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Arts Reinvestment Initiative

Application Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2009

  • Download the ARI Application Form: [PDF] - Save this form to your computer and fill it out using Adobe Acrobat. Please Note: Download and install the current version of Acrobat Reader (for free from Adobe) and you will be able to save and make changes to this form on your computer.
  • Full ARI Guidelines (same as text below): [PDF]

Introduction

The Arts Reinvestment Initiative (ARI) is a new program being administered by the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). It will provide one-time grants to nonprofit organizations or government agencies in Mississippi to support jobs in the arts that have been cut or are in danger of being eliminated due to the current national economic downturn. The funding for the initiative comes through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the federal stimulus act).

Background

The arts are a vibrant and important part of Mississippi's economy, but this sector's revenues are often highly susceptible to economic downturns. The current downturn has been especially difficult for many Mississippi arts organizations and other entities that produce arts events or activities. Staff positions are being cut and projects are being scaled down or cancelled. While the arts may be viewed by some as an "extra" that can be cut when budgets become tight, they produces vital creative activity that draws visitors to the state and increases the quality of life in Mississippi communities.

The federal government has recognized the importance of the arts to the national economy and the need to invest in its future. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus"), the NEA has received $50 million dollars to support preservation of jobs in the nonprofit arts sector. A portion of these funds is being divided among the states and U.S. territories for distribution at the state level. Mississippi's share of the funds is be distributed by MAC through ARI.

Program Details

ARI is a two-tiered program that will award grants to both larger staffed arts organizations and smaller volunteer (or part-time staffed) groups that produce arts activities. Larger, staffed organizations will be eligible for a grant of up to $25,000. Volunteer-led or part-time staffed organizations can apply for up to $7,500. ARI funds are limited; not all applicants will receive funding.

Also:

  • ARI grants are one-time special funding and will not require matching funds from the grantee organizations.
  • Grantees will be required to provide quarterly reporting on their project (required by the NEA).
  • Because the focus of the federal funding is to preserve and expand jobs in the arts, ARI grants must be used to support existing jobs (staff or contractual).

The grant can support:

  • A full or part-time staff position that is involved in producing or supporting ongoing arts activities
  • Contractual work by artists or arts professionals (such as technical staff, like a lighting director) for current, ongoing arts activities sponsored by the applicant organization

It cannot be used to support:

  • New projects or initiatives
  • Non-arts related contractual costs (such as accounting or janitorial services)
  • Any non-staff or contractor-related project costs, such as purchasing supplies, printing or promotions, or equipment rental
  • Any of the activities noted in the What We Don't Fund section on the MAC website

Who May Apply

Applicants must:

  • be a non-profit (IRS 501c3) organization or a unit of local or state government that is either primarily focused on the arts or currently produces ongoing arts activities.
  • have received an Operating or Project Grant in the past four fiscal years (FY 2006-09), received Building Fund for the Arts grant, or have been approved for funding in one of these categories for Fiscal Year 2010.

    • Organizations applying under the staffed category (up to $25,000) must have received a MAC Operating Grant at the staffed organization level or a BFA Grant and have at least one full-time staff person working on arts related activities. MAC defines "full-time" as working solely for the organization for at least 35 hours a week on a year-round basis.
    • Organizations that have received a Project Grant, an Operating Grant at the volunteer organization level, or a BFA grant (and are not staffed) are eligible to apply for up to $7,500.

Program Criteria

Applications to ARI will be reviewed using the following criteria:

  • Artistic Excellence: The organization demonstrates a commitment to producing activities of high artistic quality. They involve professional artists and qualified arts professionals in their programming.
  • Appropriateness of Project and Demonstrated Need: The applicant's proposal focuses on staffing or artistic fees critical to the organization that have been cut or are under threat. The organization also provides a thorough explanation of how the funding would impact their organization and its current projects.
  • Administrative Capacity: The applicant has qualified staff or volunteers in place, has demonstrated the ability to design and implement grant-funded programs, and will be able to meet the initiative's reporting requirements.

How to Apply

Applicants should mail or hand-deliver the following materials to MAC on or before Friday, July 10, 2009 (note: this is a postmark deadline, meaning the application package must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the deadline date):

  • ARI Application Form
  • Project Narrative (see the application for details on the required information and format)
  • List of your organization's staff, including the name and title of each staff member. If you are a volunteer organization, submit a list of the primary people who produce your organization's activities. For volunteer groups, please also include a list of contractual personnel who have worked for the organization in the past year and a description of their work.
  • Résumés for the staff member or contractor(s) whose work will be supported through the project. If you are requesting support for an artist, submit their artistic resume and a copy of their promotional materials. If the project is to support an existing position that is currently vacant, submit a job description for the position.
  • A list of your organization's board of directors
  • A copy of your organization's IRS 501(c)3 determination letter

Project Timeline

May 4, 2009 - Announcement of program/guidelines and application posted
July 10, 2009 - Application Deadline
October 1, 2009 - Grant awards announced
October 2009 - December 2010 - Grant Period

Staff Contact

If you have questions about the initiative, please contact:

Sallye Killebrew
Special Initiatives Director
skillebrew@arts.state.ms.us / (601) 359-6075

Additional Resources

Following are some additional sources related to the federal stimulus:

Recovery.gov - The U.S. government's main website for the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).

Stimulus.ms.gov - The Governor's Office website that provides details on stimulus funding coming to Mississippi.

Arts Opportunities in the Economic Stimulus Package - Information on federal stimulus programs that may benefit arts organizations. Compiled by the National Association of State Arts Agencies (NASAA).

National Endowment for the Arts Recovery - The NEA's programs related to the ARRA.