Overview: What’s New This YearThis section is required reading before you begin an online grant application! Each year we hear comments and suggestions from our applicants, grantees and panelists about how our granting process works. Once we collect these ideas, we discuss them internally, consider options and potential impact, then approach our Commission for feedback and direction. The end result is a series of changes that we then incorporate into the grant guidelines. Some are small changes while others are significant. The major changes are:
General – Text Lengths for Your Responses Where possible, we have expanded text lengths for your narrative sections. Also, you have a chance at the end of your application to share information that you haven’t had a place otherwise. There are no longer separate GOSII designations for Local Arts Agencies (councils and commissions); or Tribal Museums. These organizations may apply in any GOS level appropriate for their needs. GOS II - Grant funds can be used for general operating expenses GOSII organizations must employ a full-time [Glossary link] Managing Director in order to receive funds, and grant amounts will still be based on a percentage of the Managing Director’s salary; however, in order to be responsive to the needs of a variety of organizations, GOSII funds may now be expended on any operating expense(s) during the grant period. GOSII grantees will be required to submit BOTH a signed contract/employment agreement between the organization and the Managing Director AND a copy of the most recently-completed fiscal year’s financial statements in order to receive funds. A copy of the full-time Managing Director’s job description is a required piece of supplementary information, and should be uploaded electronically when submitting your application. There are three categories of Arts Learning Project Types. All projects that involve K-12 youth For full descriptions and to identify where your project best fits, see http://www.azarts.gov/guide/arts_learning2.htm
The Commission has collected a variety of information, links and resources into some new webpages. When we get new and updated information we will add it to these pages, so check back regularly. Organizational Effectiveness Page – www.azarts.gov/guide/org_effectiveness.htm This page contains a wide range of information for organizational health, including planning, governance and board development, funding, workshops and professional development, and technical assistance including staff and consultant services. Evaluation and Assessment Page – www.azarts.gov/guide/evaluation_assessment.htmThe Commission believes strongly on the value of planning, implementation and evaluation as a continual, linked cycle of activity. Organizations also are finding that both internally and externally, the evaluation and assessment of their activities and programs is vital to understand the impact and value of their work. Evaluation and assessment can range from very simple to long-term, sophisticated processes, all of which can be valuable. On this page, you’ll be linked to tools and sites from across the country regarding the evaluation and assessment of organizations, programs, and educational activities. Supplementary Materials - Online and Mailed Submissions This year, all supplementary materials that exist as documents (Word, Excel and PDF files) will be uploaded electronically then submitted with your online application. Audio-visual materials, strategic plans that aren’t uploadable (for GOS III applicants), cultural diversity plans (for GOS applicants), and letter from your Fiscal Sponsor agreeing to accept funds (if applicable) must still be mailed in, postmarked by Thursday, March 23, 2006, and accompanied by a Supplementary Materials Cover Sheet (generated when you complete your online application). We’ve gathered information about the way in which you should prepare, label and submit supplementary A/V materials for ALL types of grants onto one handy page. Whatever discipline or type of grant you’re applying for, check here before submitting. www.azarts.gov/guide/supplementary_materials.htmProjects - Producing Organizations’ Budgets Producing Organizations which are submitting Project Grants are advised to show their entire project’s budget (such as the full production costs for a work with a guest director), not just the guest artist’s expenses, to allow the panel to see the entire scope of your project Projects and Arts Link to Tourism and the Economy - Accessibility and Evaluation Costs Accessibility and evaluation consultants/contractors have always been eligible for support. They are now listed in the Consultants line in the budget; please itemize the type of consultant and cost in your Project Budget.GOS III organizations must have a minimum of 10% earned income; and 10% contributed income—that is, no more than 90% of either earned or contributed. By requiring this threshold, the Commission ensures that your organization delivers value to your community, as demonstrated by individual and organizational contributions. As well, we recognize that a diversity of funding sources is one marker of a healthy nonprofit organization, protecting it from a rapid change in one particular funding source. GOSIII recipients will be notified after the review of financial statements if they do not comply and, in this initial year of the policy, may be provided a period of one year or more to develop strategies and increase their earned or contributed income as required. The Commission also provides support, such as through UP/Understanding Participation projects, for organizations to better understand the motivations and barriers for individuals to donate to your organization, or pay for your services, so that you can more effectively strategize your future efforts. GOSIII and Basic/Locals Aid – Fundraisers Organizations with fundraisers (sales, auctions and raffles) raising $100,000 or more, will be asked for detail about the costs of any items purchased for sale/auction/raffle, and those costs will be netted out.Event Table - Projects, GOS and Arts Link to Tourism and the Economy We’ve improved the Event/Activity Table. This should make it easier for you to list your activities, easier for the panelists to see the range of arts experiences you’re providing to the public, and easier for the Commission to search for and list information on arts activity throughout Arizona. A sample listing is provided to help you understand how to input your information. Public Value and Public Participation It may be safe to assume that certain general values – healthy and vital communities, opportunities and success for young people, safe neighborhoods, fairness and equity in receiving government services – are commonly held, and that many of these public values can be delivered, in part, through opportunities to participate in the arts. The Commission supports opportunities for Arizonans to participate in the arts – as viewers, as those who create art, and as supporters through time, money and policymaking. By supporting a broad range of opportunities – in many different artforms, communities and modes of participation – public value is created. Public Value is a principle or ideal, service or product, intrinsically valuable or desirable to the citizens of Arizona, and therefore worthy of state support. It is not a static or well-defined thing, but involves multiple and changing values, beliefs and results that are held by a group or community at a particular moment, in its current environment. As you prepare your project or programming, please keep in mind these thoughts about public value. It is not expected that every project or organization the Commission funds will serve the entire public, nor must every funded project deliver broad and general public value. Some projects are narrow, deep and specific; some don’t focus on a public event, but make possible the creation of work that adds to the artistic canon. These are no more or less competitive than those that serve a large number of people.
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We recognize this is not a perfect system, but we hope it’s an improvement, and that we will learn this year if it is helpful to you and us. Our goal is to work from a basis of reality and realistic expectations in partnership with you. Changes in
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Updated 02/28/06 |
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