FAQ-OLD
These answers to frequently asked questions are intended to address as many of your questions as possible. Please read all questions and answers before sending an inquiry to the ArtPlace America staff, who have limited resources to respond to individual queries.
If you do not see your question posted here, please send an email to grants [at] artplaceamerica.org.
Definitions Criteria Eligibility Review Process Technical Issues
Definitions
The below definitions are those held by ArtPlace for the purposes of the National Grants Program. We recognize that these definitions can have a different meaning based on social context: particularly distinctions between rural and urban places; as well as financially affluent and low-income neighborhoods. ArtPlace America strives to be inclusive of those different contexts as it builds its grant portfolio and creative placemaking partnerships.
Creative Placemaking: Strengthening the social, physical, and economic fabric of a community through arts and culture.
Community: A group of people related by geography.
Criteria
1. What does a great proposal look like?
Great proposals clearly and concisely communicate:
i.) A description of the geographic community in which you are working.
ii.) A description of the challenge/opportunity the community has decided to tackle.
iii.) The arts strategy that will be used to tackle the selected challenge/opportunity. iv.) How to gauge the project’s success.
2. What kinds of initiatives has ArtPlace America funded?
A complete listing of ArtPlace America-funded initiatives can be found at http://www.artplaceamerica.org/grants/. Please focus your application on the specifics of your community, challenge/opportunity, and arts strategy. Successful applicants clearly express responses to the above question as they relate to their distinctive place.
3. What kinds of partnerships does ArtPlace America look for and think are important?
ArtPlace America is most interested in cross-sector partnerships that have aligned values and goals for improving the social, physical, and economic fabric of their community. If the organization or individual partner has a role in the planning and implementation of your project, then it is likely an important partnership.
4. Is there a preference for programs that are scalable and/or replicable?
While there is no preference for programs that are scalable or replicable, ArtPlace America has an interest in projects that could potentially build the collective knowledge of the creative placemaking field.
5. How competitive is the process?
Last year, ArtPlace provided grants to approximately 4% of the 1300 LOIs submitted (55 projects). This year we anticipate funding approximately 40 projects from the applicant pool.
Eligibility
6. Who is eligible for funding?
ArtPlace America invites applications from non-profit organizations, local governing bodies, individual artists/designers, and for-profit organizations within the U.S. and all U.S. Territories. If you or your organization do not currently have 501 (c) 3 status or city charter, you will need to apply through a nonprofit fiscal agent (any 501 (c) 3 able to manage philanthropic resources on your behalf and in accordance with nonprofit accounting standards). ArtPlace America funded projects who received an award in 2014 are not eligible to apply in this round.
7. If I am not a registered 501 (C) 3 do I need to secure a fiscal agent before submitting my letter of inquiry? What is the role of a fiscal agent?
The fiscal agent acts as the steward of the grant funds. It signs all contracts and is ultimately responsible for the funds being used as stated in the grant contract. It also signs off on all interim and final reports, including but not limited to the financial update section of those reports. While you may apply for a grant in advance of securing a fiscal agent, a fiscal agent must be secured by an individual artist, designer or for-profit organization applicant before receiving funds from ArtPlace America. Given the limited resources we have for this program, ArtPlace requires that all fiscal agent fees be no more than 12.5% of the total ArtPlace request/award.
8. Does ArtPlace America require matching funds?
There is no required match for the ArtPlace America National Grants Program. Despite not requiring a match, ArtPlace values projects that are able to leverage additional federal, regional, and local public/private funding.
9. Are state bodies eligible to submit an LOI?
Yes, all local/regional/state governing bodies (including state bodies) are eligible to submit a Letter of Inquiry for grant funding.
10. Can one organization submit multiple Letters of Inquiry?
No. An organization may only submit one Letter of Inquiry per grant cycle.
11. Can an organization be listed as a partner on one application and submit a separate application?
Yes, we encourage partnerships for all projects. However, only one application should be submitted for any given project. Any separate applications should be for separate projects.
12. Can an organization submit a Letter of Inquiry and act as a fiscal agent for an individual artist or for-profit organization?
Yes. An organization may serve as a fiscal agent and submit its own separate proposal.
13. Will projects outside of the U.S. be funded?
No. ArtPlace America will only fund projects located in the U.S and U.S. Territories.
14. Will projects located in Puerto Rico be eligible for funding?
Yes. Projects located in Puerto Rico and all U.S. Territories are eligible to receive funding.
15. Will ArtPlace America accept applications from previous funded projects?
ArtPlace will consider applications from previous funded projects for new projects; continuations of previously funded projects will not be considered. Additionally, previous funded projects are not eligible to submit a Letter of Inquiry in the same calendar year in which they received a grant. For instance, if your organization or project received an ArtPlace America grant in 2014 you are not eligible to submit a letter of inquiry during the current grant cycle.
16. Are there restrictions in terms of size of organization or years of incorporation?
No, there is no minimum or maximum requirement for operating budget, staff size, geographic reach, or any other metric for an organization’s size. ArtPlace does not require a minimum number of years of incorporation.
17. What artistic disciplines are eligible?
We encourage grant submissions from ALL artistic disciplines. Some of ArtPlace’s foundation partners have an interest in the performing arts and have provided funding to ensure grants are made to performing arts organizations. Several funders are also interested in ensuring the participation and representation of folk and traditional arts and Native American arts.
18. What is the difference between audience development/engagement and creative placemaking?
ArtPlace America seeks place-based projects that will strengthen the social, physical, and economic fabric of their communities. We believe this work to be fundamentally different and distinct from audience building, outreach, and engagement. To ArtPlace, audience engagement refers to activities intended for a group of people that is primarily united by a particular interest (in this case likely the given organization’s programming). Creative Placemaking focuses on groups of people that are distinctly united by geography. While there may be overlap across audience members and community members, we are specifically focused on definitions of community that are readily delineable on a map. Audiences often extend beyond such geographic limitations.
19. Does ArtPlace America have geographic priorities?
Applications are encouraged from all 50 states and U.S. territories, and ArtPlace America funds in communities across the country. Several of ArtPlace’s foundation partners have deep commitments to their local and regional communities and have provided funding specifically to ensure grants are made in communities of all sizes in Alaska, California, and Minnesota; and for rural communities throughout Arizona, Iowa, the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin; and for the cities of Akron, OH; Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville, MA; Charlotte, NC; Detroit, MI; Macon, GA; Miami, FL; Greater Philadelphia, PA; San Jose, CA; and St. Paul, MN. In an effort to support the broad spectrum of creative placemaking practices across the United States, ArtPlace is particularly interested in projects from states in which it has not yet granted including Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming. We continue to expand our funding with the goal of supporting the broadest possible geographic array of communities.
20. Will ArtPlace America fund projects in rural communities?
Yes, communities of all sizes are encouraged to submit a Letter of Inquiry. Rural communities represented 17% of the National Grants portfolio in 2013, and in 2014, 31% of the projects funded were in rural communities.
21. Can the scope of the project be regional/statewide?
Yes. The scope of an ArtPlace America project can be regional/statewide; however, statewide or regional projects should be focused on strengthening the social, physical, and economic character in local communities and be able to demonstrate the impact of their work at the level of geography they have used to define their community.
22. Is a project eligible to receive funding from ArtPlace America if funding for the same initiative has been received from a foundation participating as an ArtPlace America funder or from another national partner?
Yes you may apply. If you receive funding from participating ArtPlace America funders or from any of our partners (including the National Endowment for the Arts), it will not impact your eligibility to receive ArtPlace America funding.
23. Will ArtPlace America grants be subject to the reporting and auditing requirements associated with federal programs?
ArtPlace America is not a federal program. The reporting requirements will be similar to those required by the private foundations participating in ArtPlace America, as opposed to those required by the federal government. ArtPlace America’s reporting period will be 21 months in length and requires interim reports every six months and a final report within three months of the close of the grant period.
24. Can ArtPlace America funds be used for programming? Planning? Implementation? Capital projects?
Yes. As long as the project is likely to improve the social, physical and economic fabric of your community, ArtPlace America grant funds can be used for all of these types of projects or a combination of these activities. Specifically, ArtPlace has an interest in funding the implementation of a planning process, not the development of a plan.
25. For renovations or other capital projects, does the building or property owner have to be a 501 (c) 3 organization?
No. As long as the project will have the capacity to fulfill its long-term strategic goals, there are no restrictions in terms of property ownership for ArtPlace America’s grant program. Municipal owned buildings, condominium spaces, long-term leases with developers/individuals, as well as fee simple ownership are all viable alternatives. Please describe your arrangement in the narrative portion of the Letter of Inquiry.
26. Are artists’ and designers’ fees eligible expenses?
Yes, fees for all types of individuals involved in a project are both eligible and encouraged, such as prevailing/living wages for artists, choreographers, musicians, designers, curators, architects, facilitators or other consultants.
27. Can salaries for administration or additional fundraising be funded?
Salaries for administration, project management, and fundraising are allowed. However, ArtPlace America restricts fiscal sponsor fees to 12.5% of the total project request/award.
28. Will ArtPlace America support research or publications about creative placemaking projects?
ArtPlace America does not anticipate investments in research through its National Grants Program. For more information about ArtPlace's research program, click here (link to research)
29. Will ArtPlace support field building activities or the development of tool kits?
Toolkits and field building activities will not be funded through our National Grants Program. For more information about ArtPlace's field building work, click here (link to field building).
Review Process
30. Who will review my application?
LOI Phase: ArtPlace staff and external reviewers (nationally representative professionals with deep experience in art, community, and creative placemaking) will review the Letters of Inquiry and make recommendations as to which projects should be invited to submit full proposals.
Full Proposal Phase: Projects invited to submit a full proposal will receive a site visit from an ArtPlace representative (between late January and February 2015). The full proposals and site visit reports will be considered by ArtPlace staff and external reviewers, who will make recommendations as to which projects should be funded. ArtPlace America’s foundation partners will also make recommendations and provide technical assistance throughout the review process. ArtPlace America’s Executive Director will ultimately authorize the finalists and grants that will be made.
31. Can I request panel comments or feedback after my project has been reviewed?
Given the large number of applications for this program and limited staff capacity, ArtPlace America is not able to provide individualized feedback or panel comments for LOIs. Applicants that advance to the Full Proposal stage and are not awarded a grant will have the opportunity to receive verbal feedback on their applications.
32. Can I speak with an ArtPlace staff member about my project prior to applying?
Given the large number of applications we anticipate for this round, ArtPlace staff is not able to schedule one-on-one calls to discuss projects. ArtPlace will host at least one live webinar during which specific questions can be asked.
33. Should we submit letters of support for our work?
No, ArtPlace will not accept letters of support. If you are working in partnership with other organizations to strengthen the social, physical, and economic character of your community, please include information about the partnership and the shared strategy you are pursuing in the narrative sections of the Letter of Inquiry.
34. How much will ArtPlace America award to a single organization?
Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. ArtPlace America National Grants generally range between $50,000-$500,000.
35. Are award amounts the same as requested or are they ever reduced?
In its first four rounds of funding, ArtPlace America awarded some projects the full amount requested and some projects at a level lower than the amount requested. We anticipate the same will apply to this round.
36. Will ArtPlace America make only one award per community?
No, ArtPlace America has made (and may continue to make) multiple awards to individuals/projects/organizations within a single community.
Technical Issues
37. Will there be a webinar on these new guidelines?
In order to accommodate all applicants, ArtPlace America has posted a video guide on the new guidelines. Additional webinars will be hosted where individual questions may be submitted remotely. The video and webinar information will be made available here: http://www.artplaceamerica.org/loi/.
38. How can we see the Letter of Inquiry questions before filling out the online form?
The Letter of Inquiry worksheet includes all of the questions in the online form. Please use this as a guide for completing your Letter of Inquiry. ArtPlace America will not provide copies of submitted applications. We encourage you to print your application or save it on a local server before you submit through our Web Portal.
39. Can I save my online application prior to submission?
Yes, the online application has an option to save a draft prior to submission; however, we encourage all applicants to save a copy of their work on a local server.
40. Do I need to use the same username and password as last year?
No, the online application is built on a new platform this year. New sign in details will need to be created for this new system by registering through our Web Portal.
41. I have forgotten my password for the online form. How can I retrieve it?
You can do this yourself in the new system by clicking “I forgot my password.”
42. While I’ve checked that the character count of my response is below the listed maximum, the online application will not allow me to complete the response. Why does the character count in the online system not match the character count in my word processing system?
The online application system calculates the number of characters including spaces. Please use single spaces after punctuation and in general avoid all unnecessary spaces in your response.
43. I have more questions. Whom do I contact?
You can direct questions not answered by this FAQ document to grants [at] artplaceamerica.org. We will periodically update this page with questions asked by a critical mass of applicants. Since ArtPlace staff may not have the capacity to respond to individualized questions about your project, we encourage you to submit your original ideas in your Letter of Inquiry.