CAAC | ArtsGrants

Arts Grants

We bring art opportunities and community enrichment to South Eastern Indiana.

Indiana Arts Commission Region 9

Through a dynamic partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission, we provide funding opportunities for creative projects and arts organizations across nine counties: Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland.

Arts Project Support (APS)

Annual cycle

Applications open January 2025

Arts Organization Support (AOS)

Bi-annual cycle

Applications open January 2025

Arts Project Support (APS)

Annual

Current (FY24): July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024

Next (FY25): July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025

Arts Project Support grants enrich communities by providing broad access to arts opportunities. Public entities and nonprofit organizations can receive up to $4,000 for an exhibition, production, event, series of classes or other arts activity.

Applications for FY25 Arts Project Support are closed.

For current grantees, please refer to the Quick Links to access important information.

Organic Art at the Community Center

City of Seymour Parks and Recreation (FY24 APS Grantee)

Creative Aging Series

Perceptions Yoga, Mindfulness and Art (FY23 APS Grantee)

Columbus Scottish Festival

Columbus Scottish Festival (FY24 APS Grantee)

Quick Links:

Online Grant Portal

Info for Current APS Grantees

Next opportunity begins January 2025.

Notify Me

APS Quick Links

Grant Period

July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Application Opens

January 4, 2024

Program Information Webinar for Returning Applicants - Watch

January 18, 2024, 4:00 pm

Program Information Webinar for New Applicants - Watch

January 24, 2024, 4:00 pm

Draft Review Deadline (for new applicants)

February 23, 2024

Application Deadline

March 14, 2024

Panel Review of Application (virtual)

Panel 1: April 30, 2024 @ 10:00 am

Panel 2: April 30, 2024 @ 2:00 pm

Applicants Notified of Status

No later than June 24, 2024

Grant Agreements are Processed

July – October 2024

Final Report Deadline

July 11, 2025

APS is a program of the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) and its Regional Arts Partners (RAP) across the state. These 11 regionally-based organizations are the contact for the program. As the RAP for Region 9, we provide guidance for answering application questions, understanding the process and requirements, and sharing information about upcoming deadlines and opportunities.

The IAC is funded by the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowments for the Arts, a federal agency. On behalf of the people of Indiana, the IAC supports engagement with the arts to enrich community life and works to ensure equitable access to the arts so that all Indiana residents can benefit.

This grant program has the following objectives:

provide public access to quality arts activities, with special attention to underserved communities, and to
support Indiana artists who are a vital part of Indiana’s economy and community life.

“Public Access” means the project must result in a product or activity available to the public. “Available” means activities must be accessible to persons with disabilities and open to the audience, participants, or public, either free or by reasonable admission or service charge.
“Underserved Communities” are defined as people lacking access to arts programs, services, or resources due to isolated geographic location, low income, age, race/ethnicity, cultural differences, disability, or other circumstances as substantiated by the applicant.

Applicant Eligibility

Arts Organization Support (AOS) grant recipients in the current cycle are not eligible for the Arts Project Support program. Recipients of AOS funding in previous grant cycles are welcome to apply.

The Applicant Must Meet All of the Following Eligibility Requirements:

Must be an Indiana-based 501c3 nonprofit organization, a unit of state or local government, an institution of higher education, or a federally recognized tribal government;

1.1 A 501c3 organization may act as a fiscal sponsor/agent for an organization that has not secured their federal tax-exempt status. Please contact the Columbus Area Arts Council if you wish to apply using a fiscal sponsor/agent. Learn more: Fiscal Sponsorship Policy

Must be incorporated in the State of Indiana at the time of application and for the duration of the grant period;
Must be physically located in Indiana, have an address in the region to which the organization is applying, with the majority of its arts programming, services, or activities taking place in Indiana, and must primarily serve and engage Indiana audiences and participants;
Must not have any overdue and/or unresolved Final Grant Reports with the Indiana Arts Commission or the Columbus Area Arts Council;
Must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, including but not limited to those that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability;
APS funding may not be used for projects already supported by the Indiana Arts Commission (for example, more than one organization receiving APS funding for the same project is not allowable).

Project Eligibility

Projects that do not meet program objectives are ineligible for funding consideration:

Applications for projects that primarily present political, denominational, religious, or sectarian ideas or projects that enhance the property of religious institutions.
Applications for projects whose primary purpose is to purchase capital equipment (this includes technology equipment and uniforms, instrument purchase, etc)
Applications for projects that supplant the role of a professional educator and/or that which should be provided by the school.
Applications by schools, disability service organizations, and similar service agencies with specific communities served that do not have an event/activity that is open to the public.
Multiple applications from the same organization or department (if higher education institution)
Applications from higher education organizations for projects that do not clearly serve the needs of surrounding communities and involve community input during planning and implementation. Activities that are credit-producing or oriented primarily to university students and the academic community are not eligible.

Expense Eligibility

The allowability of expenses is based on IAC policy, National Endowment for the Arts Legislation, and 2CFR 200. To view a list of allowable expenses and non-allowable expenses, view the guidelines.

Grantee Requirements

It's important to know that there are certain requirements and expectations involved with receiving a grant from the IAC. Read the full grant recipient requirements for organizations before you consider applying.

To receive an IAC award, you'll be expected to:

Submit public official thank you letters
Follow funding acknowledgement requirements
Complete the electronic contracting process
Follow the IAC process for modifying a grant proposal (as needed)
Submit your final grant report by the due date

In order to contract with the State of Indiana, there's some fine print you must agree to:

Follow the Americans with Disability Acts (ADA) requirements
Be aware of state contracting requirements
Be aware of federal contracting requirements
Follow public manifestation, fair labor, drug free workplace, and civil rights standards
Monitoring/records retention and tax responsibilities

Panel Review

Each eligible application will be reviewed and scored by a conflict-free panel of field professionals. The panel review will take place online and will be available for observation through a Zoom registration process. Applicants may observe the panel reviews online but cannot lobby or address the panel on behalf of their application before, during or after the panel meeting. Panels will not be recorded; however comments will be available to the applicant.

Panel dates, time, and registration information will be shared with applicants and posted by April 15.

Under no conditions should an applicant contact a panelist or ask anyone to contact a panelist on their behalf (inclusive of letters of support) before, during, or following panel review. Doing so will result in disqualification of the application.

Arts Organization Support (AOS)

Bi-Annual

Current (FY24–25): July 1, 2023– June 30, 2025
Next (FY26–27): July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027

Arts Organization Support grants provide operating support to year-round arts organizations. By bolstering the ongoing work of established arts organizations, these grants nurture sustained community engagement with the arts and strengthen Indiana’s creative ecosystem, fostering artistic excellence and accessibility to the arts.

Applicants that are funded in this program are funded for two years. Grant award amounts are determined by the program’s equity-focused strategy which takes into consideration:

available funds
the number of eligible applicants
the application score
equity funding priorities
the organization’s budget size based upon the organization’s most recently completed fiscal year, board approved, profit and loss statement total cash revenue figure (minus capital income); and
award size policy: the award cannot exceed 20% of the applicant’s cash income figure

Batesville Area Arts Council (BAAC)

FY24-25 AOS Grantee

Over 20 pieces of public art, including "Batesville Sky" (pictured) have been installed in the area through BAAC's work.

Tree County Players (TCP)

FY24-25 AOS Grantee

TCP is a civic theater that has been deeply established in Greensburg, IN for over 50 years.

Dancers Studio, Inc.

FY24-25 AOS Grantee

Dancers Studio, Inc. provides high quality dance education and performance opportunities for dancers of all levels in Columbus, IN.

Quick Links:

Grant Portal

Info for Current AOS Grantees

Next opportunity begins January 2025.

Notify Me

Grantee Resources

For further information about Region 9 grants, contact Kim Wadholm, Region 9 Arts Partner and CAAC Operations Manager: kwadholm@artsincolumbus.org or 812-376-2539

Key Terms and Concepts:

Accessibility

Definitions

Fiscal Sponsorship Guidelines

Funding Imperatives

Grant Writing Tips

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA)

Examples:

Memorandum of Understanding

Profit and Loss

Statement of Financial Position (The Balance Sheet)

Funding Acknowledgement Logos