Note: Applicants may apply to only one component within Creative Communities per year (Arts Education, Folk Arts or Local Arts). In addition, applicants may receive a grant from either the Creative Communities program or the Creation and Presentation program per year - not both.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
The following conditions must apply for an organization to be eligible to apply to the Creative Communities grant program:
The applicant must have been doing mission-related work for three years prior to application.
The applicant (and its fiscal receiver when relevant) must be incorporated in and conduct business in Wisconsin.
The applicant must not be a for-profit organization, including LLCs.
In addition to the above, organizations must meet one of the following conditions:
The applicant must hold tax-exempt status from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The applicant must be part of a larger nonprofit, 501(c)(3) institution, or a unit of state or local government including public K-12 schools; or
If none of the above are applicable, applicants that are incorporated in WI as nonstock corporations may apply using a separate nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization or unit of local government as a fiscal receiver.
For Colleges, Universities, and Units of Tribal
or Local Government including Public Schools
WAB does support projects that fall under the auspices of these
organizations, provided those projects involve the local community in planning,
execution, and participation. These applicants must demonstrate that the
project reaches the general public in addition to an academic audience. This
can be shown through financial support from sources beyond the school such as
local corporations, businesses, individuals and foundations; through its
audience/participant evaluation statistics; through board, advisory or steering
committee composition that includes community members; etc. No administrative
fee for this grant may be charged to the grant or to the program’s budget by
the university/college/school.
What is a Project?
An eligible Creative Communities project is a collaborative endeavor that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim within an identified community. It is either:
less than three years old at the time of application (this means that the project itself must have been in existence for less than three years, not that the project has received WAB funding for less than three years), or
A project must be distinct from the organization's regular, ongoing
programs/services.
The
following conditions must apply for a Creative Communities grant program application
to be eligible for funding:
The applicant must match each dollar of Arts Board support.
The project or activities must benefit the general interested public and demonstrate community participation in the program planning.
The applicant is the most appropriate sponsor for the proposed activities.
Examples of Eligible Projects
A community center presents a series of participatory arts activities for adults and/or youth.
A neighborhood organization organizes a summer arts festival.
A school plans a three week artist residency wherein the artist (a potter) works with students in their chemistry class, their world history class, and their literature class, as well as in the art studio.
A local museum or historic society programs performances and workshops on and with local folk and ethnic heritage arts and artists.
A heritage organization develops a focus on foodways as a new theme for their annual festival.
Types of Activities Not Funded
In general, the Arts Board does not fund the following nor can the match for Arts Board funds be used for these expenses:
Capital equipment (items costing more than $5,000 with a useful life of more than one year) or capital expenditures, e.g., renovation of existing facilities
Benefit/fundraiser activities
Prizes or awards
Competitions
Deficits incurred from past activities
Individual tuition
Activities for which
higher ed academic credit is given (Grades 13+) and/or continuing education
hours for teachers are given
Out-of-state travel
Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties, gallery openings
Activities that have already been completed by the beginning of the grant period
Activities that have a religious purpose
General operating expenses
Curriculum expansion
Activities not open to the general public (Activities conducted in public schools are considered to be public)
Activities that are “inherently religious" such as religious worship, instruction, and proselytization. Religious organizations or groups with a religious affiliation are eligible to apply for funding for a project or program that is available to the general public and has the purpose of benefitting the public, not the religious organization.