Statement about Changes to Grant Programs, 02/06/09:

As a result of the economic downturn, two of the agency’s funding streams are generating interest income at a much reduced rate. This, in addition to continued legislative reductions to state funding sources, has caused the Commission staff and board to take immediate action related to fiscal year 2010 grant programs. New Guide to Grants documents have been posted below. Changes to earlier documents are represented in red within the documents. Please review the documents carefully, as they supersede the documents posted in December.

All discipline-based Project Grants – except for Festivals – have been put on hiatus for the current cycle. In addition, the Commission has had to further limit the maximum number of applications per applicant, and in some cases, the maximum number of applications funded per area. Because the grantmaking budget will be smaller, the entire grants process will likely become more competitive.

Grantee feedback has reinforced that General Operating Support (GOS) is critical to the success and health of Arizona arts organizations, especially during this economic downturn. We have opened up eligibility within GOS programs and will do everything in our power to protect operating support to small and large organizations. Because lifelong learning in the arts is one of our core values, we have not made significant changes to the Arts Learning grant programs, and will do what we can to protect funding in these areas as well.

During this time we pledge to help support your discipline-based projects in non-monetary ways. We have developed a brief survey to gather information related to your project plans. More information and the link to the survey can be found within the Project Grants Resource Assistance Document, posted below. After you complete this survey, staff will provide information related to alternative funding resources and cost-saving or resource-sharing measures to help you complete your project. In addition, information about the projects you would have embarked upon had funding been available will be useful as we continue to work on your behalf with state and federal authorizers. Depending on the fiscal year 2010 budget outcome, the Commission may open up the Project Grants later in fiscal year 2010. We will keep you informed.