BROOME, CHENANGO & OTSEGO COUNTY
STATEWIDE COMMUNITY REGRANTS PROGRAM (SCR)
THE 2023 SCR GRANT CYCLE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN FALL 2022. KEEP CHECKING THIS PAGE FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.
PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF THE SCR PROGRAM
The New York State Council on the Arts (the Council or NYSCA) is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York’s citizens. Founded in 1977, the Decentralization Program (DEC) was developed to ensure New York State’s cultural funding reached every part of the State. As of FY2022, this program is called the Statewide Community Regrants Program (SCR). This program is funded in all 62 counties, and funds are regranted at a local level. Through this program, not-for-profit organizations and individual artists may apply annually for grants up to $5000 to help strengthen the arts and cultural programs in their communities. The goal is to make state arts support available to geographically, economically, and ethnically diverse segments of the state’s population. The SCR program has been administered in Chenango County since 1986. The Earlville Opera House has administered the SCR program since 2020.
New applicants
All applications must be submitted through the Submittable platform. If you do not have a Submittable account, use the “Submit” button on this page to set one up.
For additional information on the SCR Program email the Grants Coordinator: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR THE 2023 GRANT CYCLE.
BROOME, CHENANGO & OTSEGO COUNTY STATEWIDE COMMUNITY REGRANTS PROGRAM (SCR) CYCLE 22 GUIDELINES
Deadline: February 1, 2022
Applicants may submit up to three project requests in one application in any combination of categories (Community Arts and/or Arts Education) totaling no more than $5,000.
Previous SCR/DEC funding does not ensure support in any succeeding year. Each application is reviewed anew in the context of current program priorities, review criteria and resources available.
AVAILABLE GRANTS
Community Arts (CA) Grants:
CA grants provide support for arts and cultural projects to community-based organizations, groups, collectives, or individual artists. Individual artists must apply for a CA grant for a community-based project in partnership with a local nonprofit organization. CA support enables emerging artists and organizations to grow professionally and to enhance the cultural climate in communities and neighborhoods where they live and operate. CA grants provide support to develop, foster, promote, enhance, and increase community arts that address current cultural needs in Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties. All funded projects in this category must be community based and open to the general public.
CA grants may include, but are not limited to: exhibitions, workshop series, performances (all disciplines), festivals, screenings or readings. Virtual programming will be considered for funding in 2022.
Arts Education (AE) Grants:
AE grants offer two funding categories: (1) Pre-K-12 In-School Projects and (2) After-School & Community-Based Learning. Funds can support arts education projects for closed groups of learners. All AE projects must be carried out in partnership with a public school or in partnership with a community-based organization or artist residing in Broome, Chenango or Otsego counties. Please note: schools may not apply directly to the SCR program. (PTAs may apply only if they have their own nonprofit status and provide cultural services for the community at large unrelated to the regular school program.)
AE Grants support nonprofit organizations, cultural groups and/or individual artists in providing in-depth, arts education projects to participants of all ages. This funding is designed to support effective and innovative approaches to artist-led instruction both in and outside a school setting. These grants are meant to build the capacity of local artists and nonprofit arts organizations while providing K-12 public school students and/or community members high-quality artistic learning experiences.
Projects should draw on arts education practices to engage participants in the creation and interpretation of artistic works. Instruction must be sequential, age appropriate and skill-based, and focused on the exploration of art and the artistic process. Arts Learning projects are intended to serve a dedicated group of learners, be it in-school students, or youth and/or adult learners, and do not need to be open for participation by the general public. In all AE projects, emphasis is placed on the depth and quality of the creative process through which participants learn through or about the arts. Projects must focus on the exploration of art and the artistic process.
All AE projects must provide:
Sequential, skills-based study that incorporates one or more art forms and includes a minimum of 3 sequential hands-on learning sessions
In-depth, age and skills appropriate learning opportunities
Hands-on, participatory creation and/or learning opportunities in one or more art forms that may culminate in exhibitions, productions, or demonstrations
Stated learning goals, methodologies and outcomes and a means for evaluation It is recommended that support materials include lesson plans, evaluation plan, video/photo work samples of past Arts Education work, participant evaluation forms and letters of recommendation.
Pre-K-12 In-School Projects - These projects must take place during the school day and in a public school setting. Private, parochial, charter and home schools are ineligible to serve as partner schools. Inter-curricular collaboration is encouraged but not required. AE funds must not replace, or appear to replace, the role of certified arts teachers in schools. Activities must occur in school, during the regular school day (no extracurricular activities that take place outside the normal school day). Students may not be taken out of regular classes to participate, or be self-selected for participation in the program.
A letter of commitment from the partner school to the arts organization or artist must be included with the application. The letter of commitment must outline in detail the school’s support of the project (monetarily and/or otherwise) and anticipated roles and responsibilities for each partner involved. The letter must be written on school letterhead and signed by the principal.
After-School and Community-Based Learning – These projects may take place in a community-based setting such as a library, school, community center, or arts organization. Projects are provided to a closed group of learners, meaning they are not open to the general public. These groups may be composed of a particular age group (including adult learners), or for participants of all ages. If the applicant is an individual artist or unincorporated entity, there must be a partnership or fiscal sponsorship with an eligible nonprofit partner, which must be identified in the application. A letter of commitment from the partner arts organization or artist must be included with the application to be eligible for funding. The letter of commitment must outline in detail the partner(s) support of the project (monetarily and otherwise) and anticipated roles and responsibilities for each partner involved. The partnership letter should be on the partner(s) letterhead and signed by the director of the partner organization.
ELIGIBILITY
Not-for-profit organizations based in Broome, Chenango or Otsego counties that can demonstrate not-for-profit status through documentation of one of the following: Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; Acceptance by the Board of Regents of the State of New York filing under the not-for-profit section (Section 216) of the Education Law; Acceptance of incorporation under Section 402 of Not-For-Profit Law; Acceptance by the Secretary of State of filing under the Registration of Charitable Organizations (Section 172) of the Executive Law (i.e., the receipt from the Charities Registration); Official authorization as an arm of a local government (i.e., a formal letter on official stationery signed by the appropriate county, city, town or village executive)
Not-for-profit organizations must have an active Board of Directors or other volunteer group meeting regularly.
Individual artists residing in Broome, Chenango or Otsego County applying for an AE grant for a school-based project in a documented partnership with a local public school (private or parochial schools are ineligible)
A government or quasi-government entity, or tribal organization
Lead applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of application and may not be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program
Projects must take place in the same county as the fiscal sponsor or community-based partner.
WE CANNOT FUND
General operating support
Artists not applying in partnership with an eligible non-profit organization (CA) or public school (AE)
Applicants applying directly to NYSCA or the Regional Economic Development Council
Start-up or “seed” funding for the establishment of a new organization
Public universities or colleges; and public, private, charter, home or parochial secondary and elementary schools
New York State agencies and departments, including SUNY schools
Non-related arts activities such as antiquing, balloons, party clowns, dumpster-diving, magic shows, receptions, yoga, gymnastics, aerobics, Jazz-ercise, Crossfit, craft brewing, culinary arts, scientific excavations, craft parties, trophies, “sip and paint” activities, etc. (If you are unsure, consult with staff prior to submission)
Permanent equipment that exceeds $1,000 or capital expenditures, including acquisitions of works of art
Galas, benefits or fundraising events including entertainment costs for receptions, food or fundraising events
Entertainment projects or those that are recreational, therapeutic, rehabilitative or religious in nature, including at-risk/social service programs when the purpose is primarily for rehabilitation, therapy, or worship
General operating expenses, contingency funds or operating expenses of privately owned facilities (homes, studios).
Re-grants by applicants to fund other activities
Requests that are greater than an applicant’s project budget expenses minus total project income
Activities in venues that do not comply with all safety and accessibility standards, or fees to children or their use as professional artists
Public school districts and their affiliates or components
Unincorporated applicants without an eligible sponsor or partner organization
Non-incorporated chapters of organizations whose “parent” is incorporated outside of the SCR service area
Cash prizes, juried shows, scholarships, or fellowships
Events that take place in private homes or studios
Creation of textbooks or classroom materials
Acquisition of works of art, art restoration, or art preservation
Contingency funds
Lobbying expenses
SCR site staff and Board Members
Student projects
Nonprofit sponsors for for-profit arts or non-arts organizations
Arts Education funds must not replace, or appear to replace, the role of certified arts teachers in schools
Projects involving partners that apply directly to NYSCA. NYSCA grantees may not serve as fiscal sponsor or community partner for an SCR applicant nor can a NYSCA grantee benefit from ticket sales or revenue from an SCR project.
Note: A NYSCA grantee may offer their venue gratis to an SCR-funded project. The SCR grantee may pay for any direct costs related to the use of the venue, such as custodial, however:
The NYSCA grantee must not handle box office or ticketing
The NYSCA grantee must not profit from the SCR program (i.e. ticket sales, donations, etc.)
The program must not be advertised as part of the NYSCA grantee’s season/programming
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Community Arts Grants
Artist fee support
Production costs
Marketing costs
Administrative costs
Virtual programming costs
Low or no cost programming, with an emphasis on family events
Projects that promote and celebrate diversity
Historically significant projects
Pooling of resources and collaborative initiatives
Public Art
Arts Education Grants
Artist fee support
Project materials
Projects that promote and celebrate diversity
Projects that encourage lifelong learning
REVIEW CRITERIA
Review panels consist of community representatives reflecting the artistic, geographic and demographic ranges of Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties. The panel will evaluate applications according to the following criteria (not in any order):
Artistic merit and quality of the proposed project
General community/student benefit generated by project
Clearly defined, planned objectives and the demonstrated ability to achieve those objectives through an assessment component
Organization/artist history, including stability, record of achievement and fiscal accountability
This is a project support grant program; all expenses should be related to supporting a specific project. Eligible costs may include:
Activities/Projects of local arts organizations including both live and virtual
Artist fees for performing, teaching, or providing services
Marketing/publicity costs
Direct administrative expenses related to the proposed projects and/or planning and preparation expenses for a proposed even
Supplies and materials needed for the execution of the proposed project. Individual items may not exceed $1,000. Examples: art supplies, sheet music, hardware, memory cards, and other consumable equipment.
Project-related travel expenses
Project-related rental of space and equipment
Project-related technical fees
Equipment, software, subscriptions, and training needed to execute the proposed project. Individual items may not exceed $1,000. Examples: cameras, lighting equipment, subscriptions associated with virtual programming, and training to utilize these tools.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
All applicants intending to apply for 2022 funding must notify the Earlville Opera House by submitting an intent to apply form through the Submittable platform.
All applicants are encouraged to attend an applicant seminar prior to applying. Dates will be posted on the Earlville Opera House website. Application seminars will be offered in both in-person and virtual formats. Individual assistance is also available by request.
A voluntary pre-submission technical review of applications is available and strongly recommended through January 21, 2022. After this date, applicants may no longer request technical help.
All applications must be submitted through the Submittable platform. Instructions on access and use of Submittable will be available on the EOH website and during the information seminars.
Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, February 1, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. No exceptions will be allowed.
WORK SAMPLES
An artistic work sample is a critical component of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that showcases your proposed project. Submit samples of work created and/or presented within the past three years. Do not submit edited promotional or interview materials.
Work Samples must be uploaded and submitted through the Submittable online application portal. There are no exceptions to the deadline.
WORK SAMPLE FORMATS
Submit samples of past and current work through the online application form in ONE (1) of the following formats, based on the discipline or form of your projects.
Performing Arts, Film, Media, and Other Time-Based Projects
Upload recordings: 2 maximum
Submit up to two (2) recordings of past/current works or projects in performing / media / music / film / other time-based art forms.
Submit up t0 (2) recording. MP4 video files, MP3 audio files or weblinks to clips hosted on external sites.
Note: The selection panel will view each recording for up to 2.5 minutes. However, we encourage you to submit full-length work, if possible. Provide a cue point for any work sample that is longer than three (3) minutes total.
Literary Projects
Upload manuscripts: 10 pages maximum
Submit samples no longer than ten (10) pages of scripts, poetry or prose.
Submit one (1) document in PDF.
Visual Arts Projects
Upload images: 10 maximum
Submit a maximum of ten (10) digital images in PDF or JPEG
RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRANT RECIPIENTS
Sign a contract. Contracts will be available to sign online through Submittable. Grants Award Ceremony date to be announced pending receipt of NYSCA funds and/or State health guidelines.
Properly credit grant funding on publicity and press materials. Acknowledgment should include the Earlville Opera House logo, and be accompanied by thanks to NYSCA using the following credit line:
“This (event, project, program) is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House”
The NYSCA logo is not to be used by SCR regrant recipients.
SCR grantees may use #NYSCA on social media posts to promote their projects though this is not a requirement.
Broome County recipients only, if applicable, must use both the previous credit line as well as crediting the Hoyt Foundation in the following manner:
“Additional support for the Broome SCR Program graciously provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc.”
Logos are available by request and will also be available on the EOH website.
Attend another grant recipient’s event and submit an audit report describing that event to Earlville Opera House. Final and audit report forms are available at www.earlvilleoperahouse.com.
Provide two complimentary tickets OR LINK to the funded event IF VIRTUAL so that an auditor may attend (unless the event is free)
Submit a Final Report due 30 days after the completion of the funded project, including copies of promotional and advertising materials regarding the project.
APPEAL PROCESS
As part of the funding process, an applicant may appeal the funding decision. The following are valid grounds for appeal.
Grounds for Appeal
(1) Non-presentation of significant and pertinent information by staff or panelist
(2) Misrepresentation of significant and pertinent information by staff or panelist
(3) Improper procedure
Denial of an award or dissatisfaction with the grant amount is not eligible grounds for appeal nor should the appeal process be viewed as a second chance for funding.
Process
The applicant organization must contact the SCR Coordinator within five to seven business days of receipt of the denial letter to receive application feedback by email at [email protected]
The SCR Coordinator will have a conversation regarding the decision by the panel. If the applicant decides to pursue an appeal following the conversation, they will submit a letter addressed to the Executive Director of Earlville Opera House, copied to the SCR Coordinator, citing the specific reason/s for appealing the panel’s decision. This must take place within five days of the initial phone call or in-person conversation.
A special panel of at least three new panelists will be formed. These panelists will have knowledge of the arts and the regrant process. Panelists who served for the grant cycle in question will not be allowed to sit on an appeals panel.
The Executive Director will then schedule a meeting to examine the appeal. If the appeal has merit based on the stated grounds, not the quality of project, it is then sent to a sub-committee comprised of the Earlville Opera House Board of Directors for reevaluation. The appeals process is not a reevaluation of the project. Decisions are made based on the basis of appeal.
If the appeal is successful, and the Board of Directors determines that the request deserves support under the evaluative criteria, it is funded with SCR regrant funds withheld at the beginning of the cycle. Funding of an application which has been appealed and subsequently approved is contingent upon availability of funds.