GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The Colorado Council on the Arts announces that applications are now available for the 2007 Grants to Artists and Organizations. The deadline for submitting grant applications is Wednesday, March 1, 2006.

The purpose of Grants to Artists and Organizations, CCA’S largest program, is to support arts and cultural activities that directly address one or more of the Council’s goals:

· Make the arts more accessible to all Coloradoans.
· Expand access to quality arts education for young people.
· Participate in local and regional economic development.
· Preserve and promote our cultural heritage.
· Assist and encourage artists and art organizations.
· Strengthen the financial stability of the arts industry.
· Recognize diversity and inclusiveness.
· Encourage artistic excellence and support freedom of artistic expression.

A key requirement of the program is that applicants must have matching funding support from local, regional or national sources. Grant proposals may be submitted by Colorado artists, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and municipalities. Grants to Artists and Organizations are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Grant requests are reviewed by peer panelists who make funding recommendations to the Council. In addition to addressing one or more of the Council’s goal areas, applicants must demonstrate:

· Artistic excellence and merit of proposed activities;

• Community involvement and benefit from proposed activities; and
• Implementation capacity, such as effective planning, management, and budgeting of the project.

Only online submissions will be accepted. To read the grant guidelines, register as an applicant, and complete the application forms, go to www.coloarts.org <http://www.coloarts.org>. Click on Grants, then Apply for a Grant.

To assist applicants, the Council will host information sessions around the state in January and February. CCA staff will provide an overview of the program, demonstrate the Online Application, and provides tips for preparing a competitive application. All meetings are from 3-5 p.m at the locations listed below.

January 24, 2006
Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art
201 South College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524

January 26, 2006
Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center
210 North Santa Fe Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81003

January 27, 2006
Colorado Council on the Arts
1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80204

January 31, 2006
Fort Morgan Museum
414 Main Street
Fort Morgan, CO 80701

February 2, 2006
Museum of Western Colorado
462 Ute Avenue
Grand Junction, CO 81501

The mission of the Colorado Council on the Arts, a state agency, is to promote the cultural, educational and economic growth of Colorado through development of its arts and cultural heritage. Using public funds appropriated by the Governor and the Colorado Legislature, combined with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, we have invested in the cultural life of communities across the state for almost 40 years.

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