NEA-ARP Working Artist Project Grant
The NEA-ARP Working Artist Project Grant program provides project grants of up to $2,500 to individual artists. Funding is intended for projects happening within six months of the grant start date. The criteria for this program include artistic excellence and merit of both past and current work, and the ability of the artist to complete the work. This grant is funded through the National Endowment for the Arts with American Rescue Plan funding.
Important Deadlines for FY22:
Friday, Friday, May 27, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. for projects beginning July 1, 2022
Friday, January 27, 2023 at 4:30 p.m for projects beginning April 1, 2023
Applications open six weeks prior to the deadline.
Our staff is available to help you sort through your ideas, give feedback on your application, as well as encourage you.
Feel free to contact our staff to receive feedback. Our Director of Grants and Outreach can serve as a sounding board for all parts of the process. We’re also happy to help you navigate through the application and any technical questions that come up.
If you are unfamiliar with us, the staff serves as advocates for all artists. Decisions about the grants are made by panels of artists and ARAC Board members.
We are here to help and assist you with the application process.
Criteria:
Artistic Excellence and Merit, both of past work and of the proposal presented.
Ability to carry out the project.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to apply for this program, you must be at least eighteen years old, a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status, and be a resident of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis County for at least six months, and remain a Minnesota resident for the duration of the project. If you have already recieved funding from this program once you cannot receive funding again.
How to Apply:
Please read the following guidelines completely before beginning your application, and feel free to contact the Director of Grants and Outreach with questions.
NEA-ARP Working Artist Project Grant Guidelines
Applications must be completed and submitted using the ARAC Grant Portal. Submissions in any other format, including email, will not be accepted. Instructions for navigating the online system can be found by clicking on the ‘Apply Now’ button below.
The online application process will walk you through submitting your application.
To be eligible, your application must include all materials listed as required in the online application.
Applications must be received into the online system by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date. Applications received after this time are ineligible and will not be reviewed. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Grant Questions
Artistic Excellence and Merit
Reviewers will use your answers in this section to assess the vision of the work you have completed to date and the vision of the work you propose to do. Use the first question to tell us about your previous work. The second is to help us understand the significance of what you propose to do.
Please tell us about your past work. Include how you place your work within your discipline or medium.
Please tell us about the project you want to do. What can you tell us about the artistic vision for this project? Does it continue the type of work you’ve completed in the past or are you heading in a different direction?
You’ll be asked to attach a sample of your work.
Ability
ARAC looks at both your workplan/timetable and your budget as our panels assess your ability to carry out your project. Even if ARAC funding is only a small part of the complete project, it is important that we see a realistic budget that takes into account the time that you estimate it will take to complete the project. We also look at timetables, past work successes, and confirmation of partnerships (if applicable).
What is your workplan/timetable for completing this project?
How would you use this grant to complete the project? Be specific about how you would use the funds. This is your budget for this program.
Tell us about why we should have confidence that you can execute this project.
You’ll be asked to attach an artistic resume, and if applicable, resumes for other individuals participating in your project.
Optional Questions:
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself or your proposal?
If your project involves a partner or a specific gallery or event space, please attach letters or emails of confirmation from that/those partner(s).
How Many ARAC Grants Can an Individual Receive in One Year?
In a single ARAC fiscal year (July 1-June 30), you may receive one grant from each eligible program, as long as they are each for separate projects. You can receive this grant once.
What Kinds of Activities are Eligible and Ineligible for Funding?
Awards to individuals must support specific activities or work such as presentations, training, research, and/or creation of an artwork, with tangible outcomes. This is considered a stipend to the artist for the work undertaken and completed
Funding cannot be used for:
Support for rent or food assistance, or any type of “artist relief” program where the funding is to alleviate financial hardship and does not require the artist to undertake and complete work.
Support exclusively for the business expenses of individual artists (e.g., general operating support for individuals.)
Alcoholic beverages.
Fellowships or other honorifics based on the quality of past work.
Awards, regrants, redistributions, donations, contributions, prizes, or gifts to any other person, organization, or entity.
Cash reserves, endowment funds, or activities that are primarily for religious or political purposes.
Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including concessions, food, clothing, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.
Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.
General fundraising.
General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
Land purchase costs.
Lobbying, including activities intended to influence the outcome of elections or influence government officials regarding pending legislation, either directly or through specific lobbying appeals to the public.
Mortgage interest, fines and penalties, bad debt costs, or deficit reduction.
Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the applicant organization.
Public artwork.
Social activities such as receptions, parties, or galas.
Subawards to replace lost revenue.
Travel costs.
Vehicles purchases.
Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.
Voter registration drives and related activities.
Costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding received either directly from a federal agency or indirectly from a pass-through organization such as a state arts agency, regional arts organization, or a grant made to another entity.
Expenditures related to compensation to foreign nationals when those expenditures are not in compliance with regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control.
All other costs that are unallowable per 2 CFR 200 and other laws. Fines and penalties, debt reduction/elimination, or litigation.
Note: ARAC has attempted to provide a thorough and clear articulation of its eligibility rules, but it reserves the right to declare an application ineligible for reasons not explicitly stated here. If you have questions about the eligibility of your project, please contact the office. Grantees are responsible for complying with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances in relation to the use of these funds. Failure to comply may result in termination or forfeiture of the grant.
Tips on Applying for Grants
If you have any questions you are encouraged to contact ARAC staff at 218-722-0952, 800-569-8134, or grants@aracouncil.org.
ARAC staff can review your grant application if you request that review two weeks or more before the grant deadline. Staff assistance in no way implies your grant request will be funded.
What happens after I apply?
The staff reviews all applications and materials for completeness and eligibility.
Eligible applications are reviewed by a panel of Board and community members, and the panel’s recommendations are approved by the full Board of ARAC. All applicants will be notified of the panel meeting and are allowed to observe the proceedings. All board and panel meetings are open to the public. Reviewers read grant applications in advance, so each proposal may not be discussed in detail at the meeting, but attendance is recommended so that applicants can understand how their application is received. Applicants are not allowed to address the review panel.
Applicants will be notified via email of the Board’s decision within fourteen days of the board grant review. Successful applicants will receive a contract and a final report form. The final report must be completed and submitted within thirty days of completion of the project. Applicants are responsible for updating ARAC in writing of any major changes to their proposed project.
The Board’s funding decisions may be appealed solely on alleged procedural errors. An applicant must request an appeal within thirty days of notification of the Board decision. A board subcommittee, consisting of at least three members appointed by the ARAC chair, will consider any appeals. The subcommittee reports its findings and recommendations to the full ARAC Board for action.