Grants are the primary vehicle by which the Vermont Arts Council supports artists, organizations, communities, and schools. Our programs are highly competitive. All applications should be artistically strong and address the Council's overall goals, which are to increase opportunities for everyone in Vermont to experience and/or participate in the arts and to educate policy makers and the general public about the benefits of investing in Vermont communities through the arts.
Successful applications will also address one or more of these priorities of the Arts Council:
- The creation of new work;
- Support for learning in and through the arts;
- Creation or strengthening of collaborations between the arts community and other organizations/agencies;
- Employment of Vermont artists;
- Advancement of the cultural development of towns and regions;
- Development of new participants and audiences for the arts;
- Outreach to underserved populations such as at-risk families, elders, ethnic and minority communities, people with various disabilities, or rural communities;
- Exposure to new or little seen art forms;
- Strengthening of arts organization management or artistic capacity to better serve their constituents;
- Professional development for artists and educators.
All applications are evaluated based on the criteria listed in these guidelines, and in specific program guidelines. Some applications are reviewed by an internal panel with a funding recommendation submitted to the Executive Director for approval. Other programs are reviewed by a peer panel, whose members are chosen based partly on their expertise in relevant disciplines. Those recommendations are submitted to the Board for final approval. Applications missing information are likely to fare poorly in the review process. The Council reserves the right to reject incomplete applications.
Organizations with not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS governed by a board of directors that meets regularly, any educational institution, or public agency that:
- Is registered in Vermont;
- Has been in existence and conducting programs for at least one year prior to application deadline;
- Complies with all the Legal and Other Requirements; and
- Has submitted all required reports on any prior Council grants.
Not-for-profit organizations in neighboring states that can demonstrate significant benefit to Vermont artists and/or audiences are eligible to apply for Grants provided that, except for being registered in Vermont, they meet all other conditions listed.
Individuals who:
- Have been residents of Vermont (link to legal and other requirements - residency) for a minimum of one year prior to the application deadline, and are residents at the time the award is granted. Are 18 years of age or older at the time of application;
- Are not enrolled as full time-students at the time of application or during the grant period;
- Have submitted all required reports on any prior Council grants.
Artist groups that:
- At least one member of the group must be a full-time Vermont resident.
Organizations and artist groups who lack not-for-profit 501(c)(3) status must identify a Vermont 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, municipality, or public agency to serve as a fiscal agent.
In most instances, an applicant may submit only one application per deadline and receive funding only once in that grant year. An artist, organization, educational institution or municipality submitting its own application may also participate in or collaborate on other applications but may not be the primary grant recipient for more than one application that year.
Our grants require a 1:1 non-federal cash match, with the exception of Creation Grants and applicants who successfully demonstrate they are helping underserved constituents. In-kind contributions cannot be counted as the match, except in the case of projects for underserved constituencies.
Applicants may request up to 50% of the cash expenses of the project. This means the total amount you plan to spend on the project needs to be at least twice the amount of your grant request (i.e., an Artist Development project should have at least $500 in cash expenses if you are requesting the $250 minimum). Requests below the minimum amount in any grant category will not be eligible for consideration.
What we DO NOT Fund
- Academic tuition;
- Activities in which artists are not appropriately compensated;
- Construction of new facilities, renovation of existing facilities, or other capital improvements (with the exception of Cultural Facilities Grants);
- Deficits and debts incurred from past activities;
- Events that present faculty members on the campus of their own institutions;
- Events which are predominantly religious or sectarian;
- Events whose sponsors are not in compliance with the Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
- Food and beverages;
- For-profit organizations;
- Fundraising events;
- International travel (airline tickets);
- Lobbying expenses;
- General organizational operating support (with the exception of Operating Support Grants);
- Private events to which the public is not invited;
- Purchase of permanent equipment.
Typically, seventy-five percent (75%) of the grant amount will be paid to the grantee after the Council receives the signed contract and any outstanding reports due from previous grants. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) will be sent after the final report is received. In addition to the signed contract, the Council may also require the submission of a contract or letter of agreement between the applicant and the proposed artist or consultant.
Payments for Cultural Routes Grants are made within three weeks of notification.
Final reports are due 30 days after completion of the activity for which the grant was awarded. These reports are essential to the Council's accountability to public and private funding sources.
All awards and payment schedules are subject to the availability of state, Federal, and private funds.