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Regional Partnership Grant Program Description
Regional arts organizations were created by state arts leaders, in partnership with the Arts Endowment and the private sector, in order to transcend state boundaries and give the public access to a greater and richer variety of arts experiences. Their status as member organizations of state arts agencies provides the basis for the support that they receive under these guidelines. One of their roles has been to make excellent dance, theater, musical theater, opera, visual arts, and literature presentations available in underserved communities. They have filled other roles in response to the special needs of each region and in response to opportunities to assist the Arts Endowment and other funders in distributing programs nationally. As private, nonprofit organizations that are supported by the public sector, regional arts organizations have been able to attract corporate and foundation contributions and to generate earned income for arts projects.
What is included
Through Regional Partnership Agreements, the Arts Endowment supports
the regional arts organizations in three ways:
- Regional Arts Plan Component
This component provides basic support for a regional plan. Inclusive planning, evaluation, cost effective operation, and efforts to strengthen and diversify revenue sources are all required of organizations that receive this support. In addition, the panel gives attention to each organization's success in developing a clear and realistic mission and in extending its resources through partnerships and other means.
- NEA Regional Touring Program
The purpose of this component is to give all Americans access to excellence in the performing, literary, and visual arts. Support is available for regional programs that:
- Increase access in underserved communities.
- Increase benefit through educational activities and community partnerships.
- Are based on planning with touring artists and community groups.
- Ensure high quality.
- Encourage diversity.
- Acquaint Americans in communities of all sizes with the greatest
American works in various disciplines.
- Are limited to the presentation of out-of-state* artists and organizations.
- Assist and strengthen a network of arts-presenting organizations in
rural and underserved communities.
* Because of the concentration of artists/organizations in California and New York, some exceptions to this policy are allowed for projects in these states. However, it is expected that most of the artists/organizations presented or toured in these states will be from out of state. No more than 15 percent of the NEA Regional Touring funds that are awarded to any regional organization may be used to support the organization's administrative costs.
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Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership Component (optional)
This component builds on the NEA's 30 years of leadership in reaching out to and supporting folk & traditional artists and the communities in which they reside. This has been accomplished, in partnership with state and regional arts agencies, by establishing and supporting a network of folk arts coordinators that serves as a link with community-based artists and organizations. In addition, Partnership funds have initiated statewide or regional programs intended to have a profound and lasting impact on folk & traditional artists through projects that pass on artistic skills and knowledge; identify and document traditional artists and activities; and increase public awareness of our living cultural heritage.
Funds in this component support stable, professionally directed programs that are responsive to a region's diverse folk & traditional art heritage. Programs should help strengthen regional support of the folk & traditional arts including expanded opportunities for community participation and should promote the potential for long-term artistic contributions by folk & traditional artists throughout the region.
Programs may include, but are not limited to, professional positions in support of the folk & traditional arts (positions should be supported independently of the NEA within three years); fieldwork to identify and document underserved folk & traditional artists; apprenticeships, mentorships, or folk arts in education programs; and regional activities that increase public awareness of living cultural heritage.
New, expanded, or existing programs are eligible. Each state or region is limited to one Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership request. That request may come from the regional arts organization through this component or from the state arts agency as part of its Partnership Agreement. Applications from organizations other than state or regional arts agencies must be submitted under the Access to Artistic Excellence category of the Grants for Arts Projects guidelines.
Regional arts organizations may use funding through the components above for their own projects addressing Challenge America (to provide access to the arts for all Americans) and American Masterpieces (to ensure that Americans in every state and in cities of all sizes have opportunities to celebrate the greatest American works across all the arts).
Deadline Dates
All regional arts organizations must submit their applications electronically through Grants.gov, the federal government's online application system. The Grants.gov system must receive your application no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 2, 2009. The Arts Endowment will not accept late applications. Please be aware that the Grants.gov Customer Service hours are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Awards will support activities that are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2010, or any time thereafter.
Award Information
Matching Requirement
Regional Partnership Agreement awards must be matched at least 1 to
1.
How Award Amounts Are Determined
- Regional Arts Plan Component
Funds available for this component will be distributed in equal base
amounts per regional organization and equal shares per state. In the
event of a reduction in funds, awards to each organization will be reduced
by an equal percentage.
NEA Regional Touring Program
Funds will be allotted based on the strength of plans and accomplishments in relation to the review criteria, base amounts, equal shares per region, and regional population.
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Folk & Traditional Arts Partnership Component (optional)
Funds for this component are awarded among those regional arts organizations that 1) request such funding, and 2) are found to have the strongest plans and accomplishments in relation to the review criteria. Funding to any regional arts organization generally will range from $15,000 to $35,000.
Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements
In order to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts, a regional arts organization must:
- Be authorized by two or more state arts agencies to apply for funds on their behalf.
- Meet the Arts Endowment's "Legal
Requirements" at the time of application.
- Maintain sound fiscal and administrative procedures.
- Base program funding decisions on criteria that take into account
artistic excellence and merit.
- Engage member SAAs in planning and program development.
- Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s)
for all Arts Endowment grant(s) previously received.
Requirements Concerning State Membership
For the purposes of this category, a state arts agency may participate in a regional arts organization of which it is not a member. However, a state arts agency may not designate more than one regional organization to receive funds on its behalf.
Any shift of a state from one regional organization to another or any proposal for a state to affiliate with or leave a regional organization must be preceded by at least one full year of planning by all of the agencies involved and the Arts Endowment.
National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506 |
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