Small Grant Support Criteria

Community Arts Programs Review Criteria

Community Arts Programs support the advancement of cultural and economic development of Oklahoma through community based arts activities such as exhibitions, performances and community arts festivals.

Panelists will rate the application based on the following criteria which will be addressed in the application e-grant narratives and/or required support material.

1. Quality of Artistic Product/Process/Service (0-40 points)
   • Project description is clear and thorough and falls within the guidelines of CAP (10pt)
   • What is taking place, when, where, and why is discussed. (5pt)
   • Artists (contracted or in-kind) and/or key personnel involved and their qualifications are all addresed in the narrative. (10pt)
   • Project description explains why the project is important to the community served.(10pt)
   • The relationship of the programming to the organization's mission and artistic goals is clear.(5pt)
2. Access (0-40 points)
   • Discussion of partnerships with other organizations involved in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project demonstrates project is of value to the community served. (10pt)
   • Efforts are made to ensure that the project is accessible to underserved populations in the community served.(10pt)
     • Outreach efforts to rural, at-risk youth, populations in institutional settings, people with disabilities, senior citizens, or populations with English as the second language.
     • Efforts are made to increase access by handicapped/disabled and/or aging audiences.
   • Organization's plan to promote and market the project is sound and appropriate for the organization.(10pt)
   • Ticket pricing structure is reasonable and/or jprovisions are made to increase access by those who may not have the means to purchase tickets. (5pt)
   • Discussion is given to how demographics, artist/artistic selections, time frames, locations, audience interests and needs, etc. influenced the programming choices, planning and scheduling of the project. (5pt)
3. Program evaluation methods and implementation of evaluations (0-20 points)
   • Evaluation plan is sound and appripriate for the project. (10pt)
     • The following questions are answered:
       • How will feedback be gathered?
       • Who will provide feedback?
       • How will results be used to determine or improve future programming of a similar nature.
   • Expected cultural, social and/or economic impact of the project on the community is addressed. (10pt)
4. Required Support Materials These materials should be no more than 2 years old and must be labeled with the name of the organization and the name of the project.

Community Arts Programs Support Material

• Publications or other printed materials which promote or describe the project or the organization’s previous community arts programming. Printed materials which describe previously OAC funded projects should include the OAC logo. Limit 2
• Resumes, bio’s or press packets of artists, jurors or presenters. Bios and resumes are limited to one page per each artist. Longer items will be discarded.
• Letters of intent or contracts from performing artists
• Letters of support from key community partners who will be actively involved in the planning and implementation of the project.  Limit 3
• Sample evaluation tool.

Approved uses of OAC funding for Community Arts Programs include project costs involving one or more of these artistic functions: Producing, Service, or Presenting associated with:

• Arts performances, excluding talent shows and historical re-enactments.
• Artistic fees for Oklahoma Touring Roster artists performing in a community setting.
• Artistic fees for out-of–state performing artists
• Art exhibitions
• Workshops, conferences, demonstrations and lectures related to the arts. (If predominate amount of time involves the participants in direct engagement in the creative arts process – please see Arts Learning in Communities)
• Arts festivals with the primary purpose of bringing the arts to the general public.
• Pow-wows and other cultural celebrations with the primary purpose of bringing traditional arts to the general public
• Traditional and/or folk arts – performances, demos and exhibitions.
• On-site, organization-specific professional development in arts administration or arts programming – Limited to 501(c)(3) arts organizations whose primary mission is the arts. NOTE: Professional Development activities must be a separate stand alone project in the Major Grant Support application
• Accommodations for participants with disabilities, excluding any structural renovation or permanent equipment.

Exclusions: In general, OAC funds CANNOT be used for these expenses:

• General organizational support
• Capital expenditures including equipment, building improvements or permanent art installations
• Activities for which college credit is given including activities where the primary purpose is to enhance a college class where credit is given.
• Activities that have a religious purpose
• Performances and exhibitions outside Oklahoma
• Any supplies, materials, or project materials not consumed within time frame and activities of the project
• Cash prizes and awards
• County Fairs and/or Humanities based projects
• Benefit and/or fundraising activities
• Hospitality expenses, i.e. receptions, parties, galas, gallery openings
• Lobbyists’ payments
• Website development, upgrade or maintenance.
• Closed subscription series or other activities not open to the general public.
• Association or memberships dues
• Debt reduction
• Travel outside the state of Oklahoma
• Scheduled performances by artists that take place during the school day proper involving K-12 students – See Arts Education in Schools Guidelines and Criteria