GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZATIONS

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Individual artists, arts organizations, and communities seeking to strengthen their capacity to develop programming in folk and traditional arts throughout Pennsylvania should explore Community Traditions. Non-matching grant awards are available for projects that respond to local needs and capacities, including arts and heritage fieldwork and documentation, resource development, and peer consultations. Projects that promise to have a significant impact within a community are especially encouraged.

Folk and traditional arts organizations seeking funding for public arts activities and events, should contact their regional Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts organization. Through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, regional PPA organizations support local individual artists and organizations implementing arts projects in their respective communities. PPA organizations provide technical assistance for projects and grant writing support. Generally, deadline for applications is late June and maximum requests may not exceed $3,000-$5,000 per year. First-time applicants do not need to match PCA funds in order to receive funding.

PCA Responsive Funding

Folk arts organizations new to PCA funding should explore the Entry Arts Organization & Arts Program (Entry) funding track. The Entry track is for arts organizations (including performing ensembles) and arts programs that are new or relatively new to the Council and have a yearly operating budget of over $100,000. This track prepares an organization or program to move into the AOAP Track (see below). Deadline for applications is February 1, 2003 for activity periods beginning September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004. Award amounts in this track will not exceed $5,000 and must be matched dollar-for-dollar in cash.

Organizations with an established track record of providing quality folk arts are eligible for the Arts Organizations and Arts Programs (AOAP) funding track. This track is open by invitation only to arts organizations, fiscal sponsors, subsidiaries or departments of non-arts organizations (such as universities or colleges) that have consistently received PCA funding and that have been notified by the PCA that they meet the eligibility requirements. This is a single, two-year, unified application with an interim report in the second year and a focus on past performance. Click here for a list of current AOAP Folk Arts Organizations.

Minority arts organizations should contact PCA’s Preserving Diverse Cultures (PDC) Division. PDC is a Council initiated division that supports the development of organizations whose mission is deeply rooted in and reflective of the African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American perspectives. Their program address organizational development for culturally specific organizations through Implementation Awards, Technical Assistance Awards, Long-Term Consultation, and Individual Development workshops and conferences. Ensembles and/or organizations from the African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American communities may be eligible to apply to the Divisions’ Strategies for Success program.

PCA also offers Technical Assistance & Professional Development grants of up to $2,000 to support organizations in the following areas: Cultural, financial, or strategic planning; creating and improving the artistic quality of the documentation for an organization (i.e. slides, tapes, etc.); mission, board, staff, or program development; audience development or marketing; fundraising; and evaluating and planning to make facilities, programs and staff accessible to individuals with disabilities. Only a limited pool of funds is available throughout the year to address specific artistic, programmatic, administrative or technical needs. Funds are generally used to hire consultants to assess a specific issue and recommend action. Additionally, the PCA offers funding of up to $500 for professional growth opportunities, such peer to peer consultations and registration and travel fees for arts conferences, seminars and workshops. Most are non-matching awards.