Arlington Cultural Council

The Arlington Cultural Council (ACC) supports public programs in our community that promote access, education, diversity, and excellence in the arts, humanities and the interpretive sciences. The ACC is a local council of the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and disperses funds allocated by the MCC to successful grant applicants. Members of the council are artists, arts administrators, and other community members with an interest in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. We are volunteers appointed by the Arlington Board of Selectmen for up to two consecutive three-year terms. The Council is committed to funding a diverse cross-section of activities supporting a broad variety of art forms, ongoing work of individual artists, projects serving specific local populations, and local cultural organizations. Meetings are once a month and (except for voting meetings) all are open to the public.

Amount Available for Granting in FY 2011

(information not yet available)

PASS applications are accepted.

LCC Program Guidelines (PDF)

Funding Priorities

The grant process is competitive, and each year, the Council receives more requests than it has means to fund. The Council will give priority to projects led by Arlington-based artists and cultural groups; featuring a community benefit component such as a public performance, exhibit, or other activity that is open to the broadest range of Arlington residents possible (including underserved audiences); planned in collaboration with Arlington-based groups, agencies, organizations, and businesses; targeting youth, especially teenagers, outside of school time and/or in non-school settings; appealing to intergenerational audiences; and demonstrating other sources of financial support or matching funds. In accordance with state guidelines, ACC funds are not intended to replace existing public funds for programs. Also, the ACC reserves the right to limit funding to repeat applicants.

Local Guidelines

ARLINGTON CULTURAL COUNCIL
c/o Selectmen’s Office Robbins Memorial Town Hall 730 Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02476
ACC web site

MCC web site

E-Mail the Arlington Cultural Council

2010 GRANT APPLICATION GUIDELINES

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY: The Arlington Cultural Council will award grants to individuals, nonprofit organizations, and community groups for Arlington-based projects in the
Arts (including dance, music, theatre, visual arts and crafts),
Humanities (including history, literature, social studies, and philosophy), and
Interpretive Sciences (including activities that connect science to everyday life and provide access to information about science and technology).

Applicants must be organized in or have resided in Massachusetts for at least one year prior to application. Projects must take place in calendar year 2010. The deadline to apply is Thursday, October 15, 2009. Grant awards will be announced in January.

COUNCIL PRIORITIES: The grant process is competitive, and each year, the Council receives more requests than it has means to fund. The Council will give priority to projects: led by Arlington-based artists and cultural organizations; planned in collaboration with other Arlington-based groups, agencies, organizations, and businesses; featuring a community benefit component such as a public performance, exhibit, or other activity that is open to the broadest range of Arlington residents possible (including underserved audiences); targeting youth, especially teenagers, outside of school time and/or in non-school settings; appealing to intergenerational audiences; and demonstrating other sources of financial support or matching funds.

In accordance with state guidelines, ACC funds are not intended to replace existing public funds for programs. Also, the ACC reserves the right to limit funding to repeat applicants.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS: All applications will be reviewed by Council members based on the following criteria:
only fully-completed and signed applications (including a detailed budget page) that are hand-delivered to the Selectmen’s Office (address above) by 4:00 p.m. or postmarked by the deadline on Thursday, October 15 will be reviewed by the Council; applicants must comply with all ACC and MCC guidelines and propose projects in the spirit of the priorities outlined and that have a significant public benefit component; artistic and creative merit must be clearly demonstrated; arts and humanities qualifications of applicants should be clearly illustrated in the request through the inclusion of resumes, biographies, and or related press materials about project leaders; planned promotion of the project should be outlined in a detailed publicity plan (for example, posters, articles, mailings, and cable television) that describe potential public benefit of the project; benefit to the community and public accessibility must be addressed in planning for marketing and promoting the project; and community support and involvement should be demonstrated by applicants through the inclusion of letters of support or commitment from participating partners and collaborators. (For example, applicants must give evidence of having secured a performance or exhibition space, if applicable.)


ARLINGTON CULTURAL COUNCIL TIMELINE 2009-10

WHERE TO GET APPLICATIONS AND GUIDELINES: Beginning Tuesday, September 1, guidelines and applications will be available from the Selectmen’s Office/Arlington Town Hall; the Information Desk at Robbins Library; the Arlington Center for the Arts; and online at ACC web site
or
MCC web site

ASSISTANCE COMPLETING APPLICATIONS: The Arlington Cultural Council will host general information sessions on September 30 from 7-8:30pm at the Town Hall Hearing Room and October 3 from 1-2:30pm in the 4th floor conference room at Robbins Library. This is a good opportunity, especially for first time applicants, to solicit feedback about possible projects, ask questions, and get assistance completing applications.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Thursday, October 15 is the deadline to apply to the Arlington Cultural Council. All applications must be hand-delivered to the Selectmen’s Office before 4:00 p.m. or postmarked on or before that date.

APPLICANT PRESENTATIONS: On Monday, October 26 from 7-8:30pm (last name/organization beginning A-L) in the Library community room downstairs and on Wednesday, October 28 from 7-8:30pm (last name/organization beginning M-Z), at the Community Safety Building conference room, the Arlington Cultural Council will host Presentation Meetings at which applicants will have three minutes to share highlights from their proposals and respond to questions from council members. It is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, to present your proposal to the council.

NOTIFICATION OF COUNCIL DECISIONS: By November 30, those applicants not recommended for funding will be informed by mail. Unsuccessful applicants will have two weeks to file a written request for reconsideration (granted only if the ACC failed to consider significant information or the applicant was treated substantially different from other applicants). Appeals pertaining to artistic quality will not be reconsidered. In January, award letters will be mailed to successful applicants and announced to the general public.

PAYMENT OF GRANT AWARDS: Following Completion of funded projects, payment will be made to grantees on a reimbursement basis. Within 60 days of completion of the project, approved applicants must submit a formal request for reimbursement with a final report along and corresponding receipts. Payment from the town will follow approximately four to eight weeks later.

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APPLICATION CHECKLIST: Please attach this checklist to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

___12 copies of the completed and signed application (including one with original signature)

___12 copies of the proposed budget (with project expenses equaling project income)

___12 copies of a resume (or other evidence of qualifications) for each key project participant

___12 copies of a letter confirming the venue for projects involving a performance or exhibition

___ 1 copy of supporting materials (such as newspaper articles, photos, CDs, or videos)

___ 1 stamped, self-addressed envelope for support materials you wish to be returned, if any

Grant Applicants

• Tips for Grant Applicants
• LCC Grant Application (PDF, 20 KB)
• PASS Grant Application (PDF, 35 KB)

Grant Recipients

• LCC Reimbursement Form
• Credit and Publicity Kit for LCC and PASS Grant Recipients
• Download an MCC Credit Logo

FY 2010