LIVING CULTURES GRANTS PROGRAM
Round 5 (2010)
Students celebrate having passed through ‘uniki: an intense
period of study of ancient Hawaiian hula which demands knowledge
of chant, dance, implement making, plant knowledge, lei making, history,
and lineage. Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu students under kumu (mater)
Patrick Makuakane are given leis by their families and friends upon
completion of the ‘uniki. This ceremony was supported
in part by a 2006 Living Cultures Grants Program grant.
Photo: Lily Kharrazi
The Living Cultures Grants Program is a program of the Alliance for
California Traditional Arts (ACTA) in partnership with the
Walter & Elise Haas Fund, the
William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the
James Irvine Foundation.
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Important Dates
For More Information Contact
Program Description
Types of Eligible Projects
Ineligible Projects
Review Criteria
Guidelines and Proposal Forms
Informational Meetings
Important Dates
Postmark Deadline: August 1, 2009
Notification to Applicants: Mid-December 2009
Grants Project Period: January 1, 2010 – December
31, 2010.
For More Information Contact
Lily Kharrazi
Living Cultures Grants Program Manager
(415) 346-5200
Email
We are available to offer individual assistance and are happy to work
with first-time grant seekers.
Program Description
The Living Cultures Grants Program funds nonprofit organizations to
support exemplary projects in the traditional arts in California. Grant
awards are generally limited to $5,000 or less. A small number
of grants of up to $7,500 will be awarded to projects that demonstrate
significant impact on a particular cultural tradition. Approximately
40 grants will be made in this funding cycle.
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Types of Eligible Projects
Examples of eligible projects may include, but are not limited to
the following:
- Public presentations, such as community-based concerts, festivals,
and exhibitions
- Workshops and gatherings (for example, events that bring together
artists, cultural specialists or community leaders to share skills
and information, or to engage in discussion and problem solving)
- Equipment and materials purchases (instruments, media equipment,
costumes or regalia, etc.)
- Conservation, creation, or acquisition of important traditional
arts items
- Intergenerational classes or other educational programs within
a community (after school youth programs, dance ensemble classes
or practices, summer programs, etc.)
- Documentation of traditional arts, skills, ceremonies, beliefs,
or performances
- Media, web and print publications (all media and publication projects
must include specific plans for marketing and public distribution,
and priority will be given to those projects with the greatest potential
for widespread public distribution)
- Professional and leadership development (training or consulting
activities that enhance or improve the capacities of an organization
to better serve artists, communities, and the public)
- And other activities supporting California traditional arts and
artists.
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Ineligible Projects
The Living Cultures Grants Program does not fund:
- Debt reduction, capital campaigns, or endowments
- Projects whose main purpose is fundraising
- General operating support
- Projects limited to an historical emphasis, including events presenting
the re-creation of past lifestyles (but projects including components
of oral history documentation are eligible when combined with activities
focusing on living cultural traditions)
- Projects based on the interpretation of a cultural tradition, as
opposed to the actual tradition or cultural art form itself
- Projects based in educational institutions (K-12, private schools
and universities), such as folk arts-in-education projects, university
seminars and programs, or curriculum development (however school-based
projects may apply for community outreach components)
- Out-of-state travel
- Apprenticeships for one-on-one intensive learning – please
consult ACTA’s Apprenticeship
Program, which exclusively serves this type of project
- Proposals from organizations that have not fulfilled their previous
grant obligations with ACTA, including final reports
- More than one proposal per organization (except for fiscal receivers
applying on behalf of another organization)
- Proposals for multiple components of the same festival, event,
or project.
Please Also Note:
- Preference will be given to applicants with organizational budgets
under $1 million.
- Language acquisition projects are eligible when carried out within
the context of traditional art forms. Applicants considering
a language acquisition project should contact the LCGP Program Manager
for guidance before applying.
- In order to best serve the field, ACTA and its funding partners
wish to reach out to as many artists and organizations as possible. With
that in mind, projects being funded by the Walter & Elise Haas
Fund, the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, or the James Irvine
Foundation cannot also be funded through ACTA’s Living Cultures
Grants Program. If you are currently funded by one of
these organizations, please contact the LCGP Program Manager for
guidance before applying.
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Review Criteria and Process
Proposals will be reviewed according to the following criteria by
a panel of traditional arts and culture specialists, including practitioners:
- The artistic quality and traditionality of artists or tradition
bearers involved in the project
- The cultural significance of the traditions in the context of its
community
- Inclusion of cultural expertise in project planning
- The viability of the project, as evident in a realistic work plan,
appropriate budget, and qualifications of project personnel
- Clarity of plans for evaluating impact
- Evidence of community support and involvement in project planning
- Potential for long-term benefit to traditional artists or tradition
bearers, target communities, or the applicant organization
After the panel ranking, ACTA’s board of directors will review
and approve the grants. The board may recommend changes – using
the rank order established by the panel – in order to achieve
a cohort of grantees that is more representative of the state’s
diverse cultures and geography.
Applicants will be notified in mid-December of their status. Awarded
projects may begin as early as January 1, 2010. ACTA staff will
make site visits (where appropriate) to many of the projects as a way
to learn more about art practices and communities. A final report
is due within 30 days after project completion.
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Guidelines and Proposal Forms
To apply, download the guidelines and proposal forms below. Alternatively,
call (415) 346-5200 to request a copy be mailed to you.
LCGP Round 5 (2010) Guidelines
LCGP Round 5 (2010) Proposal Forms
Sample
Budget - Non-Matching
Sample Budget - Matching
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Informational Meetings
From April to June 2009, ACTA will be hosting seven
informational meetings throughout the state, in Santa Cruz (April
17), Los Angeles (April 26), Fresno (May 4), San Jose (May 7), Oakland
(May 12), San Diego (May 13), Riverside (TBA).
Join ACTA staff for an informational meeting in your area to learn
more about ACTA’s programs and other funding opportunities for
folk & traditional artists and organizations.
New this year: an online seminar! ACTA will also host an online
seminar (webinar) on June 12, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Those with internet
and telephone access may join us for a “virtual” informational
meeting. (The same information presented in our in-person meetings
will be shared on the webinar.) Visit
the webinar registration page to register.
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