This Guide to Grants for Major Arts Partners (MAP) Fiscal Year 2009 includes information and application materials for grant programs designed for eligible nonprofit tax-exempt organizations with a three-year average budget equal to or greater than $1 million.

The Arts Council offers grants for Major Arts Partners in two categories:

General Operating Support

Arts in Education

Grant awards for FY09 are made for projects, programs and activities occurring between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

Grant funds are supplementary to the budget of any grantee. Applicants are encouraged to secure and demonstrate broadly based financial commitments for the proposal submitted.

Grant awards are based on anticipated Arkansas Arts Council revenues and can be reduced at any time during the grant period.

Eligibility

ORGANIZATIONS MUST
  • Be a 501(c)(3) arts organization with a three-year average total income equal to or greater than $1 million for FY05, FY06, and FY07
  • Generate at least 25% of operating revenues from earned income
  • Generate at least 25% of operating revenues from contributed income or sponsorships exclusive of endowment income
  • Have a staff person designated to develop and implement the K-12 educational outreach program if applying for an AIE grant

Intent to Apply for MAP General Operating Support

Potential MAP GOS applicants must send a Letter of Intent to apply by November 2, 2007.

An organization that seeks eligibility to apply for a General Operating Support grant must first consult with the Art Council’s Grant Programs Manager and then submit:

  • A one-page letter describing the organization’s history and stating that its three-year average total income from FY05, FY06, and FY07 is equal to or greater than $1 million
  • A copy of the first page of the organization’s IRS Letter of Determination
  • A completed copy of the basic GOS application form Sections 1-6 of Application Form for General Operating Support (GOS) Fiscal Year 2009
  • A copy of the GOS Excel Budget form used for General Operating Support (GOS) Fiscal Year 2009 with only Column A of Section 7 completed

Application Limits

Eligible Major Arts Partners may submit a maximum of two proposals—one application in the MAP General Operating Support category and one in a MAP Arts in Education category.

Matching Funds

Specific match requirements are noted in the instructions for each grant category. Grant requests must be matched by cash from sources other than the Arkansas Arts Council, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, or the National Endowment for the Arts. Portions of the proposal not involved in the specific Arts Council request and its match may be funded by government sources.

Matching funds that are anticipated at the time of application must be received and obligated no later than June 30, 2009.

In-kind contributions may not be used as matching funds on applications or counted as matching funds on final

MAP General Operating Support Request Amounts

MAP applicants may request a maximum of 5% of the average of its last three years adjusted operating income actuals (2004-2005, 2005-2006, and 2006-2007) up to $75,000.

MAP General Operating Support Application Cycle

The original MAP organizations were last panel reviewed for General Operating Support in FY03 as the first year of a three-year review cycle. FY09 is the first year of a new general MAP review cycle. Request amounts are determined from 5% of the average of the last three completed years’ total incomes up to $75,000. Grant awards will be subject to staff review and adjusted by panel scores from Year 1.

For example, the request for FY09 would be based on 5% of the average actual income totals from FY05, FY06 and FY07.

AIE Programs

Major Arts Partners can develop an Arts in Education proposal in one of three AIE categories:
  • AIE In-School Residency (AIE ISR) grants of up to $40,000 are awarded to place professional artists in residencies at specific school sites or in conjunction with other non-profit community or governmental organizations and institutions. The AIE In-School Residency program provides a way for artists to demonstrate their art form, create or perform works of art so that participants may observe the creative process and relate their art form to other K-12 curriculum areas.
  • AIE After-School/Summer Residency (AS/SR) grants of up to $10,000 are awarded to sponsor artist residencies that provide positive alternatives for children and youth during non-school hours.
  • AIE Arts Curriculum Project (AIE ACP) grants up to $10,000 are awarded to schools and non-profit or governmental organizations and institutions to help support projects that advance the goal of arts as a basic part of education. Projects must seek to enhance current arts curricula or must assist in the goal of establishing on-going arts programming and/or curricula in schools and organizations. An AIE ACP may last from one day to one year.

GOS Program

AIE In-School Residency

AIE After-School / Summer Residency

AIE Arts Curriculum Project