What is the Expansion Arts Fund? The Expansion Arts Fund is an endowment. The income it earns is used to make grants that promote emerging artists and arts organizations. With this Fund, the Community Foundation seeks to expand the traditional definition of “art” and encourage the perpetuation and development of artistic assets indigenous to the Lowcountry. Because endowments can provide grant funds only from a portion of their earnings, it takes two years to accumulate enough money to conduct the program, and so the Expansion Arts Program is conducted only every other year. In 2011, the Fund accepted grant applications from the “southern four” counties served by the Coastal Community Foundation – Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. This year the Fund is accepting grant applications only from the “northern four” counties served by the Foundation – Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, and Georgetown.
What are “Expansion Arts”? “Expansion Arts” include the works of new and emerging arts groups and artists, especially those from minority, rural, or disadvantaged communities. Preference may be given to artists and arts organizations that develop and promote excellence in art forms or media unique to the Lowcountry – work that draws upon and aims to preserve the cultural heritage of our region. While we would like the arts to be a significant part of the lives of everyone in coastal SC, this Fund is not intended primarily to provide the arts as a social services or educational program; rather, it seeks to support individuals who want to make a career through their art, and groups or organizations that intend to be recognized as professional arts companies.
CATEGORIES OF FUNDING
Organizations. Small and emerging “expansion arts” organizations may apply for grants up to $5,000.
Individuals. Individual “expansion artists” may apply for grants up to $2,500 (which we must report to the I.R.S.).
SCHEDULE
April 2013 – Guidelines and applications posted on the Foundation’s website and mailed to those who have called to ask for them since the last Expansion Arts funding cycle.
April-May – Foundation staff searches for qualified applicants and provides application instructions.
April -July – The Foundation welcomes questions from applicants regarding the guidelines, eligibility, or the application itself. Feel free to contact Edna Crews with questions via e-mail at (Edna@CoastalCommunityFoundation.org) or by phone at 843/379-3400.
July 12 – Applications are due by July 12 at 5pm. Hand-delivered or e-mailed applications are accepted up to this time, but no fax applications, please. Mailed applications must be postmarked on July 11th or before. The Foundation staff will confirm the receipt of your proposal within 10 days of the application deadline.
July 15- 18 – Staff prepares materials for Committee’s Orientation.
July 22-26 – Committee’s Orientation meeting to discuss applications, view CDs, DVDs samples, and receive notebooks.
July 27 – Aug 11 – Committee reads and evaluates applications, on their own.
Aug 12-15 – Committee meets to discuss applications, view and score CDs, DVDs, samples, etc., and determine funding recommendations.
Aug 28 – Funding recommendations presented to Coastal Community Foundation’s authorizing body for approval.
Aug 29 – Applicants are notified of funding recommendations.
By Sept 13 – Grantees return signed “Grant Acceptance Forms” to Coastal Community Foundation. The Community Foundation sends 80% of the approved grant amount to each grantee.
2013-2014 – Grantees send progress reports to the Community Foundation. When complete, the Community Foundation sends the 20% grant balance to each grantee. One important part of the end-of-grant reporting requirement is that grantees must send Coastal Community Foundation receipts or paid invoices for all expenses paid with grant funds.
Guidelines and applications can be downloaded at (www.CoastalCommunityFoundation.org).
