The Kansas Department of Commerce has announced a total of $75,000 is available for a new round of Rural Mural and Public Art program funding.
Donor Name: Kansas Department of Commerce
State: Kansas
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/10/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
To activate vacant and underused spaces through the arts to help bring together community members around the art, history, and culture of the community.
The program helps rural communities design engaging new art that improves the local aesthetic – making the community more appealing not only for those who live there but for potential new businesses and residents as well.
Grants up to $7,500 are available for eligible communities, which also is the total amount any one county can receive. The Office of Rural Prosperity program requires a 1:1 match, with 25% being a cash match unless the community has fewer than 1,000 residents. For those communities, matching support can be 100% in-kind services, including volunteer labor, materials and supplies, equipment, etc.
Awards will be given to communities across the state with less than 15,000 population. Murals can beautify community gathering spaces, elevate tourist attractions, and offer a welcoming message for visitors. Communities are encouraged to utilize the 11-week application period to complete community engagement conversations about what the art should reflect.
Funding Priorities
- Communities or Counties that have not previously received funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce for murals or public art
- Projects that can show that they are ready to begin. This means that the community engagement phase is complete, muralist has been identified and they are available, and that the location of the mural has been identified and approvals given to put the mural on the wall.
- Projects that can be completed by December 31, 2024, or if they will be painted on an exterior wall, that the project will be completed before mid-October.
- Murals or public art that is done collaboratively across the county or as a region to celebrate their history or culture as a Kansas community.
Eligible Cost/Expenses
Artist and consultant fees including travel expenses and accommodation expenses
- Applicable project materials and supplies
- Additional administrative costs (beyond annually budgeted general operating costs) related to the approved project
- Allowable marketing expenses directly related to the approved project (This does not include campaigns or materials used solely to raise awareness of the organization.)
- Equipment purchases needed to complete art or mural project under $5,000
- Wall or surface repair – limited to 15% of total project cost (tuckpointing, mortar repair)
- Surface preparation (smoothing, resurfacing, cleaning, etc.)
- Lighting or display materials to highlight the art piece
- Landscaping or clean-up of the space that could affect the visibility of the mural.
Eligibility Criteria
- Communities with a population of 15,000 or less
- Units of local government
- Economic/Community Development and Tourism non-profits (501c3 or 501c6)
- Federally recognized tribes
- Non-profit organizations (501c3).
For more information, visit Kansas Department of Commerce.
