Agency Calendar

CCG funds are intended to support general day-to-day operating costs, such as the following:

Salaries and Personnel Expenses

Such as creative workers (i.e., artists, tradition bearers, designers, educators, curators, program administrators, service providers, and other creative contributors), production staff, administrators, teachers, contractors, consultants

Artistic/Production Expenses

Such as supplies, materials, equipment, venues, royalties, licensing

Administrative Expenses

Such as office space and supplies, insurance, professional services like accounting or payroll, fees for banking, online services and platforms, training and education costs, marketing and promotion costs

Organizations apply in one of eight grant levels. For the purposes of this program, an organization’s grant level is determined by their adjusted annual revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year (Fiscal Year 2022), which is defined as the organization’s total annual revenue minus the monetary value of any in-kind support.

Award projections are determined based on the Arts Commission’s funding priorities, the agency’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and an organization’s panel review ranking. As the agency’s budget is not known until well after grant guidelines are published, the amounts below are based on conservative projections of what may be possible.

Award projections for FY2024 are as follows:

Be advised: Due to the fluid nature of the Arts Commission’s budget, applicants are strongly encouraged to budget conservatively when forecasting potential awards.

For more information on how the Arizona Commission on the Arts is funded, visit https://azarts.gov/about-us/who-we-are/budget/.

Multi-year Funding

The Creative Capacity Grant operates on a multi-year funding cycle. Organizations submit a full application once every three years. In their two “alternate” years, grantees submit only a brief status update and Funder Report and are not subject to panel review.

For Fiscal Year 2024, a full application is required from Levels 1-5 organizations if they…

• did not apply for a Creative Capacity Grant in FY2023
• did apply for a Creative Capacity Grant in FY2023, but were not awarded funds

Levels 1-5 organizations which received a Creative Capacity Grant in FY2023 will submit an alternate year application. Such organizations will receive application information and instructions directly.

Grantee Requirements

Match CCG Award

Grantees must be able to match their CCG award with cash, dollar for dollar, by the end of the funding period (June 30, 2024). Matching funds may be earned (e.g., ticket sales, participation fees, etc.) or contributed (e.g., private donations, other grants, etc.).

Submit a Final Report

To remain eligible for future grants, grantees must submit a final report to the Arts Commission at the conclusion of the funding period.

Awards are paid out over the course of the Arts Commission’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) on a predetermined schedule. Typically, payments begin with Level 1 grantees in the second quarter of the agency’s fiscal year (October – December) and end with Level 8 grantees receiving payment in the fourth quarter (April – June).

We encourage applicants to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing the application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact the Director of Organizational Programs, Claudio Dicochea, by phone at (602) 771-6517 or by email at [email protected].

Prepare Narrative Responses

Some applicants find it helpful to develop their responses using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to draft responses with team members and monitor their word counts for each question. Click here to download a Word document version of the narrative questions.

Obtain a Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement (if applicable)

Unincorporated organizations applying with a fiscal sponsor will need to upload a Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement, provide a fiscal sponsor contact, and indicate the fiscal sponsor’s administrative fee. (The fiscal sponsor’s administrative fee is the percentage of any potential grant funding that would be retained by your fiscal sponsor organization to cover the costs associated with their administering of the agreed upon fiscal sponsorship.) This official letter of agreement must be signed by authorizing officials from both the applicant organization and the fiscal sponsor, and state that the fiscal sponsor agrees to receive any grant funds on behalf of the applicant, distribute them to the grantee organization and maintain appropriate financial records.

If you are unable to obtain a copy of this letter before the application deadline, please contact us directly.

Create an Account for Your Organization

In the interest of improving the user experience for applicants and reviewers, the Arizona Commission on the Arts has transitioned to a new submission platform this year. Prior to applying, all applicants will need to register their organization at https://azarts.smapply.io/. For instructions on registering your organization, visit our applicant resources page: https://azarts.gov/grants/applicant-resources/

When you’re ready, click on the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

Organization Overview

Information collected in this section of the application is used for internal and reporting purposes only. You will be required to upload an IRS determination letter in the “Organization Type” section. (Units of government are exempt from this requirement.)

• Organization Name and DBA (if applicable)
• Organization mailing address
• County: Which county is your organization located in?
• Federal Congressional District: Which federal congressional district is your organization located in? To look up your congressional district by address visit: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
• State Legislative District: Which state legislative district is your organization located in? To look up your legislative district by address visit: https://azredistricting.org/districtlocator
• Secondary contact info (the primary contact will be the person submitting the application)
• ADA Coordinator contact info
• Year established
• Primary Disciplinary Category: Applicants can select the discipline that best applies from dropdown menu options.
• Is this your organization’s first time applying for any grant through the Arizona Commission on the Arts?
• Organization type (choose from nonprofit or unit of government)
• Upload: Federal Tax Exemption Letter* if a nonprofit 501(c)3 or Fiscal Sponsor Letter of Agreement, if applicable

*This is the IRS determination letter granting nonprofit 501(c)3 status, not the letter assigning a Federal Tax ID Number

Narrative Questions

Narrative questions will be reviewed by the review panelists.

Provide your organization’s mission statement. (150 word max)

1. Describe your organization’s programs or services in relationship to its mission. (300 words max)
   Tip! The values expressed in a mission statement speak to an organization’s unique vision, purpose, and goals. Consider how these values are reflected in specific programs, services, events, workshops, community activities, or internal practices.

2. Describe what goes into the development of your programming. (300 words max)
   Tip! Consider how your organization approaches decision-making, determines program goals, and engages with creative workers (i.e., artists, tradition bearers, designers, educators, curators, program or service administrators, and other creative contributors)?

3. Describe your organization’s administrative structure. (250 words max)
   Tip! For example, what does your organizational chart look like? How are administrative and programmatic tasks managed? What kind of leadership model does your organization have?

Depending on their mission, organizations engage their communities in very different ways. Some are established to engage individuals that share a particular demographic, social, or cultural commonality (e.g., a youth theater, gay men’s chorus, or a rural Latinx art gallery). Others take a broad approach, designing their programs/services to engage a more general community of participants, (e.g., a community arts center). Question 4 asks you to identify your organization’s primary approach and answer questions specific to your choice.

4. Choose the statement below that best describes your organization:

• Our organization takes a broad approach, serving a general, non-specific population.
• Our organization centers a specific community or intersection of cultural communities.

If you chose broad approach, answer the sub-questions below:

1. How does your organization ensure an accessible and inclusive environment for participants of varying ages, cultural backgrounds, abilities, etc.? (350 words max)
   Tip! Consider how your organizational structure, programming, professional engagement of creative workers, community interaction, etc. reflect or respond to diverse populations.
2. How does your organization use public input and feedback from the communities it serves. (300 words max)

If you chose specific community, answer the sub-questions below:

5. What are some of the expected benefits for those who participate in your organization’s programming and how do you gauge your success in delivering these benefits? (350 words max)
   Tip! Every organization approaches the feedback from, the documenting of, and the learning outcomes of its specific programming or activities differently; consider what approaches or methods your organization uses to better understand the effects that its work has on participants.

6. Describe the various resources your organization relies on to do its work and how they are allocated for maximum impact in pursuit of your mission and in service to your community? (300 words max)
   Tip! Consider your resources broadly. An organization’s resources may include funding, in-kind or volunteer contributions, administrative and artistic labor, partnerships, and more.

7. What are your organization’s long-term goals for growth or improvement and how do you track your progress toward these goals? (300 words max)
   Tip! An organization’s long-term goals may relate to audience numbers, fiscal stability, accessibility practices, community engagement, specific programming/services, funder support, internal capacity-building, etc.

Financial Documentation

This section and the narrative will be reviewed by the panel and evaluated as part of the Fiscal Practices & Viability criterion.

If applying with a fiscal sponsor, all fiscal year and financial information in this section should be for the applicant organization, not for the fiscal sponsor.

Fiscal Year Start and End Date

Enter the start and end date (month and year) of your organization’s Fiscal Year 2022 (ex., July 2021 – June 2022).

Expenses & Revenue Form

In this section, applicants will complete an Expenses and Revenue Form embedded in the application. You will enter your organization’s actual expenses and actual income or revenue for Fiscal Year 2022 (do not include any in-kind contributions). You will need to group or roll-up budget items into their most appropriate line item in order to complete this form and ensure accuracy in auto-calculating Expenses and Revenue totals.

Actual Expenses (FY2022)

• Artistic & Production Expenses (e.g., artist/production staff, materials, equipment, venues, royalties, etc.)
• Administrative Expenses (e.g., office space/supplies, insurance, professional and online services, etc.)
• Fundraising & Development Expenses (e.g., software/online platforms, postage, printing, grant writers, etc.)
• Marketing & Promotion Expenses (e.g., websites, graphic design, box office service fees, social media, postage, etc.)
• All Other Expenses

Actual Revenue (FY2022)

• Earned Revenue: any goods and/or services provided in exchange for payment (e.g., tickets, classes, memberships, etc.)
• Corporate Contributions: donations and grants, cash only, no in-kind values
• Foundation Contributions: donations and grants, cash only, no in-kind values
• Individual Contributions (including Board contributions): donations and grants, cash only, no in-kind values
• Government Support: such as Federal/Regional, State, Tribal, County and Municipal
• Other Revenue: donations and grants, cash only, no in-kind values

Total Actual Revenue: This auto-calculated figure will serve as your adjusted annual revenue, which is your organization’s total annual revenue minus the monetary value of any in-kind support. This figure determines your organization’s CCG level.

Expenses & Revenue Narrative

Provide an overview of your organization’s current financial status and how you establish priorities and goals through your fiscal practices. (250 words max)

Your organization’s application materials will be reviewed by an independent panel according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of response in relation to the review criteria.

Creative Capacity

Application demonstrates a strong understanding of the organization’s capacity to realize its mission and describes effective strategies for achieving current and long-term goals.

What panelists will be thinking about: Is the scope of the organization’s work in alignment with its mission and its capacity to deliver intended benefits? Does the application articulate a clear process for developing and implementing programming consistent with the organization’s mission and values?

Quality of Programs & Services

Application demonstrates creative and responsive programming, strong evaluation methods, and mission-aligned engagement practices.

What panelists will be thinking about: Does the application describe mission-aligned programming and engagement practices? Does the organization demonstrate robust and authentic engagement with Arizona’s creative workers and other key stakeholders in their programming and services? How does the organization engage the community(ies) it serves in the development and evaluation of its programs?

Integrity & Public Benefit

Viewed as a whole, the application demonstrates alignment between the organization’s mission, operational practices, goals, programming, and a strong understanding of the community(ies) served.

What panelists will be thinking about: Are the organization’s mission and values evident in their programming and operations? How does the organization’s programming reflect or respond to the community(ies) served? Does the organization demonstrate an ability to make its programming or services accessible?

Fiscal Practices & Viability

Viewed as a whole, the application describes sound fiscal practices and demonstrates alignment between these practices and the organization’s mission, values, and strategic goals.

What panelists will be thinking about: Are the organization’s practices around the administration and use of resources aligned with their mission and values? How do the organization’s practices around the administration and use of resources ensure their work remains viable and their goals achievable?

All applications are subject to a public review process. First, Arts Commission staff review each application for completeness and eligibility. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the due date are considered ineligible for panel review and funding.

Eligible applications are then evaluated by independent review panels made up of individuals from communities throughout the state who work in or adjacent to the arts. They evaluate each application on its own merits and solely on the basis of the published evaluation criteria.

Panelists first review applications individually. They then meet as a body to discuss the applications and finalize assessment as a group. This meeting is open to the public and while applicants are not permitted to participate in the discussion, they are encouraged to attend or listen-in online. Applicants being reviewed will be notified when panel dates are set. At the conclusion of their deliberations, the panel submits their funding recommendations to the Arts Commission’s Governor-appointed board of commissioners for approval.

Grant funds can only be used for the allowable expenses outlined in the guidelines. Additionally, this program does not fund the following:

• Applicants that received Arts Commission funding in fiscal year 2023, but failed to file a final report by Monday, Monday, September 18, 2023.
• Organizations not dedicated to producing, presenting, teaching, or serving the arts as their primary mission (the arts must comprise over 51% of public programming and budget to be eligible)
• Any division of local, state, tribal or federal government except arts and cultural organizations from Tribal Nations and Local Arts Agencies (including arts councils and arts commissions)
• Applications submitted by for-profit organizations
• Schools, including public, private, and charter
• Botanical gardens, parks, zoos or science centers
• Auxiliary/affiliate organizations
• Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations not open to participation by non- congregants
• Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals or whose arts programming exists as parts of religious sermons or services
• Debt reduction
• Regranting, unless permission is received
• Grant administration, overhead, or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors
• Lobbying expenses
• Expenses related to the construction of facilities
• Food and beverage for receptions and hospitality functions
• Fundraising projects
• Scholarships and awards
• Equipment or capital expenditures (basic computer devices and other such items that cost less than $5,000 are considered supplies and are eligible expenses)
• Indirect costs

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in dese- crating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling, or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

We encourage applicants to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing the application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact the Director of Organizational Programs, Claudio Dicochea, by phone at (602) 771-6517 or by email at [email protected].

Prepare Narrative Responses

Some applicants find it helpful to develop their responses using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to draft responses with team members and monitor their word counts for each question. Click here for a Word document version of the narrative questions.

Create an Account for Your Organization

In the interest of improving the user experience for applicants and reviewers, the Arizona Commission on the Arts has transitioned to a new submission platform this year. Prior to applying, all applicants will need to register their organization at https://azarts.smapply.io/. For instructions on registering your organization, visit our applicant resources page: https://azarts.gov/grants/applicant-resources/

Create or Update SMU DataArts Profile

DataArts is a powerful online data management tool designed to strengthen arts and cultural organizations nationwide. Organizations enter financial and programmatic data into a standardized online form and can then produce a variety of reports based on this data, including the DataArts Funder Report submitted with the CCG application.

Log-in or register at https://da.culturaldata.org. If you are new to using DataArts, you can find a video tutorial for getting started at https://culturaldata.org/what-we-do/for-arts-cultural-organizations/the-cultural-data-profile/, and you can reach out to Arts Commission staff or the DataArts Support Center (https://culturaldata.org/contact/) for questions and assistance.

When you’re ready, click on the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

APPLY NOW

Organization Overview

Information collected in this section of the application is used for internal and reporting purposes only. You will be required to upload an IRS determination letter in the “Organization Type” section. (Units of government are exempt from this requirement.)

• Organization Name and DBA (if applicable)
• Organization mailing address
• County: Which county is your organization located in?
• Federal Congressional District: Which federal congressional district is your organization located in? To look up your congressional district by address visit: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative/
• State Legislative District: Which state legislative district is your organization located in? To look up your legislative district by address visit: https://www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/
• Secondary contact info (the primary contact will be the person submitting the application)
• ADA Coordinator contact info
• Year established
• Primary Disciplinary Category: Applicants can select the discipline that best applies from dropdown menu options.
• Is this your organization’s first time applying for any grant through the Arizona Commission on the Arts?
• Organization type (choose from nonprofit or unit of government)
• Upload: Federal Tax Exemption Letter (This is the IRS determination letter granting nonprofit 501(c)3 status, not the letter assigning a Federal Tax ID Number.)

Narrative Questions

Narrative questions will be reviewed by the review panelists.

Provide your organization’s mission statement. (150 word max)

1. Describe your organization’s programs or services in relationship to its mission. (300 words max)
   Tip! The values expressed in a mission statement speak to an organization’s unique vision, purpose, and goals. Consider how these values are reflected in specific programs, services, events, workshops, community activities, or internal practices.
2. Describe what goes into the development of your programming. (300 words max)
   Tip! Consider how your organization approaches decision-making, determines program goals, and engages with creative workers (i.e., artists, tradition bearers, designers, educators, curators, program or service administrators, and other creative contributors)?
3. Describe your organization’s administrative structure. (250 words max)
   Tip! For example, what does your organizational chart look like? How are administrative and programmatic tasks managed? What kind of leadership model does your organization have?
4. How does your organization explore meaningful collaborations with different stakeholders to better achieve its mission? (250 words max)
   Tip! Consider any partnerships, interactions, and/or outreach strategies that advance (or are advanced by) your programs and services.

Depending on their mission, organizations engage their communities in very different ways. Some are established to engage individuals that share a particular demographic, social, or cultural commonality (e.g., a youth theater, gay men’s chorus, or a rural Latinx art gallery). Others take a broad approach, designing their programs/services to engage a more general community of participants, (e.g., a community arts center). Question 5 asks you to identify your organization’s primary approach and answer questions specific to your choice.

5. Choose the statement below that best describes your organization:

• Our organization takes a broad approach, serving a general, non-specific population.
• Our organization centers a specific community or intersection of cultural communities.

If you chose broad approach, answer the sub-questions below:

1. How does your organization ensure an accessible and inclusive environment for participants of varying ages, cultural backgrounds, abilities, etc.? (350 words max)
   Tip! Consider how your organizational structure, programming, professional engagement of creative workers, community interaction, etc. reflect or respond to diverse populations.
2. How does your organization use public input and feedback from the communities it serves. (300 words max)

If you chose specific community, answer the sub-questions below:

6. What are some of the expected benefits for those who participate in your organization’s programming and how do you gauge your success in delivering these benefits? (350 words max)
   Tip! Every organization approaches the feedback from, the documenting of, and the learning outcomes of its specific programming or activities differently; consider what approaches or methods your organization uses to better understand the effects that its work has on participants.
7. How does your organization adapt programming, communications, or services to ensure that programming, facilities, virtual platforms, and activities support the participation of and access for people of all abilities? (300 words max)
   Tip! Consider ADA compliance as well as any efforts to ensure that all organizational programming, facilities, virtual platforms, and activities support the participation of and access for people of all abilities.
8. What are your organization’s current budget priorities? How do you manage and allocate fiscal resources in alignment with these priorities and track that they are being met? (300 words max)
   Tip! Consider how your internal fiscal practices reflect your immediate priorities, values and short-term goals.
9. What are your organization’s long-term goals for growth or improvement and how do you track your progress toward these goals? (300 words max)
   Tip! An organization’s long-term goals may relate to audience numbers, fiscal stability, accessibility practices, community engagement, specific programming/services, funder support, internal capacity-building, etc.

Financial Documentation

The DataArts Funder Report and narrative will be reviewed by the panel and evaluated as part of the Fiscal Practices & Viability criterion.

Fiscal Year Start and End Date

Enter the start and end date (month and year) of your organization’s Fiscal Year 2022 (ex., July 2021 – June 2022).

Fiscal Year 2022 Adjusted Annual Revenue

Enter your organization’s adjusted annual revenue from Fiscal Year 2022, as it appears on your DataArts Funder report. This is the figure labeled “Total Revenue Unrestricted Less In-kind Unrestricted” found at the top of the first page. Adjusted annual revenue is your organization’s total annual revenue minus the monetary value of any in-kind support.

DataArts Funder Report

CCG Levels 6 -8 applicants will upload an SMU DataArts Funder Report, containing data from Fiscal Years 2021and 2022, to their application. Applicants will need to enter the relevant financial and participation data for the required fiscal years into the DataArts platform, and then generate a Funder Report, selecting fiscal year 2022 as the reporting year. (See FAQ)

Funder Report Narrative

This is your opportunity to bring your Funder Report to life as if you were explaining aspects of it to the review panel. Please note: the Funder Report examined by the review panel will not display any of the notes you left for yourself in conjunction with your data. (300 words maximum)

Your organization’s application materials will be reviewed by an independent panel according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of response in relation to the review criteria.

Creative Capacity

Application demonstrates a strong understanding of the organization’s capacity to realize its mission and describes effective strategies for achieving current and long-term goals.

What panelists will be thinking about: Is the scope of the organization’s work in alignment with its mission and its capacity to deliver intended benefits? Does the application articulate a clear process for developing and implementing programming consistent with the organization’s mission and values?

Quality of Programs & Services

Application demonstrates creative and responsive programming, strong evaluation methods, and mission-aligned engagement practices.

What panelists will be thinking about: Does the application describe mission-aligned programming and engagement practices? Does the organization demonstrate robust and authentic engagement with Arizona’s creative workers and other key stakeholders in their programming and services? How does the organization engage the community(ies) it serves in the development and evaluation of its programs?

Integrity & Public Benefit

Viewed as a whole, the application demonstrates alignment between the organization’s mission, operational practices, goals, programming, and a strong understanding of the community(ies) served.

What panelists will be thinking about: Are the organization’s mission and values evident in their programming and operations? How does the organization’s programming reflect or respond to the community(ies) served? Does the organization demonstrate an ability to make its programming or services accessible? Does the organization clearly outline efforts to support the participation of and access for people of all abilities?

Fiscal Practices & Viability

Viewed as a whole, the application describes sound fiscal practices and demonstrates alignment between these practices and the organization’s mission, values, and strategic goals.

What panelists will be thinking about: Are the organization’s practices around the administration and use of resources aligned with their mission and values? How do the organization’s practices around the administration and use of resources ensure their work remains viable and their goals achievable? 

All applications are subject to a public review process. First, Arts Commission staff review each application for completeness and eligibility. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the due date are considered ineligible for panel review and funding.

Eligible applications are then evaluated by independent review panels made up of individuals from communities throughout the state who work in or adjacent to the arts. They evaluate each application on its own merits and solely on the basis of the published evaluation criteria.

Panelists first review applications individually. They then meet as a body to discuss the applications and finalize assessment as a group. This meeting is open to the public and while applicants are not permitted to participate in the discussion, they are encouraged to attend or listen-in online. Applicants being reviewed will be notified when panel dates are set. At the conclusion of their deliberations, the panel submits their funding recommendations to the Arts Commission’s Governor-appointed board of commissioners for approval.

Grant funds can only be used for the allowable expenses outlined in the guidelines. Additionally, this program does not fund the following:

• Applicants that received Arts Commission funding in fiscal year 2023, but failed to file a final report by Monday, Monday, September 18, 2023.
• Organizations or individuals debarred or suspended from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 180 Subpart C).
• Organizations not dedicated to producing, presenting, teaching, or serving the arts as their primary mission (the arts must comprise over 51% of public programming and budget to be eligible)
• Any division of local, state, tribal or federal government except arts and cultural organizations from Tribal Nations and Local Arts Agencies (including arts councils and arts commissions)
• Applications submitted by for-profit organizations
• Schools, including public, private, and charter
• Botanical gardens, parks, zoos or science centers
• Auxiliary/affiliate organizations
• Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations not open to participation by non- congregants
• Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals or whose arts programming exists as parts of religious sermons or services
• Debt reduction
• Regranting, unless permission is received
• Grant administration, overhead, or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors
• Lobbying expenses
• Expenses related to the construction of facilities
• Food and beverage for receptions and hospitality functions
• Fundraising projects
• Scholarships and awards
• Equipment or capital expenditures (basic computer devices and other such items that cost less than $5,000 are considered supplies and are eligible expenses)
• Indirect costs

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in dese- crating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling, or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

1. My organization is eligible for other Arts Commission grants. Can I apply to those too?
   No. Across grant programs, the Arts Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted by a given organization or unit of government to one (1) application per funding period (July 1 – June 30 of the following year). While an organization or unit of government may be eligible for more than one grant program, they may only apply for one of them in a given funding period. As an example, an applicant who applies to the Capacity Grant program in FY2024 may not apply for a Festival Grant or a Youth Arts Engagement Grant that same year.
2. Are multipurpose organizations eligible for the Creative Capacity Grants (CCG) program?
   Whereas multipurpose organizations may be eligible to apply for program-based or project-based funding, they are not automatically eligible to apply for General Operating Support (GOS) funding, which is intended to support the ongoing, general, and common day-to-day operations of arts and culture organizations whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach or serve the arts.Multidisciplinary or multipurpose organizations are eligible for Creative Capacity Grants (CCG) if they meet the program’s stated eligibility requirements and are able to demonstrate that the arts comprise over 51% of the organization’s public programming and budget. We highly encourage multidisciplinary or multipurpose organizations to contact staff before submitting a CCG application to discuss eligibility.
3. How do I generate a DataArts Funder Report?
   In order to generate a DataArts Funder Report, organizations enter financial and programmatic data into the Cultural Data Profile (CDP), a free and secure online survey. In an effort to make data entry easier for arts and cultural organizations, the CDP was significantly streamlined in December 2020. You can find resources on preparing your data for entry at https://culturaldata.org/what-we-do/for-arts-cultural-organizations/the-cultural-data-profile/. And you can find an overview of how to run or produce a Funder Report at https://culturaldata.secure.force.com/Resources/articles/Article/How-do-I-run-a-Funder-Report/.
4. Does this grant fund or focus on new projects or new work?
   No. The production or generation of new projects is not a requirement of the CCG program. CCG provides unrestricted general operating support, meaning that organizations may use CCG funds for many different types of operating expenses. However, there are some expenses which cannot be funded with public dollars; please be sure to check the funding restrictions list before determining how you will apply the grant funds.

Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.

Recordings of each session will be posted here the following business day.

Info Session Recording

How do I register on behalf of an organization?

How do I add members to my Organization?

Once you have created your organization you can add additional members to assist with applications and account maintenance.

1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
2. Login as an organization administrator
3. Click “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
4. Click “Members”
5. Click the “Add Member” button
6. Enter the First Name, Last Name, and Email Address of the member
7. Select whether the member will have Administrative or Non-Administrative Access
8. Click the box to “Notify member by email” (This is useful if the user does not already have an account in the system as they will receive an invitation email and be able to create a password to log in.)
9. Click “Add”

For instructions on adding members in bulk, click here.

How do I update my Organization’s Profile?

1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
2. Login as an organization administrator
3. Click on “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
4. Click “Profile”
5. Update your profile information
6. Click “Save”

Additional Guides

SurveyMonkey Apply provides a comprehensive FAQ for applicants; in addition to the “how tos” above you can find more information and resources on accounts, completing an application, and managing your organization at https://help.smapply.io/hc/en-us/articles/360032514674-General-Account-FAQ.

Eligible applicants for Festival Grants include Arizona-based…

• Nonprofit organizations* with tax-exempt status
• Units of government (local or Tribal)
• Local arts agencies
• Tribal cultural organizations
• University/college departments

*An unincorporated organization without tax-exempt status may apply through a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

Grant funds may be used in the following categories:

Contracted Artistic Services and Artist Fees

Such as guest artist contractual fees including travel and lodging.

Production Expenses

Such as insurance, sound, lighting, and equipment rental and operation for the artistic project only.

Space Rental

Stage, space, or venue rental for the artistic project only.

Marketing/Promotion

Such as contracted graphic design services the purchase of advertising space and creation of digital and printed promotional materials for the entire event.

Accessibility Services

Includes closed captioning, interpretation, and translation services, visual enhancements, and listening guides.

Public Health and Safety Compliance

Personal protective equipment, cleaning and sanitation services, and equipment/structuring to support distancing.

Digital Operations

Fees related to video live-streaming services, access to webinar and conferencing platforms, closed captioning, translation and interpretation services, and digital ticketing/event management systems.

Funds are delivered approximately 6-8 weeks after all necessary paperwork has been submitted by the grantee. This includes the award agreement, state W-9 and payment form.

Applicants are encouraged to do the following prior to beginning their application:

Request Accommodations

If you require accommodation in completing this application, or otherwise participating in the grant application process, please contact Organizational Programs Manager Brad DeBiase at [email protected] or (602) 771-6534.

Prepare Narrative Responses

You can type your proposal narrative or you can upload audio recordings of your responses. For each narrative question you will find a maximum word count (not character) and a maximum recording length. If you share your proposal narrative via audio recordings, keep it simple and to the point. Don’t worry about impressing the panelists with your recording technique, just make sure we can hear and understand you. All audio files must be uploaded as MP3 files (.mp3).

Some applicants find it helpful to develop their responses using word processing software, outside the application platform. This allows them to draft responses with team members and monitor their word counts for each question. Click here to download a Word document version of the narrative questions.

Create an Account for Your Organization

In the interest of improving the user experience for applicants and reviewers, the Arizona Commission on the Arts has transitioned to a new submission platform this year. Prior to applying, all applicants will need to register their organization at https://azarts.smapply.io/. For instructions on registering your organization, visit our grantee resources page: https://azarts.gov/grants/applicant-resources/

When you’re ready, click/tap the “Apply Now” button below. You do not have to complete the application in one session; at any point you can save a draft of your application and complete or submit it later.

Organization Information

• Information collected in this section of the application is used for internal and reporting purposes only.
• Organization name and (if applicable) DBA
• Secondary contact info
• ADA Coordinator contact info

Grants from the Arts Commission require compliance with the regulations of Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA Coordinator is the person who can answer questions about or facilitate requests for accessible programs and services; no special training or certification required.

• Festival website
• Nonprofit status (and file upload)

You will be required to upload an IRS determination letter OR a fiscal sponsor letter of agreement in the “Nonprofit Status” section. Units of government are exempt from this requirement.

Festival Overview

• Festival name
• One sentence description (150 words max)
• Festival dates and times (or usual calendar placement)
• Projected number of participants (or average annual attendance)
• Organization mission statement (150 words maximum)

Festival Format

• In-person
• Virtual
• Hybrid

In-person festivals that possess virtual components (e.g. livestreaming performances) would be considered “Hybrid”, and applicants should select the “Virtual” option if their festival activities will be produced and attended exclusively through digital platforms.

Narrative

1. Describe your festival in its entirety. Be as specific as possible about the festival’s arts and culture programming and the artists and culture bearers who will be engaged. How are specific artists identified and selected, and what will participants gain, learn, and or access through the festival activities? (400 word limit, 4 minute audio limit)
2. Provide an outline of your festival’s timeline, detailing your processes for planning, outreach, implementation, production, and post-production work. (300 word limit, 3 minute audio limit)
3. What communities will you engage through your festival, and how? Please define these communities, considering “community” broadly, beyond simple age- or location-based groups. What demographics and sociocultural identities would you expect to be represented among festival producers, personnel, and participants? (400 word limit, 4 minute audio limit)
4. Beyond ADA compliance, please describe how your organization will ensure that all festival programming, facilities, and venues are accessible to and support the participation of people of all abilities. (300 word limit, 3 minute audio limit) See the FAQ section below for additional details.
5. Please describe how you will evaluate and define the success of your proposed festival activities. What methods will you use to assess community engagement, impact, public health and safety compliance, etc. (300 word limit, 3 minute audio limit)

Festival Budget

Grant Amount Requested

Enter the grant amount you are requesting. Applicants may request between $1,000 and $5,000.

Budget Form

The first column lists the Eligible Expense categories (see Eligible Expenses section above for the category list.)

In the second column, provide a brief description of your eligible expenses in each category.

In the third column, enter the dollar amount for each expense line. Estimates are permissible for the purposes of the application, but the more specific the better.

On the Income page, you will find preset income categories to outline the potential revenue sources supporting your festival activities.

Additionally, please thoroughly review the funding restrictions section below.

Budget Narrative

Please use this space to describe the festival budget, including eligible fees, any anticipated income, and any substantial in-kind support. This is your opportunity to bring your festival budget to life, as if you were explaining it to the grant review panel. You may also use this Budget Narrative section to explain how you have arrived at certain itemized dollar amounts. (300 words maximum, 3 minute audio limit) See FAQ for additional details.

Your organization’s application materials will be reviewed by an independent panel according to the following criteria. Please note: need is not a criterion. Application merit is based upon strength of response in relation to the review criteria.

Quality Arts and Culture Programming

Application outlines a rich, thoughtful, and well-structured slate of arts and culture festival activities.

What the panelists will be thinking about: Does the application clearly describe the festival’s arts and culture programming and the artist/culture bearers who will be engaged? Does the application make a strong case for what it hopes to make available to festival participants and attendees and how? Does the application outline in detail the structure and timeline of the festival’s programming/activities?

Community Benefit

Application makes a strong case for how specific populations will take part in festival activities and planning processes.

What the panelists will be thinking about: Does the application define the communities the festival hopes to directly serve, interact, and engage with? Does the application clearly outline how this will happen? Does the application thoughtfully address access and participation for people of all abilities? Does the application explain how the festival attends to ongoing pandemic-related challenges?

Viability

Application demonstrates a strong project plan and appropriateness of budget.

What the panelists will be thinking about: Does the application demonstrate substantial evidence that the festival activities will be realized within the funding period? Does the proposed budget appropriately reflect the scope of work described in the application? Does the application clearly explain how project activities will be produced and delivered?

All applications are subject to a public review process. First, Arts Commission staff review each application for completeness and eligibility. Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the due date are considered ineligible for panel review and funding.

Eligible applications are then evaluated by independent review panels made up of individuals from communities throughout the state who work in or adjacent to the arts. They evaluate each application on its own merits and solely on the basis of the published evaluation criteria.

Panelists first review applications individually. They then meet as a body to discuss the applications and finalize assessment as a group. This meeting is open to the public and while applicants are not permitted to participate in the discussion, they are encouraged to attend or listen-in online. Applicants being reviewed will be notified when panel dates are set. At the conclusion of their deliberations, the panel submits their funding recommendations to the Arts Commission’s Governor-appointed board of commissioners for approval.

This program does not fund the following:

• Grantees that received Arts Commission funding in FY2022, but failed to file a final report by Monday, August 1, 2022.
• Organizations or individuals debarred or suspended from receiving Federal funds (2 CFR 180 Subpart C).
• Entities submitting an application for an FY2024 Creative Capacity Grant, Youth Arts Engagement Grant, or Lifelong Arts Engagement Grant (see FAQ for more information).
• Applications submitted by businesses and for-profit organizations. School districts that would otherwise be eligible for Arts Learning grants.
• An organization’s season or seasonal series of presented work.
• Projects involving construction of facilities.
• Debt reduction.
• Food and beverages for receptions and hospitality functions.
• Fundraising projects.
• Scholarships, pageants or standalone award ceremonies.
• Producing organizations to tour or present themselves.
• Conferences, symposiums and the like.
• Religious institution-led or religious group-sponsored projects not open to participation by non-congregants.
• Religious institution-led or religious group- sponsored projects whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals, or which exist as parts of religious sermons or services.
• Equipment/capital expenditures.
• Lobbying expenses.
• College or university-sponsored projects not open to participation by the community outside the university setting.
• Staff or board member salaries of the applicant organization.
• Re-granting.
• Indirect costs.
• Grant administration, overhead or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award, with the exception of fiscal sponsors.
• Any costs other than eligible fees.

This list is not comprehensive.

Additionally, according to the Arts Commission’s enabling statutes, “Notwithstanding any other law, no monies from the Arizona Commission on the Arts may be spent for payment to any person or entity for use in desecrating, casting contempt on, mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, trampling, or otherwise dishonoring or causing to bring dishonor on religious objects, the flag of the United States or the flag of this state.” Recipients of    Arts Commission support are further instructed to “take into consideration general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American public” within funded programs.

1. How can I be sure that my project is eligible for this program?

If you have reviewed the eligibility criteria listed earlier in this guidelines document and are still unsure if your festival is an appropriate fit for this program, we recommend that you reach out to the program manager to determine if your project is a good fit for the Festival Grant program. Arts Commission staff will provide consultation to determine if your proposed festival activities warrant submitting an application.

2. My organization is eligible for other Arts Commission grants. Can I apply to those too?

No. Across grant programs, the Arts Commission limits the number of applications that may be submitted by a given organization or unit of government to one (1) application per funding period (July 1 – June 30 of the following year). While an organization or unit of government may be eligible for more than one grant program, they may only apply for one of them in a given funding period. As an example, an applicant who applies to the Festivals Grant program in Fiscal Year 2023 may not apply for the Creative Capacity Grant program or a Youth Arts Engagement Grant that same year.

3. What is meant by “a thematic emphasis on arts and culture” regarding programming?

While eligible applicant organizations may not have an expressly arts and culture-focused mission, eligible festival projects must include arts and culture programming as part of the festival’s main goals and objectives. Arts and culture programming must be centrally featured as part of your festival’s activities and should not be peripheral add-ons to the festival’s main emphasis.

4. What is meant by “Beyond ADA compliance” in the fourth narrative question?

Applicants are encouraged to consider how their festival activities and venue create accessible programming beyond baseline needs related to physical mobility. How are intellectual, physical, sensory, and neurodivergent/cognitive needs being addressed for attendees of all ability levels and how is this reflected in your festival’s structure? Accessibility considerations may also attend to visual impairments, as well as bilingual services for printed materials.

5. My festival utilizes a lot of in-kind volunteer support. How should I reflect this in our budget?

The Arts Commission recognizes the important role of volunteers at festival events. While you are not asked to itemize the dollar value of in-kind support in your budget, you are encouraged to discuss in your Budget Narrative how any substantial in-kind volunteer support helps offset other expenses and contributes to the overall viability of your festival. There are a variety of estimations regarding the dollar value of a volunteer work hour, and the Arts Commission suggests a range of $20.00 to $30.00 per hour based on your festival’s need for personnel and the scope of volunteer work. Please contact Arts Commission staff if you would like to further discuss how to account for in-kind support.

6. My festival isn’t taking place until late in the funding period and we are still in a planning phase. Can we still apply for a Festival Grant?

Yes. If you are still in a planning phase for your festival activities and do not have certain specific details finalized at the time you are submitting your application, we advise that you offer insight as to how you are making your decisions, what your options may be for a particular unknown, and what your desired outcome(s) may be for items still in development. Offering a high level of detail surrounding your organization’s planning and decision-making will at least help a panel understand how your festival will likely come into existence even if certain logistics and details are still in development.

Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.

Recordings of each session will be posted here the following business day.

Info Session Recording

A recording of the applicant information session for Festival Grants is available below. By hovering over the video, you can access controls for closed captioning or navigate to a specific “chapter” of the video.

How do I register on behalf of an organization?

How do I add members to my Organization?

Once you have created your organization you can add additional members to assist with applications and account maintenance.

1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
2. Login as an organization administrator
3. Click “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
4. Click “Members”
5. Click the “Add Member” button
6. Enter the First Name, Last Name, and Email Address of the member
7. Select whether the member will have Administrative or Non-Administrative Access
8. Click the box to “Notify member by email” (This is useful if the user does not already have an account in the system as they will receive an invitation email and be able to create a password to log in.)
9. Click “Add”

For instructions on adding members in bulk, click here.

How do I update my Organization’s Profile?

1. Go to https://azarts.smapply.io/
2. Login as an organization administrator
3. Click on “Manage Organization” in the top right corner
4. Click “Profile”
5. Update your profile information
6. Click “Save”

Additional Guides

SurveyMonkey Apply provides a comprehensive FAQ for applicants; in addition to the “how tos” above you can find more information and resources on accounts, completing an application, and managing your organization at https://help.smapply.io/hc/en-us/articles/360032514674-General-Account-FAQ.