Funding Sources Arts Councils
This week I’m starting a multi-part series on funding sources. Over the next few weeks I’ll dive into a few different funding sources you may want to consider. Depending on your act, one or more of these sources may work well for you and others may just not be right.
This week, let’s talk about Funding Sources Arts Council Touring Grants. I want to start here because these grants have set time-frames and deadlines.
- Who offers these grants?
Arts Councils in each state in the US or province in Canada. You need to check you specific state to see whether they have a touring roster of artists and whether they offer these grants. Each state or province is different in what they offer to performing artists. But, if you live in a state that offers touring grants to performing artists, it could mean that you receive dollars to help a non-profit type of venue offset its costs to book you. - Who is eligible to apply for these grants?
You must live in the state or province of the specific Arts Council. Live in VA, apply to the VA Commission for the Arts, for example.
- Who receives the money?
Now even though the artist, you, would apply to receive the grant money, you do not get the money directly. Non-profit venues such as Performing Arts Centers, elementary schools, colleges, libraries, museums and organizations need to apply to the arts council on your behalf to present you. They will receive a portion of the monies allocated to you to go towards what they will pay you as your fee. So say you have been awarded a grant of $3500 for the year, you get booked at a venue who agrees to pay you $1000. They could apply to the arts council to get $500 of your $3500 to offset their $1000 fee. Everyone wins. - What kinds of acts might be eligible?
This can be determined by visiting your state or province’s arts council website and examine the list of recipients from the past year or two to get an idea of who got funded. There are resources available to you in your state or province from which you may benefit and expand your career.
Spend a few minutes to Google “Arts Council + Your State or Province name.”
In my book, I have a complete listing of every arts council in the US & Canada and all their contact information along with all the regional organizations of arts councils. Or go to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, http://www.nasaa-arts.org/About/State-Arts-Agency-Directory/index.php for a complete listing in the US. In Canada go to
Canada Council for the Arts to start or look up each province’s arts council.
Next week I’ll talk about funding for residencies.
Are you familiar with your state or province’s arts council and their resources?
Are you currently on an Arts Council Touring roster? Have you ever applied?
Leave me a comment below or on the Performingbiz Success Strategies Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PerformingbizSuccessStrategies.
I can’t wait to hear about your success.
Now, Thanks to the band Curfew from the UK for providing the Biz Booster theme music, “Future Dance.” Check them out at www.curfew.co.uk
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