Project Creosote Cycle 2 Guidelines

Overview

Project Creosote Cycle 2: Rebuilding Grant is a program intended to help save jobs in the arts sector and keep the doors open to the thousands of organizations that add value to America’s economy and the creative life of our communities. The grant program is open to arts organizations located within the Arts Foundation’s service area which includes counties and Native Sovereign Nations that reside between the southern edges of the Gila River to the US Mexico international border. Project Creosote intends to make awards that will impact a broad constituency. This includes a wide geographic range and organizations that serve underserved populations such as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Applicants will be asked to complete an online form including contact information, artistic mission, arts programming, demographics, and budget.

Award

One-time emergency relief funds between $2,000 to $10,000 for eligible expenses. No cash match is required. The final determination of award amount will be made based on volume of eligible applications and available funds. While applicants may request up to $10,000, final award may be less than requested. All awarded funds must be expended within the funding period.

Eligibility

Open to arts organizations that meet all of the following criteria at the time of application:

• [Criteria 1] Tax-exempt 501(c)(3), or charitable organization that is in good standing with the IRS. Organizations without a 501(c)(3) designation may apply with a fiscal sponsor.
• [Criteria 2] Reside and provide services in counties and regions south of the Gila River. This includes Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties and southern portions of Pinal, Yuma, Greenlee, Graham, Maricopa County and/or Native Sovereign Nations of Ak-Chin Indian Community, Sovereign Nation of the Cocopahs, Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, Gila River Indian Community, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’Odham Nation, San Carlos Apache Nation.
• [Criteria 3] Grantees will be required to have an active DUNS number registration to receive funding.
• [Criteria 4] Grantees will be required to submit a brief final report 30 days after the end of the funding period to document expenses and provide a brief description of programming.

The following entities are ineligible to apply:

• [Ineligible Group 1] Religious institutions or religious group-sponsored organizations whose primary purpose is the religious socialization of individuals or whose arts programming exists as parts of religious sermons or services.
• [Ineligible Group 2] Political organizations
• [Ineligible Group 3] Any agency that receives more than 50% of its total gross income in a typical year from a combined total of local public sources (City of Tucson or Pima County).
• [Ineligible Group 4] Private and non-profit schools, except for those sole purpose is arts education.
• [Ineligible Group 5] Any division or department of municipal, county, state, or federal government, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities and school districts. A waiver to this criterion may be granted to an arts organization that is deemed the sole provider of arts programming in their rural community or Native Sovereign Nation, if they meet all of the other eligibility requirements.
• [Criteria 6] In order to ensure broad distribution of AFTSA’s grant funds, organizations who received the Project Creosote Rebuilding Grant for those Organizing in the Arts are ineligible to apply.

Eligible Expenses

Project related expenses including supplies, Artist Fees, honorariums, and contractors. (See FAQ for details)

Application Timeline

• Application Window Opens: Thursday, March 3, 2022
• Application Deadline: Monday, April 4, 2022
• Review Period: April 7- May 24, 2022
• Notifications and Award Materials: Week of May 30, 2022
• Funding Period: June 1, 2022 – June 1, 2023

How to Apply

1. Visit the Arts Foundation’s web page to access guidelines and application link.
2. Review the complete guidelines, application questions, and FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions).
3. Prepare responses, including contact information, Narrative Questions, Resume or Artist Bio, Work Samples, Work Sample Description Sheet, and Budget Form. See Submission Material Guidelines for details.
4. Go to the online application form, Submittable: https//artsfoundtucson.submittable.com/submit
5. Refer to the correct listing for Project Creosote- New Works
6. Create a Submittable account. If there is a pre-existing account, just login.
7. Complete the online application form.
8.  Submit all Submission Materials. Refer to Submission Material Guidelines and Website for templates.
9. Complete additional demographic information.
10. Review application one last time! Then, click “Submit Form” to submit.
11. Submit the complete online application before the deadline. We cannot accept late or incomplete applications.

Call-In Application Interview
To improve access to our application, applicants may schedule a 30-45 minute phone interview with Arts Foundation staff to complete the application form over the phone. The Call-In application method is available as an option for creatives who request assistance due to accessibility, limited technology, or internet connectivity. Applicants who request this option will complete the application over the phone or video conference, where responses will be recorded and transcribed by the Arts Foundation staff on behalf of the applicant. The applicant will need to prepare responses in steps 1-4 well in advance of the scheduled Call-In Interview. Phone interviews must be completed one week prior to deadline to allow time for transcription.

To schedule a Call-In Application Interview: call (520) 460-4483 or email grants@artsfoundtucson.org

Review Process

A panel of artists, arts administrators, community advocates and cultural workers representing geographic, discipline, and ethnic diversity will review, deliberate, and score the materials submitted by each applicant. Materials will be assessed based on eligibility, completeness, and clarity based on the published review criteria. Panel recommendations will be submitted to the Arts Foundation Board of Directors for formal approval and authorization.

The following criteria will be considered during the review of applications:

1. Artistic Excellence- Applicant demonstrates the skills and techniques relevant to carry out the New Work project. Applicant demonstrates a professional approach to process and presentation. Applicant exemplifies highest standards of excellence within their chosen field of expertise, including artistic discipline and cultural expression. Artwork samples demonstrate artistic excellence in content and form (within the artist’s chosen genre, style, discipline and/or theme). There is clear evidence that the proposed project is comprised of new artwork.
2.  Idea- The proposed project is original and imaginative in its approach to content and form. The proposed project exemplifies the depth and breadth of innovative new artwork created and produced in the City of Tucson and Pima County. The idea is actionable, and takes into consideration its direct and indirect impact.
3. Capacity- Capacity to successfully complete project is shown through past experience, related projects, or appropriate work samples. Applicant has a reasonable budget for scope of project. Applicant demonstrates a deep relation with the intended audience of the work. There is consistency between the narrative, the work samples and the budget. The degree to which the intention of the project has the capacity to align with its desired impact (ie: artist career; contribution to the arts sector; community impact; or social impact). The artwork premier will be accessible to Pima County communities.

Application Assistance

The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona has an equity strategy that aims to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented undercapitalized groups’ full participation 4 from the agency’s programs and to strengthen equity, diversity, and inclusion in the arts and culture sector for all communities of Southern Arizona. The program is committed to a just and equitable distribution of funding. To that commitment, the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona will consider equity and geographic parity as part of our decision-making and will work to expand the reach of this relief opportunity to a broad, diverse community of arts organizations.