Online tutorial & application available now
Arts Services Initiative of Western New York Inc. announced the application process for New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization regrants in Erie and Niagara counties, with an online application process and expanded arts education eligibility to include after-school programs as long as they provide three sequential hands-on learning sessions for participants.
Applications are due Friday, Sept. 28, for the following grant categories: Erie County community arts, Erie County arts education, Niagara County community arts, Niagara County arts education, Erie County individual artist commission and Niagara County individual artist commission.
The grants are intended for smaller cultural organizations, noncultural organizations with arts programs or events, arts and cultural coalitions and networks, individual artists and teaching artists. Up to $122,500 in total will be available. Guidelines, applications and a list of information sessions are available now at
www.asiwny.org.
"I am pleased to take over the 2019 DEC grant process as I begin the interim DEC coordinator position," ADS's Natalie Brown said. "This grant provides a unique chance for local community groups and individual artists to receive funding for their projects and to support the vibrant arts community in Erie and Niagara counties."
In addition to the online application system and the online tutorials, ASI continues to offer an opportunity for review of draft applications prior to final submission.
"Part of ASI's mission is to provide tools and resources to the arts community, and our DEC grants are a way that we provide two services in one," ASI Interim Executive Director Jen Swan said. "The DEC program provides much-needed funding to artists and arts projects and, in addition, the staff at ASI works with applicants to help them with the grant writing and grant application process. So, we are providing funding, while teaching a new skillset to many applicants to take with them beyond the DEC grant application for other funding sources, as well."
Timeline
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28
Categories of Grants:
•The community arts DEC grant is a competitive grant that provides financial and technical assistance for community-based arts activities offered by eligible nonprofit organizations and/or individual artists with community partners in Erie and Niagara counties. Requests can be made between $500 and $5,000.
•The arts education DEC grant is a competitive grant that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible organizations and/or individual artists to support arts education projects in K-12 public school and publicly funded charter school settings and after-school programs. Funds can support arts education projects that take place in school during the school day and/or in after-school settings for youth. Requests can be made between $500 and $5,000.
•The individual artist commission DEC grant is a grant intended to support the creation of new work that engages the community through the artists' creative process. Artists residing in Erie and Niagara counties are eligible to apply for this grant for community-based projects. The goal of this grant is to support the creative work of individual artists in all disciplines while encouraging interaction between artists and community members to highlight the role of the artists as a community resource. Requests are a set $2,500 commission.
These grants are administered by ASI and funded by the New York State Council on the Arts. The grants are awarded for specific projects occurring between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019.
Information Sessions
In addition to the in-person sessions, a recorded, online tutorial is available for applicants. ASI highly encourages everyone to attend an information session to learn more about this process and how to apply. RSVP to
[email protected] or at 716-362-8389, ext. 512. The session schedule is:
- Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2 p.m., Springville Center for the Arts, 37 N. Buffalo St.
- Tuesday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m., at Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave., Buffalo
- Thursday, Aug. 30, 5:30 p.m. at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls
