The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA) is seeking applications for its Folklife and Traditional Arts Project Grants to support projects that focus on presenting and preserving folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire.
Donor Name: New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA)
State: New Hampshire
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/07/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,000 – $6,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The goals of this funding category are to deepen the appreciation for and understanding of folklife and traditional arts so that they continue to be a meaningful and visible part of their community life, support traditional artists and cultural communities so that they can continue to preserve these living traditions, and sustain the variety of folklife and traditional arts so that future generations may continue to benefit from them.
Applicants are encouraged to develop a multi-faceted approach to folklife and traditional arts programming. Projects funded under this category can include festivals, workshops, conferences, lecture/performance series, media programming, exhibits and ancillary publications, and video/film documentaries. All projects, including exhibits and documentaries, should include presentations by traditional artists, cultural specialists, community scholars and/or folklorists.
Funding Information
Requests may be made for $1,000 – $6,000. Matching funds will be waived for Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) however, they encourage applicants to include in-kind and/or cash match as part of their budget to increase the strength of their application, collaboration with partners, and enhance the funding of their project.
Grant Requirements
Projects funded in this grant category are required to:
- Deepen the appreciation for and understanding of folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire.
- Feature traditional artists and appropriately compensate them at a professional level for performing, demonstrating, and/or teaching
- Benefit the traditional artists and cultural communities where the tradition(s) emerged
- Sustain the variety of folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire so that future generations may continue to benefit from them
- Foster deep connections and involvement from the community/ies, organizations, and artists in project conception, development, and execution
- Include interpretive materials (such as program notes, signage, etc.) and/or stage presenters who can explain the history and cultural context of folklife and traditional arts
- Ensure that activities are accessible and provide an opportunity for meaningful participation for people of all abilities, and underserved and systemically marginalized populations
Funding Criteria
Reviewers will use these criteria to rank and recommend applications for funding.
- Quality of Arts Programming
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- Thoughtfully conceived and developed project with desired outcome(s)
- Deepens the appreciation for and understanding of folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire
- Benefits the traditional artists and cultural communities where the tradition(s) emerged
- Sustains the variety of folklife and traditional arts in New Hampshire so that future generations may continue to benefit from them
- Project aligns and supports organization’s mission and goals
- Proposed traditional artist(s) have high artistic skill, experience, and connection to the community or group from where the tradition(s) emerged
- Proposed cultural specialist(s), community scholar(s), and/or folklorist(s) have strong background, experience, and public communication skills in presenting traditional culture
Clearly defined process and criteria for the selection of traditional artist(s), cultural specialist(s), community scholar(s), and/or folklorist(s) - If NHSCA has funded this project in past years, evidence of project evolution through incorporation of input and learning from previous years
- Public Access, Support, and Benefit
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- Project contributes to the enrichment and education of the intended or target audience
- Evidence of clear involvement and support from project partners (organizations and/or artists) in project conception, development, and execution
- Project plan anticipates and removes barriers to provide physical and programmatic access to individuals of all abilities and to underserved populations
- Intent to identify and meaningfully engage individuals who may face tangible or perceived barriers to participation is a clear focus across all aspects of the project
- Project budget includes appropriate funding for physical and programmatic accessibility measures
- Administrative Capacity
- Well-designed and actionable project plan with realistic timeline.
- Clearly defined process and criteria for the selection of project staff demonstrating their appropriate qualifications and experience to lead the project.
- Realistic budgetary projections, with a demonstrated plan for securing additional funding and/or in-kind support (if applicable) and that compensates artists at a professional level.
- Well-developed promotion/publicity plan that utilizes appropriate media resources and strategies to effectively reach the target audience(s).
- Project Measurements/Outcomes
- Clear, appropriate method and inclusion of tool(s) to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the project, with particular focus on how well the project meets stated goals and provides participant and/or community benefit.
- Clear and appropriate plan to document the project and related activities for the benefit of future generations.
Eligibility Criteria
Any organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS and not-for-profit incorporation in the State of New Hampshire; state, federal, county, municipal, or government agency; school; or unit of a post-secondary educational institution that meet the following conditions:
- Make their programs accessible to people with disabilities;
- Have submitted all required reports on past State Arts Council grants;
- Good standing with the N.H. Secretary of State’s Office and the N.H. Attorney General’s Office.
- Arts organizations only: at least one-year of arts programming prior to the application deadline.
- All awardees will be required to submit a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued through SAM.GOV
Organizations incorporated in Maine, Vermont or Massachusetts may also be eligible if they meet all of the following conditions.
- Physically headquartered within 50 miles of the New Hampshire border
- Can demonstrate that over 50% of the individuals who benefit from their work are N.H. residents
- Have a significant representation of N.H. residents on their Board
For more information, visit Folklife and Traditional Arts Project Grants.
