brownington Community Church in Morgan, VT, 2006 grant recipient.
The application deadline for projects taking place in 2012 is Thursday, October 6, 2011.
Standards
Work undertaken on historic buildings must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation Projects. The standards do not preclude code or accessibility improvements but do require that they be done in a manner that minimizes loss of the building's historic character. Contact Nancy Boone at the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, 828-3045, for information and the guide book, Accessibility for Historic Buildings: A Field Guide.
Eligibility
- Project sites must be owned and operated by Vermont municipalities or 501 (c) 3 nonprofit cultural organizations incorporated in the State of Vermont. The submitting organization must have a track record or documented plan of offering cultural programs to the general public on a regular basis.
- An applicant who has a Cultural Facilities Grant outstanding will not be considered for further funding until the conditions of that grant are met.
- An organization that received a Cultural Facilities Grant last year will not be eligible to apply.
- An organization that receives a Cultural Facilities Grant of $15,000 or more must wait at least two years before applying again. (For example, if an organization was awarded a grant in FY2010, it would not be eligible to apply again until FY2013).
- An organization that has received $50,000 or more from the State Capital Appropriations Budget within the past three years, will not be eligible to apply for a Cultural Facilities grant.
Suggestions & Reminders
Prior to preparing an application please contact Chris Hadsel by email or phone at 802-863-4938 or Sonia Rae (802-828-5425) to assure that your project is eligible for funding consideration.
- If your project is for restoration work, including major structural repairs to an historic building, it may be more appropriate to apply to the State Historic Preservation Grants Program. For information visit www.historicvermont.org contact Devin Colman at the Division for Historic Preservation, National Life Building, Floor 2, Montpelier, VT 05620-1201. Telephone: (802) 828-3043 Email: devin.colman@state.vt.us.
- Applicants may apply for only one grant but general facilities improvements and ADA accessibility renovations may be included within the same grant request.
- Significant changes to the project as described in the accepted application must be approved by the Vermont Arts Council or the grant may be withheld.
- A letter of support from your town's Select Board or an established community organization is stronglyencouraged.
- Contact with the Vermont Division for Historic Perservation (802-828-3045 or 3043), or the Preservation Trust of Vermont (802-658-6647) to discuss renovation priorities and techniques is strongly recommended. Include copies of any resulting letters or reports with your application.
- Applicants requesting funds to support the installation of or upgrade of an accessible restroom are advised to contact the Council staff before completing their application to assure compliance with ADA requirements.
- Cultural Facilities Grant Projects must be completed by December 31, 2012. Checks for grants will not be issued until project work is completed and the required reports are completed and submitted.
- Improvements such as wiring, heating, ADA accessibility features (e.g. elevators, lifts, infrared audio enhancement systems and ramps*) bathrooms, lighting, and stage work are eligible.
- New construction may be considered if it is the only option for making access renovations to an historic building. For new construction, only the expenses directly related to the accessible component of the project can be considered as part of the grant request.
- Grant funds and matching funds may only be used for materials ordered or purchased and for work begun and completed after notification of a grant award.
- Funds may be used for building improvements, permanent infrastructure, or fixed equipment expenses only, which may include portable (within the building only) display panels and/or exhibit cases.
- Wireless, broadband capacity will be eligible if it is for the purpose of enhancing programming capacity.
* NOTE: Ramps require a minimum rise of 1:12 with handrails on both sides. The Cultural Facilities Coalition encourages landscape solutions, whenever possible, such as a walkway or other accessible route that is 1:20 slope and doesn't require handrails in order to best perserve the character of an historic building.
- Overhead, operating support, studies or surveys, programming, or temporary exhibit expenses.
- Two year projects will not be considered.
- Routine maintenance such as exterior or interior painting, carpeting, or anything else requiring regularly scheduled maintenance.
- Major structural repairs to foundations, roofs, etc. generally will not be funded.
- Appliances (such as refrigerators, stoves, etc.), and moveable furniture or rugs are not fundable expenses.
Grants must be matched on a 1:1 basis (at least 50% of which must be in cash. Up to 50% of which can be in well documented in-kind materials and/or labor).
NOTE: Funds from other state sources may not be used to match a Cultural Facilities grant. Sources of matching funds must be clearly detailed. Applications for less than the minimum amount will not be considered.
- Project quality, based upon support materials (photographs, plan, work estimates, and clarity of ADA accessible drawings if applicable);
- Response to a need articulated in the organization's mission and over-all plan;
- Consistency with community needs and interests;
- Improved ability of the organization to provide cultural events and expand use of an existing public facility;
- Evidence of ongoing and well-planned cultural activities that will be open to the public;
- Evidence of strong fundraising efforts from other sources and a well-articulated case for need;
- Maximized use of available resources, including Trustees and staff;
- Reasonable and appropriate budget and grant request;
- Compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for access to people with disabilities, or the application is for renovations that will make the building more accessible for people with disabilities, or there is evidence of an evaluation process regarding access priorities;
- All renovations to historic buildings preserve significant historic features and demonstrate a consideration for community context;
- The project is clearly presented.
All applications must be filled out and submitted online.
For more information please contact Chris Hadsel, Cultural Facilities Program Consultant at 802-863-4938 or Sonia Rae, the Council's Artist Services & Community Development Manager, at 802-828-5425.