Ohio Arts Council Announces Deadlines for Fiscal Year 2007 Funds
by Jami Goldstein
Each year the Ohio Arts Council provides matching money to support more than 1,000 arts organizations, arts programs and artists in the state. Previous grantees and new applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the Ohio Arts Council staff if they plan to apply for support. Staff members are able to assist applicants with a draft application. For more information or application Guidelines call the Ohio Arts Council at 614/466-2613 or visit www.oac.state.oh.us.
September 1, 2006 is the deadline for the Ohio Arts Council’s Individual Excellence Awards and Arts Access Programs.
The Individual Creativity Program’s Individual Excellence Awards are peer recognition of creative artists for the exceptional merit of a body of work that advances or exemplifies the discipline and the larger artistic community. These awards support artists’ growth and development and recognize their work in Ohio and beyond. The anonymous review process is not project-based; awards are based solely on the quality of past work.
The Arts Access Program invests in small and emerging arts organizations to strengthen the presence of the arts in Ohio communities. The Arts Access program provides funds for organizations that have never before applied for OAC funding, startup organizations, community-driven one-time projects, and organizations with budgets under $25,000. This deadline is for activities happening between January 1 – June 30, 2007.
The International Partnerships Program supports education projects, exhibitions, artist exchanges, performances and informational resources. Funding priority is given to projects with recognized OAC international partner countries. Organizations must be non-profit and based in Ohio. This program does not fund individuals.
The Capacity Building Program recognizes that sometimes Ohio's arts organizations can do the most good for their constituents, artists and communities by spending time working to improve their internal capabilities. It is a flexible program designed to meet the variety of needs of Ohio’s arts and cultural organizations, providing them with the tools they need to strengthen their internal capacity.
Applications for the International Partnerships, Individual Excellence Awards, Arts Access and Capacity Building Programs are currently being accepted and may be submitted any time. All of these programs use the new OnLine Grant Applications (OLGA) system accessible through the OAC’s Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us/grantsprogs/grants.asp. All applications are due in the OAC office by 5 p.m. on the deadline date. When a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next business day.
Panel meetings to consider Ohio Arts Council funding are open to the public. Panel meetings take place approximately six weeks after the deadline. Visit the OAC Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us or contact the appropriate program coordinator for meeting dates and locations.
Since 1965 the Ohio Arts Council has provided matching funds of more than $200 million to artists, arts organizations and educational programs across Ohio. Organizations that receive Ohio Arts Council funds are required to match state tax dollars with public and private funds. In general, for every state tax dollar invested, recipient organizations raise $38 in matching funds to support arts programs.
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
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