Arts Funding Eligibility

• Applicants must be a single not-for-profit arts agency, a collaboration of arts agencies or a collaboration of an arts agency and one or more not-for-profit agencies (schools, social service agencies, public entities).
• Proposed projects must occur within the Columbia city limits.
• Proposed projects must be matched dollar for dollar with cash, in-kind contributions or a combination of both.
• Funded projects may not discriminate against any segment of the community on the basis of sex, race, age, color, religion, national origin, economic status, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability condition or sexual orientation.
• Collaborative proposals are encouraged. In collaborations, a not-for-profit arts organization must serve as the lead agency. Signatures must be obtained from collaborators in the projects; this shows that you have contacted them and that they are supportive and involved.
• Organizations may submit one application only.
• Funding requests may not exceed $10,000. Project budgets of less than $1,000 will not be accepted. 
• Receipt of city funding is conditional upon the arts agency signing an arts services contract with the city and returning the contract to the Office of Cultural Affairs with required revisions. The executed contract must be returned by December 15 (or the following Monday if the 15th falls on a weekend) in order for the agency to receive city funding.
• If funding is received, a final report of the project is due within 45 days after its end date; 10% of each contract will be held until the report is submitted. If the report is not submitted after 90 days, the 10% is forfeited.
• City funding is conditional on meeting these guidelines. If an agency is approved for funding by the City Council, but does not meet these guidelines, the Commission on Cultural Affairs may recommend to City Council that the funding award be withdrawn.

Exclusions

City funds may not be used for any of the following...

• Capital improvements or the purchase of permanent equipment.
• Political, legislative and lobbying activities.
• Projects completed or in process before October 1 of the fiscal year for which the proposal is submitted (in this funding process, it will be October 1, 2011).
• Replacement of funds normally budgeted by the applicant for similar projects, including staff salaries.
• Projects which by their design or operation discriminate against any segment of the community whether on the basis of sex, race, age, color, religion, national origin, economic status, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability condition or sexual orientation.