Event Arts Grant Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The City of Concord Event Arts Grant program provides funds up to $50,000 in support of arts-focused events in the community. There is a 1:1 financial match required.

Funding for the program is taxpayer supported.

Completed applications should be sent to the City Manager's Office at citymanager@concordnh.gov.

GRANT REQUIREMENTS

Projects funded are required to:

Articulate a plan that focuses on public benefit and community engagement
Demonstrate artistic, cultural or economic benefit and quality
Demonstrate Accessibility, Equity and Sustainability
Demonstrate that the activity fulfills a need in the community
Explain the applicant’s experience and ability to successfully produce the event(s)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Community members experience increased access to the arts and culture via a reduction in geographic, cultural, economic and/or physical barriers.
Community members experience a change in knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of art and culture as a result of proposed public art events or festivals.
Community residents build connections to their own and others cultural heritage through art and cultural events and/or activities.

WHO CAN APPLY

Any organization with 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status from the IRS and not-for-profit in the State of New Hampshire.

PROPOSALS ELIGIBLE

Projects with multiple events or series of events connected by a common theme.
Artistic performances.
Arts and cultural festivals.
Collaborative efforts among groups/organizations – submit one application with a designated partner as the applicant.

PROPOSALS AND EXPENSES NOT ELIGIBLE

Those that do not have the arts and culture as the primary focus
Expenses or payments for projects that will take place outside of the City of Concord’s municipal boundaries
Activities that are essentially for the religious socialization of the participants or audience
Activities that attempt to influence any local, state or federal legislation or appropriation
Events with a primary focus of fundraising
General operating support, endowments, capital expenditures, or deficiencies in other projects
Staff pay for regular hours/administrative duties that fall outside the scope of the project
Any expenses not directly related to the proposal
Contracted service of an organization’s board member or associated business(es)
Activities not open to the general public

NARRATIVE QUESTIONS

Introduction

Organization’s Representative Contact:
Board Officer Contacts:
Federal 501 (C) (3) Non-Profit Status (EIN Tax ID Number):
Mission Statement: Applicants that do not have a mission statement should provide an outline of the goals and values of their project or group.
Proposal Name: Proposal name and plan summary, provide name of the activity and a brief one sentence description (10 words or less).

Major Program Activities

Describe the project: Refer to the advice criteria below.
Location(s) of Proposal: Provide the name, street address of where activities will take place.
Example of Artistic Quality or cultural/economic impact of the artist(s) or group(s) involved in the proposal. Examples include photos and videos of similar or previous projects, designs or schematics of proposed work, video or website or website from a visiting artist or performing group. No more than five images, 5 pages or literary work or 5 minutes of audio/video
Describe the target audience for the proposal. Explain what inspired this project and why you are focused on a particular group, if applicable.
List ways in which the community has demonstrated support for this proposal.
Describe how accessibility needs are being addressed in this proposal. How will you accommodate requests for access to the proposed project?

Organization & Partners

Project Director Information – The person designated as responsible for overseeing the implementation of the proposed project: Name, Phone, Email and Biography.
Other Key Personnel – List the names of those involved in organizing/carrying out the proposal and describe their roles and responsibilities. Include a short biography explaining relevant skill and experience.
Copyright and other permissions – If any part of the proposal involves presenting or using material (including advertising) that is protected under copyright, describe how the permissions will be obtained. Include these costs in the budget.

Timeline

Describe the project timeline and overall schedule for all proposed activities. Include planning, performance, assessment and reporting.
Start Date – Activities described in the grant proposal must begin AFTER the City approval date.
End Date – Activities must be completed within twelve months of the City approval date.
Proposal Planning – List any components of the proposal that are yet to be determined. Examples include artists/musicians/photographers not yet hired, reserving a venue, selecting artwork to be displayed. Include the estimated dates by which these details will be confirmed.
If this project recurs on an annual or semi-annual basis:
- Describe changes made in response to previous evaluations, successes and challenges.
- How is funding for the proposal sustained on an ongoing basis?

Publicity and/or Marketing

Describe how audience members or participants will be informed about and invited to participate in the project (ads, flyers, news releases).

Program Outcomes

Describe all that are relevant to the proposed project:
- Access: Community residents experience increased access to the arts event via a reduction in geographic, cultural and/or physical barriers.
- Learning: Community residents experience a change in knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of art and culture as a result of the proposed art events or festivals.
- Economic Activity: Event generates increased retail or commercial activity in one or more sections of the City.
Community - Residents build connections to the community through cultural events and/or activities.
Outcomes and Evaluation – Describe your proposal’s evaluation plan/methods intended to measure the proposed outcomes and how these results will be used.
Measurable Outcomes Summary – Briefly describe outcomes for the proposal in one paragraph.
- Outcomes describe the result or changes after the proposal is complete. Changes can be anything from what people learned, how they behave, how they feel or economic impact.
- Outcomes help you to see if the event or activity is successful by measuring these changes.

ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS

The Project Grant is reviewed using five criteria: Artistic Merit & Quality; Equity & Sustainability; Demonstrated Need; Ability; and Economic Impact. When completing the grant submittal, refer to the criteria statements listed beneath each heading. A strong proposal will address all applicable criteria in the narrative responses.

ARTISTIC MERIT/QUALITY:

Activities feature relevant artists that demonstrative creativity, mastery of craft and a distinct artistic voice.
Activities are involved in designing and delivering the arts experience and are relatable to the community.
Artistic experiences will provide value to the community.
Artistic experiences will build a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art form.
Activities could create community understanding and awareness of art through high quality arts learning.
Projects provide an artistic opportunity that would not otherwise be available by featuring underrepresented, innovative, and/or unique artistic discipline, genre, creative approach, content and/or quality.

EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY:

Diversity, equity and inclusion are built into programming OR programming is specifically aimed at increasing understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Proposals includes details about specific actions and goals for engaging underserved communities.
Creative strategies connect with community while contributing to the vitality of arts initiatives.
Collaboration between arts groups, artists and organizations leverage resources and are mutually beneficial.

DEMONSTRATED NEED:

The project is well designed to address the identified community/audience’s specific interests and circumstances, as understood by both the applicant and the community.
Evidence demonstrates that community members, organizations and partners want to engage in the project activities, and are willing to invest through commitment of time, money and/or in-kind goods and services.
Where appropriate, achievable plans are in place to develop authentic partnerships and/or reach underserved populations that have genuine interest in the activities.
Evidence demonstrates that the project provides an arts opportunity that would not otherwise be available for the identified community/audience.

ABILITY:

Project team and/or partners is well assembled, qualified, with demonstrated experience and appropriate and articulated responsibilities. If volunteers will play a significant role, that has been described.
An effective promotion and marketing plan are in place which supports the project’s goal(s) and fosters public awareness and/or engagement.
Project plan is logical with a complete and realistic timeframe.
The budget revenue streams are realistic and attainable; expenses are reasonable and appropriate.
The application budget demonstrates an appropriate balance between artistic/programming and administrative costs.
Project outcomes describe measurable and achievable change in knowledge, attitude, skill, behavior, or condition among the people the project is designed to benefit.
The evaluation plan includes appropriate methods to measure and document project completion, effectiveness, and progress made toward project outcomes and identifies how evaluation results will be used to improve current or future programming.

ECONOMIC IMPACT:

Festival or event will have a measurable positive impact on retail/commercial economic activity in the host area of the city or the city as a whole.
Festival or event will promote, highlight or advance an existing segment of the City’s business community.

PROPOSAL BUDGET

Budgets are required to show a 1:1 financial match in revenue to cover the total project.

Expense Section: List all expenses associated with the proposal. Include detailed descriptions and method of calculation for each expense. Expenses listed CANNOT be incurred prior to the grant approval date. Some exceptions can be made for expenses that must be paid in advance of the application such as production rights for a play or deposit for a venue.

Budget Items:

In-Kind Expenses – allowable in-kind expenses include the costs of discounted or free rental space and equipment, skilled labor and donated materials – the value of the in-kind contribution must be verifiable through a receipt, quote or invoice and submitted in the Final Report.
Personnel/Artist’s Fees - list name(s) and title; show methods of calculation or indicate contract rate or stipend
Supplies, Materials and Food – itemize and show calculations
Equipment – indicate if purchased or rented
Publicity – itemized and show calculations
Other
Ineligible expenses – Some expenses cannot be covered by the grant funds. Include these costs and calculate the total eligible grant award from the total expenses minus these costs:
- Travel expenses – related to bringing an artist from outside of Concord can be no more than 10% of the total grant amount requested. Additional travel expenses may be included as ineligible expenses and paid with funds from other sources.
- Administrative costs – personnel costs cannot be paid for work that falls with the scope of staff’s duties.

Revenue Section: List the value of donated or discounted materials, equipment rental and skilled labor (This amount must match the In-Kind Expenses section).

Budget Items:

Ticket sales – show calculations (type of ticket, number anticipated sold, fees charged)
Advertising
Fundraising
Participation Fees

All applicants will be notified of the City’s decision.

It is important for the public to understand how city funds are returning value to their community; as such, all grantees will be contractually required to acknowledge City funding. The appropriate statement will be provided to awarded applicants in their grant contract. This acknowledgment statement must appear, along with the City logo, on all advertising material, programs, press releases and announcements referencing the funded event.

Grantee must provide copies of all internally generated advertising materials and programs with their final report.

Recipients of grant awards are required to make reasonable efforts for programs to be accessible to the public. Applicants should consider physical and programmatic accessibility as an integral part of planning and budgeting. Accessibility involves both location and content.

Recipients of grant awards will be required to provide the following along with signed grant paperwork:

Proof of general liability insurance
Proof of worker’s compensation insurance (as applicable)
Current Certificate of Good Standing from the NH Secretary of State
A one-page financial statement of organization’s most recently completed fiscal year
List of Board of Directors (as applicable)

REPORTING

A final report is due 30 days after the completion of the project.