Grant Information

PCA serves as a resource for regional, governmental and private foundation grants. Significant sources for arts funding are:

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VCA Artists in Residency Grant Program

The Virginia Commission for the Arts invites PK-12 public and private schools, school divisions, and tax-exempt organizations (which may apply in partnership with schools or school divisions) to apply to the Artists in Residency Grant Program. The application deadline is April 1, 2008. Application forms are available at www.arts.virginia.gov.

Funding through the Artists in Residency Grant Program is used to place professional visual and performing artists in PK-12 public and private schools in Virginia. The goal of the program is to provide support for school/artist collaborations that foster increased quality arts experiences for children in VA schools. Residencies may last from a minimum of three school days to up to an entire school year. This program is a matching grant. VCA will award up to 50% of the residency cash expenses. If you are a first-time applicant, VCA will award 2/3 of the eligible cash expenses.

Additional information, guidelines, and application forms are available at www.arts.virginia.gov.

National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts provides grant support in the following disciplines/fields: Arts Education, Dance, Design, Folk and Traditional Arts, Literature, local Arts Agencies, Media Arts (Film/ Radio/ Television), Museums, Music, Musical Theater, Opera, Presenting, State and Regional, Theater, and Visual Arts. Funding is usually limited to organizations. Direct awards to individuals are made only through Literature Fellowships, NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships, and NEA National Heritage Fellowships in the Folk & Traditional Arts.)

To access information about present and upcoming NEA funding opportunities, go to the NEA website, www.nea.gov.

Virginia Commission for the Arts

VCA funds individual artists and arts organizations through a variety of grant programs. The Commission provides fellowships for individual artists to help create new work as well as advance the careers of artists and the art forms in which they work. These fellowships are awarded in rotating disciplines.

The Commission provides on-going support for established arts organizations and assists in the development of new ones that fill a community need. It funds both professional and non-professional organizations that strive for artistic excellence. VCA offers General Operating Support, as well as Technical Assistance and Technical Enhancement grants for arts organizations.

Grants for educational programs are also provided by VCA. These include artist residencies in schools, projects that integrate the arts with non-arts curricula, and educational programs of non-profit arts organizations. For information on the Virginia Commission for the Arts, it grants and application forms, visit the VCA website at www.arts.state.va.us/grants or email VCA at arts@arts.virginia.gov.

The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation

Grants are made to tax-exempt public charities under Section 501 ©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and to government agencies. Grants are limited to projects in the Charlottesville area unless otherwise requested by a donor.

CACF is one of the largest grant-makers in the area, with assets of $50 million. CACF manages its own Community Endowment, as well as administering numerous Donor-Advised Funds established by individuals, families or groups. The donors of these funds make their own decisions on grant recipients (the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band is an excellent example of a Donor-Advised Fund). In 2005 CACF and its Donor-Advised Funds made total grants of over $3 million. To learn about the various grant opportunities through the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, visit their website at www.cacfonline.org or call 434-296-1024. CACF reaches citizens in the city of Charlottesville and counties of Albemarle, Greene, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Buckingham, and Nelson (east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.)

Private Foundations and Businesses

Grants for non-profit and educational organizations are also available through national banks that have branches in our area. These include The Bank of America Foundation and The Wachovia Foundation.

There are private foundations and numerous businesses in Central Virginia that fund various art projects. To learn more about these foundations, and businesses that fund arts programs, please contact the Piedmont Council of the Arts.

The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation

The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation provides funding opportunities and services to artists and arts organizations in the Mid-Atlantic States to encourage the growth and development of arts and cultural activities throughout the region. For more information visit the website at www.midatlanticarts.org.