The Vermont Arts Council is offering a funding opportunity to communities that are poised to integrate works of public art into upcoming infrastructure projects.
Donor Name: Vermont Arts Council
State: Vermont
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/12/2022
Size of the Grant: $1,000 to $15,000
Details:
The Council seeks proposals for projects that provide opportunities for artists to engage with community in the design and/or fabrication of permanent or temporary public art for an interior or exterior site that is accessible to the public.
The Animating Infrastructure program is designed to foster partnerships between communities and artists. The intent is to enhance a sense of community pride and identity, foster social connections, and to improve the livability and vibrancy of Vermont communities, downtowns, villages, and neighborhoods. Through the development and installation of site-specific works of public art, Vermont communities can reflect their vision, values, and creative spirit.
For the purposes of this program, the Council’s definition of infrastructure is broad and includes community facilities and services such as buildings, trails, water or sewer systems, roads, power systems, parks, and more. Functional components of infrastructure such as sidewalks, railings, benches, walls, signs, stairs, sidewalks, tree grates, fences, water fountains, and more in the built and/or natural environment have the potential for artistic enhancement that creates unique places where people want to live, work, visit, and play.
Grant Amounts and Matching Requirements
Grants will range from $1,000 to $15,000. Up to $5,000 will be awarded for design grants and up to $15,000 will be awarded for implementation and/or combination grants.
Eligible Activities
Animating Infrastructure provides communities with funds to engage and work with an artist. Funds will be awarded for:
- Public Art Design ($5,000 maximum): The funding must be used to conduct a process to select an artist and to engage the artist with the community in the development of the design of artwork. At the end of the grant period, the grantee should have a final design that includes a budget, drawings or models, and details about specific materials. It should also include a timeline and information on fundraising, fabrication, installation, site preparations, and maintenance requirements for the proposed artwork.
- Public Art Implementation ($15,000 maximum): Grant funds may be used to support an artist in the fabrication and installation of public art for a previously designed project.
- Combination Grants ($15,000 maximum): Grant funds may be used to support both a design process (as outlined above) and the fabrication and installation of public art.
All eligible project proposals are welcome. The Council is especially interested in:
- integrated projects where infrastructure is the art
- projects in their early planning phases
- projects that foster connections among people of diverse socioeconomic groups, abilities, races, cultures, genders, and/or ages, etc.
Criteria
Vermont 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and municipalities are eligible to apply. Community groups without tax-exempt status may apply using a fiscal agent. A fiscal agent must be a charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Vermont. All applicants (or the fiscal agent) must have a DUNS Number. Proposals from Vermont designated downtowns, village centers, or neighborhood development areas are encouraged. Applicants should have strong, supportive community leadership in place to give the project high potential for being completed successfully. Individual artists may not apply.
Who May Not Apply
- organizations that have received any other Arts Council grant in the same fiscal year to support the same project
- organizations with outstanding or incomplete reporting for any Vermont Arts Council grant
- individual artists
For more information, visit Animating Infrastructure Grant.
