2021 NYSCA Restart Grant: Cycle Now Closed
Please read on for archival information about this past program. The grant is not currently being offered.
Staten Island Arts, in partnership with New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), is offering a one-time infusion of support to Richmond County’s cultural community with Restart NY: $2,000 – $5,000 grants to Staten Island’s small cultural organizations, individuals and collectives presenting live performance and in-person events.
Priority will be given to in-person performing arts events and activities occurring or that have occurred on Staten Island between July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. Performing arts activities include – and are not limited to – music, dance, and theatre.
Other in-person public arts-based activities and events will be given second consideration, based on the funding allowed. Priority will be given to all project types that prioritize the allocation of funds to artist fees. Projects that allocate over 50% of the budget to artist fees will be given priority consideration. This program will fund events retroactively.
Eligibility
Who is eligible for a NYSCA Restart Grant?
- Organizations – must be Staten Island-based (valid Staten Island mailing address) and have proof of current nonprofit status (ex. IRS 501(c)3 letter).
- Individual artists or Collectives – must work in partnership with a community-based nonprofit organization. Please speak with the grant administrator before applying.
In addition, Individual artists and Collective must also provide a letter of commitment from the partner organization that confirms the partnership and outlines the scope of the partnership in relation to the proposed event. Partner organization must be based on Staten Island.
What is not eligible:
- Nonprofits with operating income budgets over $300,000 for two of the last three fiscal years.
- Applicants who cannot present a valid tax-exempt Federal ID number.
- Applicants who have received NYSCA’s Restart NY: Rapid Live Performance Grants or any other NYSCA funding opportunity for 2022.
- Applicants cannot apply for support to cover a performance or event that is currently being funded by another government grant (state or federal). This includes NYSCA Encore* grants, direct NYSCA, or National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) project support, among others.
- Funds cannot be used to cover expenses already covered by another government fund, such as Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)
- Funds may not be used for expenses for travel, food, entertainment, out-of-state activities, or operating expenses of privately-owned facilities (homes and studios).
- Programs that are essentially religious, recreational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic.
- Arts education programs or anything available only to a closed group are not eligible for this funding.
- Programs serving only the applicant organization’s members
*2022 NYSCA Encore grant applicants may apply but for distinct performances or events.
Application Information
Applications for 2022 will go live November 3, 2022. To get started, log into your account in the Grants Portal. You will then have access to the application. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2022. First-time applicants are encouraged to attend an application seminar. Full schedule of application seminars can be found here. Please contact the grants administrator before starting an application.
Due to the limited amount of funding available, we will only accept one proposal per applicant. Projects that allocate over 50% of the budget to artist fees will be given priority.
Matching funds are not required for this grant. However, if your performance or event expenses are more than the grant amount, you should outline how you plan to secure funding to cover the rest of the project.
Evaluation Guidelines
Funding decisions are made by a separate panel of experts for each grant category. Panels are composed of representatives drawn from the disciplines eligible for funding. Panelists are professional artists, scholars, arts administrators, teachers of the arts and humanities, civic and business leaders, and community representatives. While the application has been streamlined and simplified to create easier access to restart funding, selected applicants will still need to complete a final report form at the conclusion of their funded performance or event. Based on the criteria (see below), the panelists vote on which projects are to be funded.
Criteria
- Artistic merit and cultural significance.
- Clearly stated objectives.
- Clear and realistic plan for implementation.
- Realistic budget for stated proposal.
- Funding priorities: at least 50% of the funding to compensation for artistic/creative professionals.
- Need and impact on the artistic discipline, geographic area, or local population: projects which address communities or artistic disciplines which are under-resourced will receive foremost consideration.
- Organizational history and experience.
- Clarity and conciseness of written application and supporting materials.
- The project should be accessible to any member of the community who wishes to partake in the experience. Venues should comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Need Help?
During grants season, Grants Administrator Gena Mimozo also offers 1:1 grant support Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm for prospective applicants who already have a proposal in mind or who have multiple proposals in mind and need guidance/feedback. To sign up for a consult, please fill out this form.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Gena at gmimozo@statenislandarts.org, (718) 447-3329 x1003.