Louisiana Decentralized Arts Funding Program FY 2016 Region 6 (Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn Parishes) Contact: Caroline Randall, Community Development Coordinator 318/

 Deadline: Applications must be received by Friday, July 3rd, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. This is not a postmark deadline. There will NOT be a revision deadline. Applicants are asked to submit 8 copies of their applications, along with 2 copies of supplemental materials (if they choose to include these).  Appeals Process: Organizations must have a representative present at the Community Panel in order to appeal the award results.

Reporting Fields In order to better demonstrate the impact of DAF grants in our communities, the LDOA added new reporting fields to all applications in FY 2014 and FY This data will be required again in FY Field instructions are given in the grant guidelines. # of Individuals to benefit # of Youth to benefit # of Teachers to benefit # of Schools (Pre K-12) to benefit: # of Artists employed: # of Artists to participate # of Full-time staff employed # of Part-time staff employed # of Contracted staff # of Volunteers

FY 2016 Granting Emphasis GOAL: To use grant dollars to deeply impact the cultural landscape by seeding dollars to those organizations/projects that contribute to the overall arts infrastructure of their parish/region, through incorporating one or more of the following principles: 1.Public Benefit: The organization/ project is broadening or deepening access to quality, interactive artistic experiences for residents. 2.Innovation: The organization/project is applying thoughtful, resourceful, progressive plans to satisfy cultural needs. 3.Leverage: The organization/project brings additional community resources to work with Decentralized dollars to create the most impact.

FY 2016 Granting Emphasis 4.Value-Adding: The organization/ project adds lasting worth to the cultural economy and assets of our region beyond the cost of their programs. 5.Unifying: The organization/ project celebrates a diverse artistic and cultural tapestry by incorporating new or non- traditional audiences, artists, and community organizations. 6.Building Infrastructure: The organization/ project develops the creative and economic potential of artists and arts organizations in the parish/region.

DAF Overview Louisiana Decentralized Arts Funding Program (DAF) is a legislatively-funded program for funding of arts and culture in every single parish. Funds are allocated on a per-capita basis. Grants available in FY2016: Organizational Support, Project Assistance, and Technical Assistance. Amount Available: $1000 (minimum) - $6,500 (maximum). No cash or in-kind match is required, though you must show evidence of community support for project.

DAF Overview - Eligibility Project Assistance Technical Assistance Organizational Support Nonprofit Arts Organizations XXX Nonprofit Organizations XX Governmental agencies XX Schools and School Boards XX Colleges and Universities X Individuals (with Fiscal Agent) X

DAF Overview Parish Domicile: All applicants must apply in the parish in which the organization is domiciled and incorporated. Fiscal Agents: Groups without 501(c)(3) status or individuals serving as Project Directors may apply for funding through a fiscal agent. Fiscal agents must be domiciled in the same parish as the sub-applicant and may not be a paid Provider of Service for the project. Chapter Organizations: Chapter or satellite organizations must attach an IRS determination letter for the central organization, apply within the parish in which the chapter is domiciled, and include a letter of support from the central organization.

Project Assistance Application Disciplines Dance, Design Arts, Folklife, Literature, Media, Music, Theater, Visual Arts & Crafts, Multidisciplinary Evaluation Criteria Project Description: Please describe using only one sentence!! Artistic Merit35% Need and Impact25% Planning and Design20% Administration and Budget 15% Compliance5%

Project Assistance Application Partial Funding ~95% of applications were partially funded in previous years. Be specific—how will this program adapt to reduced funding? Need and Impact Step 1: Paint a picture of how the project will play out. Step 2: Identify a specific need the project will meet. Step 3: Match the outcomes of your project with the needs identified.

Project Assistance Application Artistic Merit Step 1: Introduce artistic staff and highlight credentials. Step 2: Highlight the importance of the discipline in which your project is working. Planning and Design Step 1: Alternate between goals/deliverables and actions/steps taken to achieve the goals. This is a good place to use input/output chart. Step 2: Community “buy-in” in planning and participation. This includes advertising/promotion. Step 3: Evaluation! Show how thorough your organization has been in creating the outline for the project and in “marketing” it to the public.

Project Assistance Application TIP: The Input/Outcomes Chart NeedInputOutcomeImpact Access to artistic experiences for underserved rural children in a school setting. $4000 in artistic fees for a 6 week artist-in-residency project with intensive hands- on projects for th graders in Grant Parish. GOAL: 200 Individual and group works produced, with improved access to interactive experiences in the arts. Improved reasoning and expression skills, increased appreciation for and participation in the arts. Funding for long- term arts programming. Cumulative group work (100 page book of visual and literary works by students) sold as fundraiser by school. GOAL: $8,000 in book sales for ongoing arts projects in Grant Parish schools. Sustainable, long-term interaction with the arts, achieving benefits described in Need/Impact narrative.

Project Assistance Application Providers of Service: Artistic Personnel Must be completed for artists, artistic personnel, or other individuals directly involved with your project—including employees and staff. Budget: Round all amounts to the nearest dollar. Line 29: Cash your organization is bringing to project from budget. Line 39: Must equal line 55. Your project cannot show profit in budget. Lines 40-42: These are fees paid to members of your organization’s staff. Lines 44-45: These are fees paid to providers of service who do not work for your organization. If supplies and materials exceed $500, you must submit a detailed breakdown of expenses.

Project Assistance Application Assurances and Check List READ EACH LINE and ensure you have satisfied it before checking. Signatures should be made in blue ink. Board involvement: It is strongly encouraged that your board members are familiar with your proposed project. Your board chair and treasurer will be required to sign your application before submission. Optional Supplemental Materials Supplements should be easy to review and add depth and color to your project proposal. All supplemental materials MUST be bound in some fashion. Loose papers or photographs will not be accepted. The Community Panel will not see them until the day of its meeting.

Technical Assistance Application Types Available: Consultant fees, training support, capacity-building support. Evaluation Criteria Need and Impact Step 1: Paint a picture (internal to your organization). Step 2: Justify need for your particular training/consultant. Step 3: Ensure that this will enhance the ARTS component of your programs. Need and Impact35% Quality of Assistance35% Administration and Budget 25% Compliance5%

Technical Assistance Application Quality of Assistance Step 1: Demonstrate the qualifications of the providers. Step 2: Make sure that all dates, locations, and specific services to be provided are listed here. Another good place to use the input/output chart. Step 3: Evaluate! Discuss how the quality of the provider(s) will help strengthen what your organization offers to the community. Tip: Narratives are dense and must convey quite a bit of information to individuals who are reading many of them. There is no such thing as too many headings, tables, or bulleted lists. Keep your paragraphs short. Use a consistent font and bold, italicize, and underline sparingly -- but effectively.

Technical Assistance Application Administration and Budget Again, use this section to qualify the numbers you have listed in your budget. Highlight the cost-effectiveness of your project and how it will enhance your organization’s ability to achieve its mission. DOUBLE CHECK your budget! Assurances and Check List READ EACH LINE and ensure you have satisfied it before checking. Signatures should be made in blue ink. Board involvement: It is strongly encouraged that your board members are familiar with your proposed project. Your board chair and treasurer will be required to sign your application before submission.

Organizational Support Application General operating revenue support to 501(c)(3) arts organizations only. Evaluation Criteria Quality Step 1: Introduce programs and services of your organization. Step 2: Describe your organization’s contribution to the discipline. Step 3: Attach a separate list of programs and activities in upcoming year with descriptions. Quality45% Need and Impact30% Administration and Budget 20% Compliance5%

Organizational Support Application Need and Impact: Step 1: Identify the needs your organization meets. TIP: Turn to your mission/vision statement. Step 2: Describe the community you serve. Step 3: Address efforts to increase access, participation, knowledge, and/or exposure to the arts. Administration and Budget: Step 1: Describe the planning process for your organization’s activities. Step 2: Introduce staff, volunteers, board. Step 3: Evaluate! Describe the effectiveness and strength of the organization (using concrete examples to demonstrate this).

Loose Ends Review of Proposals/Applications: Independent Community Review Panel will meet with representatives from every parish. Date will be announced in your certification letter. Call to find out if you were recommended for award!! We will make no notification except for “official” notifications when our Board has approved recommended awards. Appeals: Letters of appeal will be accepted for ten business days after the Community Panel’s meeting. Letters must justify the appeal, citing errors made in the Panel Review Process. See pg. 18 in guidelines for more information.

Loose Ends  Deadline: Friday, July 3rd, 2015 (5:00 p.m.)  Community Panel Meeting: Mid-August (TBA)  Appeal Deadline: 10 business days after panel makes recommendations.  Awards Approved by ACCL Board: August/September 2015  First Payments Made: October 31, 2015

For Assistance Prior to Deadline: Caroline Randall, Community Development Coordinator (318) th St. Suite 201 Alexandria, LA All forms and guidelines available at Grants>DAF