The Office of Cultural Affairs provides financial support to San Antonio eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to support programs and projects that further artistic excellence and foster increased, diverse public participation and awareness of the arts in San Antonio.
Arts funding is the City's investment in arts and cultural activities to help leverage matching funds raised by organizations from other sources including foundations, individuals and corporate sponsors.
The Arts and Cultural Funding process is competitive and utilized to purchase arts and cultural services for the community. All final funding decisions are subject to actual dollars available, City budget priority of services and City Council approval.
The Arts and Cultural Funding Division offers the following program opportunities:
The objective of the Arts Funding Division is to:
· Promote and/or foster cultural tourism.
· Serve a broad multidisciplinary constituency, and to encourage growth and viability within arts of diverse cultures.
· Affirmatively encourage and facilitate the participation of culturally diverse populations, geographically underserved neighborhoods and economically disadvantaged populations, and the disabled.
· Reach and support organizations of all sizes and artists working within all arts disciplines, and support the development of art that is uniquely San Antonio.
· Support organizational growth through strategic planning and professional development.
· Promote the development of agencies and expansion of opportunities for artists, and to provide leverage in helping organizations and artists secure additional support from other sources, both public and private.
PANEL NOMINATIONS
The Arts Funding Division utilizes a panel review process to help arrive at funding recommendations. To assist in this process the Office of Cultural Affairs solicits panelist nominations from the community.
The Office of Cultural Affairs provides financial support to San Antonio nonprofit arts and cultural organizations through its Arts Funding Division in the following grant categories:
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OCA 2008 Funding Workshops:
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Friday – May 2, Koehler Auditorium
All Categories
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9:30–11:30am
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Saturday - May 3, One Stop Center
Operational Support (COFA Agencies)
Operational Support
Project Support
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9-11am
12:30-2:30pm
3-5pm
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Monday - MAY 12, Municipal Plaza
Operational Support
ProjectSupport
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Canceled
Canceled
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Friday - May 16, Koehler Auditorium
Budget & Invoice Processing
Operational Support/ Project Support
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10am-noon
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Thursday - MAY 15, Bihl Haus Arts
Neighborhood Arts Program Workshop
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5:30-6:30pm
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Saturday - MAY 17, Central Library
Neighborhood Arts Program Workshop
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10am-noon
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Thursday - May 22, McCreless Library
Neighborhood Arts Program Workshop
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5-7pm
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General Operational Program: Grants in this category support various administrative and program activities and are intended to aid organizations that nurture the development of art and culture unique to San Antonio.
Operational Support grants are funded on a two-year cycle.
Project Funding Program: Grants in this category support specific projects from organizations that have operating budgets of less than $50,000 and are not part of the ongoing operational function of an organization.
Project Support grants are funded on an annual basis. A project is an activity w-hose objective is the creation, preservation and presentation of an arts and cultural activity. The Project Funding Program provides financial support to specific arts/cultural activities in an organization. The activity is usually separate from the organization’s general operating budget. The Project Funding Program funds on an annual basis with new requests considered annually.
For example, a project can be:
· A presentation that is part of a series;
· A one-time only presentation/event; or
· A series of art events with a continuing theme within the grant cycle. (However, a project grant will not provide funding for general operating expenses or for a complete series.)
Neighborhood Arts Program (NAP): the Office of Cultural Affairs provides financial support to arts and cultural organizations and nonprofit, neighborhood based groups for projects.
NAP grants are designed to accomplish the following:
· Partner artists and arts agencies with community-based organizations to benefit area residents.
· Provide financial support for a variety of cultural or art centered activities that promote an artistic idea or activity that will make a neighborhood a more enjoyable place to live.
Stabilization Program: The Stabilization Program is a competitive process to provide for professional services or new staff that will have the most impact on an agency’s development. The process includes, agency self-assessment, identification of key position/service to stabilize, benchmarks to gauge success. Only current General Operational support and COFA agencies that are recommended for funding are eligible. A Review Committee comprised of City staff, CAB and community representation will review the “Organizational History” information submitted by applicants. Stabilization Program funds are awarded for a two year funding cycle with no match requirement for first year. Second year funds awarded will require a match and will follow operational guidelines matching requirements.
Incubator Program: Provides assistance for emerging organizations and administrative infrastructure.
· Guidelines
Collaborations Program: Provides an avenue to merge audiences, create new markets, enrich Arts/Cultural environments, and create opportunity for innovative collaborations in the San Antonio area.
The Collaborations Program provides for the following:
· Competitive process to provide for “new” arts or cultural activities (not in the organizations current operating budgets) provided or created as a result of combined resources of two or more arts or cultural agencies. The applicant must be an Arts/Cultural organization with a 501(c)(3) status.
· Collaborations must reflect an equal partnership(s) with each participant providing resources toward the proposed activity.
· Activities can occur within 18 months of the award.
· Applications for funding consideration may be available in FY 08-09
· Eligibility
Deferred Maintenance & Capital Projects Program: Provides assistance to current Operational Support grant recipients to improve the condition, safety, success, accessibilities, security, and/or energy efficiency of San Antonio's arts and cultural facilities.
· Applications for funding consideration may be available in FY 08-09
· Application Timeline
· Guidelines
· Application Form
Deadline Closed at 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 29, 2008
· Program Information and Guidelines - 2008
· Application Checklist and Application - 2008
For more information, call Frank Villani, Cultural Affairs Manager at 210.207.6963.