Morris Arts is pleased to announce the continuation of the Local Arts Grant Program made possible by, and contingent upon, funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. In spirit of our mission to build community through the arts, we offer Local Arts Grants to provide access to quality arts experiences in Morris County communities. Each year, the program supports more than 1,500 arts activities and programs that serve over 100,000 children and adults.
Is your Morris County arts organization interested in receiving a grant from Morris Arts? Is your Morris County organization seeking funding for an arts project?
Morris Arts offers two types of Local Arts Grants: General Operating Support and Special Project Support. General Operating Support (GOS) Grants are available to support the overall operations of organizations whose mission is exclusively devoted to the arts. Requests can be up to 20% of the organization’s annual expense budget. There are no matching requirements for GOS grants. Special Project Support (SPS) Grants are available to support the costs of an arts-related special project of the applicant, which need not be an arts organization. The special project, however, must be wholly dedicated to the arts and be a project or program open to the public. Note that projects or activities which are normally part of the curriculum or extra-curricular activities of an educational organization are not eligible. There are no matching requirements for SPS grants.
New and emerging organizations are eligible to apply for a Mini Grant. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel and funding awarded on a yearly basis. Local Arts Grant funding is available for Morris County organizations that provide the community with arts events that are artistically excellent, provide public benefit, and are accessible to the public.
Applicants must show the ability to complete all reporting necessary in accepting public funds by the specified deadlines, including a grant application for funding, a commitment letter, and a Final Report. Organizations already receiving funding directly from NJSCA are not eligible for a Local Arts Grant. Applicants must have sufficient cash flow to support their organization, program project or event as grant funds are allocated over two payments of 80% and 20%.
Local Arts Grant awards CANNOT be awarded:
A. To individual artists;
B. To those organizations funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts or any other County Arts Agency;
C. To pay administrative salaries;
D. For capital improvements, projects, or acquisitions, including the purchase of permanent equipment;
E. For hospitality costs and travel;
F. To replace deficits or funds normally budgeted for the requested program or project;
G. For the purpose of sub-granting to another organization; or
H. For fundraising projects or events, or for scholarship funds or fellowships.
Applicants are evaluated based upon the following criteria:
A. Artistic merit of the applicant, its program and/or special project;
B. Ability of the applicant’s staff (volunteer or professional) and Board to responsibly administer the organization and/or special project;
C. Demonstration of the applicant’s sound financial planning and management of financial resources;
D. Responsiveness to the needs of the community;
E. Outreach efforts to the culturally diverse, special constituency, and young (18 and under) audiences in Morris County, particularly in the past calendar year; and
F. Efforts to comply with ADA standards
Important dates:
FY 2023 Applications Deadline | September 16, 2022
Notification of Award | October 2022
Grant Agreement Due | November 2022
Funding Period | January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023
1st Payment Sent (80% of award) | February 2023
Final Reports Due | January 2024
2nd and Final Payment Sent (20% of award) | February 2024
The Local Arts Grant application must be completed online on our grant portal through Foundant. Applicants can register for a free account and edit and save their application until the deadline.
Note: in order to view the application, applicants must create an account.
For questions or to request a FY2023 Local Arts Grant Application, please contact Weusi Baraka, Director of Arts in Community, at wbaraka@morrisarts.org or (973) 285-5115 ex. 19.