MCACA UPDATE: FY 2010 Funding Priorities

ArtServe Michigan: MCACA Update

MCACA Funding Priorities

This afternoon the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs met to unveil its new funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2010. As you know, with this year's funding 70% below last year's level, the council was charged with reshaping its grant programs to reflect its $2.265 million in funding.

Having considered the challenges faced with limited funding and a desire to spread grants to as many organizations as possible, the Council unveiled a plan that it believes will maximize both impact and breadth.

In a room of more that one hundred people, the Council announced that the new funding priorities for FY 2010 will include the Mini-Grant Program as well as the newly developed Program for Organizational and Project Support.

Mini-Grant Program - $500,000 - One round of the mini-grant program will be held to award up to $4,000 to organizations applying through one of the 19 regional regranter's as designated by the MCACA. The deadline to apply is February 24, 2010.

The Program for Operational and Project Support - will offer an opportunity for non-profit or other tax exempt organizations to apply for a competitive grant in either of the two identified categories--Operational Support or Project Support. Each category has specific eligibility requirements and review criteria. Organizational Support grants will be offered to organization as a four tiered program, depending on each organization's operating budget. Grant awards for this program will range from a high of $20,000 to a minimum of $5,000. Project Support grants will be awarded at levels between $7,500 and $5,000. The deadline to apply is February 24, 2010.

* Noting the reduced level of funding, the Council reported that it will not be assessing an application fee for this round of grants.

* It is important to note that organizations will only be eligible to receive one grant from the MCACA or Mini-Grant Program. An organization may choose to apply for more than one grant, but may only receive one.

Program information, guidelines and the application process for each of the above funding priorities can be obtained by visiting http://www.themedc.org/Arts/Grant-Program/Default.aspx

Given the delayed completion of this year's budget, timing for the entire grant process must be accelerated to just over two months. An announcement of the grants awarded will take place by March 31st. It is, however, worth repeating that this grant cycle is for dollars to be spent between April 1st and September 30th.

Reminder - School Bus Fast Grants Available

Last week the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs announced the availability of School Bus Fast Grants - grants of up to $500 per K-12 school building for the documented transportation cost of a field trip to designated MCACA-affiliated arts and culture organizations. The deadline to apply is February 8, 2010. Application, guidelines and the list of organizations are on MCACA's website: www.themedc.org/arts, click on "Grant Program." For more information, contact Carolyn Damstra, Program Manager: (517) 241-3968, damstrac@michigan.org . The list of designated MCACA-affiliated arts and culture organizations is attached for your convenience.

FY 2009 Final Payments

John Bracey spoke briefly about the final grant payments for around 130-140 grantees from Fiscal Year 2009. Due to some delays in transferring the remaining money from the now-defunct Department of History, Arts and Libraries to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation final grant payments should go out within the next couple of weeks.

As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to reply to respond to this blog post or contact Mike Latvis directly at mike@artservemichigan.org or 248-379-5897.