Greater Flint Arts Council is pleased to announce the 2024 Share Art Genesee Community Arts Grants program.
Donor Name: Greater Flint Arts Council
State: Michigan
County: Genesee County (MI)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/01/2023
Size of the Grant:
- Creative Placemaking: up to $2,500
- Community Cultural Planning Charrette Grants: up to $2,500
- Program and Services Grant – Tier I: up to $5,000
- Program and Services Grant – Tier II: up to $30,000
Details:
The council is providing these grants in Genesee County is to build the capacity of local arts organizations to reach their potential in transforming the communities into vibrant, inclusive destinations with a unique sense of place. Art can be a powerful way for multiple narratives to be heard, seen, and included in the knowledge and experiences of a community. The arts can build a sense of community through shared experiences, improve the quality of the lives by providing outlets for the creativity inherent in all of them, and stimulate economic development by attracting visitors to the community.
Grant Programs
Application can be made to only one of the following grant programs with the exception of Grant Program 2 which can be paired with Grant Program 4.
- Grant Program 1: Creative Placemaking
- Creative Placemaking is generally understood as the use of arts and culture by diverse partners to strategically shape the physical and social character of a place in order to spur economic development, promote enduring social change and improve the physical environment.
- Use of arts and culture. This could involve a painter, musician, sculptor, historian, architect – or any other expression of “arts and culture”. The project could be many things including a mural, a street carnival, busker musicians on a street corner, or a public art sculpture about the place’s history. Artists are involved in the planning, execution and activity.
- Diverse partners. Contributors to projects might include neighborhood residents, businesses, non-profits, churches, government agencies, etc. Diverse partners who invest time, talent and/or financial support will strengthen the project and take greater ownership in its maintenance and stewardship long-term.
- Shape a place. The combination of arts, culture, and diverse partners can convert an under-utilized place and make it something useful, safe, beautiful and vibrant.
- To spur, promote and improve. Whether the project is big or small, low-budget or very expensive, successful creative placemaking projects attract people. People want to be near other people. Places that attract people also attract new business, housing, schools and other amenities. This becomes the catalyst for other improvements.
- Funding – up to $2,500 maximum
- Must partner with one or more paid artists who reside in Genesee County
- Must pay artist(s) a minimum of 50% of the grant funds
- Creative Placemaking is generally understood as the use of arts and culture by diverse partners to strategically shape the physical and social character of a place in order to spur economic development, promote enduring social change and improve the physical environment.
- Grant Program 2: Community Cultural Planning Charrette Grants
- At this critical time in the history of Genesee County, with an influx of financial support from the recent millage for the arts, it is crucial that they do cultural planning in the communities that will benefit. They encourage arts organizations from these communities to find out what the needs and wishes of their citizens are and to respond to them. By organizing a Cultural Planning Charette, it will become apparent where best to use the millage funds over the next 10 years.
- Definition: Cultural planning is a public process in which representatives of a community undertake a comprehensive community assessment and create a plan of implementation for future cultural programming.
- Definition: A Charrette is a type of participatory planning process that assembles an interdisciplinary team—typically consisting of planners, citizens, city officials, architects, landscape architects, transportation engineers, parks and recreation officials, and other stakeholders—to create a design and implementation plan
- Funding – up to $2,500 maximum
- Does not require a match, however they highly recommend seeking sponsorships from local businesses
- Can still apply in Grant Program 1, 3 or 4
- Must use one or more professional consultants. They recommend contacting the United Way of Genesee County, Non-profit Capacity Building at unitedwaygenesee.org for consultant referrals.
- Not available to organizations in the City of Flint (Flint has a cultural plan that is current), or any community that already has a current cultural plan.
- Grant Program 3: Program and Services Grant – Tier I
- To increase the organization’s ability to provide programs within their mission
- Funding up to $5,000 maximum
- Program expenses for Tier I arts organizations
- Definition of Tier I organization: a 501 C 3 Charitable arts organization with no paid staff and no physical location that is either owned or rented.
- Funds must be matched. Grant requests cannot exceed the organization’s total expenses shown on their financial report from their most recently completed fiscal year.
- Funds may not be used for capital projects or the purchase of equipment.
- Grant Program 4: Program and Services Grant – Tier II
- To increase the organization’s ability to provide programs within their mission
- Funding up to $30,000
- Program expenses for Tier II arts organizations
- Definition of Tier II organization: a 501 C 3 Charitable arts organization with both paid staff and a physical location, open to the public, that is either owned or rented.
- Funds must be matched. Grant requests cannot exceed the organization’s total expenses shown on their financial report from their most recently completed fiscal year.
- Funds may not be used for capital projects or the purchase of equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be located in Genesee County
- Must have a mission 100% dedicated to the arts and/or arts education. Examples include local arts councils, art associations, community theaters, dance associations, writers associations.
- Must have established arts and cultural programs that serve a portion or all of Genesee County
- Must be a 501 C 3 Nonprofit Michigan Corporation or an established cultural office of local government and been incorporated as such for 3 years (received 501 C 3 designation by January 1, 2020)
- Must be able to confirm nonprofit status is current according to the IRS and the laws of the State of Michigan
- Must operate a physical space that is available to the public either rented or owned
- Must have paid staff either employed or contracted
- Must supply an annual audit and 990 for the most recent fiscal year completed. If an organization does not have an annual audit, an internal audit signed by the Board Chairperson can be substituted
- Arts are defined as visual arts, performing arts and literary arts
- Cultural programs include historical programs and museum services.
For more information, visit GFAC.
