Grants that fund local arts activities are available through the Arts Council under two separate grant programs or funding sources: The Louisiana Decentralized Arts Funding Program (serving Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines Parishes) and the Community Arts Grants Program (serving Orleans Parish only). The deadline for FY 2011 grants under both programs is April 21, 2010 (required online submission) and April 22, 2010 (required hard copy submission). Guidelines, application forms, and information on free grant workshops offered will be posted on the web site February 22, 2010 under “Available Grants”. Please attend a workshop and read the guidelines for detailed information as to eligibility, application requirements, and grant categories available under each program.

• Project Assistance provides funds for a wide range of arts activities that benefit or involve the community. Applicants may be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, schools or school boards, colleges or universities, and individuals or nonprofit organizations without legal status using a 501(c)(3) organization as a fiscal agent. In the Decentralized program, governmental agencies may also apply.

• Technical Assistance provides funds to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies involved in arts programming for access to professional expertise (consultants) or to training opportunities (workshops, conferences) relating to arts programming or management.

• Operating Support provides funds for general operating expenses including staff, overhead, and program costs for nonprofit arts organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Operating Support grants are two-year grants available every other year. Applications for Operating Support are not being accepted in the 2010 deadline. They will be accepted again in the 2011 grant deadline.

For further information about the grants program contact Joycelyn Reynolds, Grants Manager, at 595-8471 or Karen Kern, Grants Manager, at 595-8461.