Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, provides nearly $6 million a year to nonprofit organizations through grants that encourage and stimulate the growth, development, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri. MAC provides funding to make possible quality arts programming to both large and small communities.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to apply for Missouri Arts Council funding, an organization must be a public or private organization that:

Organizations that receive a Missouri Arts Council grant must maintain the above eligibility requirements through the grant award period.

Missouri Arts Council accepts applications from the following types of organizations and/or agencies:
• Arts or arts education organizations
• Chambers of commerce
• Public libraries

• Government agencies

• Youth organizations
• Public school districts
• Private K-12 schools
• Community arts organizations
• Social service organizations
• Colleges and universities
• City parks departments
• Religious organizations (must address special concerns)

What Does MAC Fund?
MAC funds may be used for artist fees, artist travel expenses, marketing the arts event, project-related educational materials, and more. For MAC granting purposes, a project is a specific, identifiable program that has a distinct focus, format, and objective. A project can include the following:
• Performance of dance, music, and/or theater (single performance or series)
• Educational programs
• Artist residencies
• Literary journal publication
• Arts festival or arts component at festival or county fair
• Exhibition or exhibition series
• Film festival, film series, or production of film, video, or media arts project
• Services to the field

MAC generally does not provide grants for any art courses, for children or adults. Art courses should be self-supporting or income-producing, unless they are directed to an underserved and/or special population (such as minority, elderly, or disabled). When there is a legitimate need for the art courses, MAC may fund the startup costs of such courses. Additional funding restrictions are published in the grant guidelines.

In addition to providing financial assistance, MAC staff is available to provide assistance in arts and nonprofit management. Their expertise includes community development, fundraising, marketing, grant writing, arts education, artistic disciplines (music, literature, theater, dance, festivals, visual, and media) and more.

MONTHLY DEADLINE
The guidelines, application, and schedule are on the Application Forms page.

• NEW: Capacity Building MAC is committed to increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to present, produce, or serve the arts in Missouri. Appropriate projects could address, but are not limited to: strategic planning, board development, market research, outreach planning, fundraising, and technology planning. Eligible organizations may submit multiple applications up to the maximum for each category or $10,000 total per eligible organization per fiscal year.
        • Attend conferences/seminars
          (maximum: $750 per person per conference; $1,500 total)
         • Produce conferences/workshops (maximum: $2,500)
         • Consultant or contractor (maximum: $5,000)
         • Equipment, software, services, or publications (maximum: $5,000)

• Monthly Strategic Grants provides project support for small arts groups and rural-based organizations through a less complicated application process. The maximum request is $2,000.
  

• Minority Arts Monthly Strategic Grant Program provides project support for arts projects created by or targeted to people of diverse cultures. This grant gives funding priority to minority-managed organizations with minority-developed arts focused projects. For the purpose of this grant program, minorities are communities identified as African American, Asian American, Latino/Hispanic and Native American. The maximum request is $3,000.

• Touring Program supports 60% of the artistic fees (maximum $5,000) for organizations to present eligible performing artists. The intent of the program is to support artists touring to locations outside their home base.  Performing artists must be selected from Missouri Touring Performers or programs of Missouri artists on the rosters of Kansas City and St. Louis Young Audiences (available on the Application Forms page).
  

• Arts Education grant and professional development programs are designed to strengthen the place of the arts as a core academic subject in the regular school curriculum, and to promote integrating the arts into non-arts classrooms and in out of school programs. MAC works with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure that these programs support student achievement.  Grant categories follow:
  • Artist in Residence is designed to strengthen school arts programs and allows artists to work with students, teachers, parents, and community members through a variety of activities. The maximum request is $2,500.
  • Out of School supports quality arts education programs for school-aged youth that are at-risk, urban, and/or rural underserved. Activities must take place outside of the normal classroom day.
    The maximum request is $2,500.
  • Professional Development supports projects that provide learning opportunities, such as presenting qualified speakers to teachers, school administrators, and teaching artists. The maximum request is $2,500.
  • School Touring funds 60% of artistic fees for schools to present performing artist(s) with related educational activities. Restrictions apply to eligible performing artists.

• DREAM - MAC recognizes the arts ability to revitalize communities and stimulate economic development.  MAC supports DREAM communities in using the arts to redevelop their downtown area through two strategic grant opportunities. For more information about the DREAM program.

                    • Art Builds Communities (ABC) provides up to $5,000 per

                 organization, $10,000 per DREAM community, for new art projects

                 in downtown areas of DREAM communities. This may include visual

                 arts exhibitions and music, dance, or theatrical performances. To

                 apply to ABC, use the Monthly Strategic Grant application.              

                    • Challenge funds up to $20,000 per project, no more than

                 $20,000 per community, for construction or renovation of a

                 downtown facility for arts exhibition or performance space. These

                 funds must be matched on a 4:1 basis and are available on a

                 first-come, first-served basis.

                    • Eligible Communities: Aurora, Cape Girardeau, Caruthersville,

                 Chillicothe, Clinton, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal, Hermann, Kennett,

                 Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Neosho, Poplar Bluff, Sedalia, Sikeston,

                 St. Joseph, Trenton, Washington, West Plains

                    • DREAM Initiative: Applications for the 2008 DREAM community

                 designation must be received in the offices of Business and Community

                 Services (Jefferson City) no later than 5 pm on Friday, July 18, 2008.                  For more information and application, visit www.dream.mo.gov. 

ANNUAL DEADLINE
Deadline has passed for fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009).  Fiscal year 2010 guidelines and applications will be available in November.  For reference, review FY2009 guidelines and applications on the Application Forms page. If you have any questions, call toll free 866-407-4752 or 314-340-6845.

• Discipline Program Assistance provides project support for a variety of arts activities in eight disciplines: Dance, Electronic Media Arts, Festivals, Literature, Multidiscipline, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts. For FY09, MAC accepted Dance, Theater, and Visual Arts applications.  Applicants interested in applying for project support in Electronic Media Arts, Festivals, Literature, Multidiscipline, and Music are encouraged to apply to the Mini Grant program (monthly deadline). 

• Minority Arts Program provides project support for arts projects created by or targeted to people of diverse cultures through the same disciplines as listed above. This grant gives funding priority to minority-managed organizations with minority-developed arts focused projects. For the purpose of this grant program, minorities are communities identified as African American, Asian American, Latino/Hispanic and Native American.  For FY09, MAC accepted MAP applications for 2-year review cycle.

• Community Arts Program provides operational and project support to non-metropolitan community arts agencies that foster the long-term cultural development of a community and offer programs in more than one art discipline (other restrictions apply). For FY09, MAC accepted CAP Basic Support applications.  For FY2010, MAC will accept CAP Project and Operating Support applications.
  

• Arts Education Program grant and professional development programs are designed to strengthen the place of the arts as a core academic subject in the regular school curriculum, and to promote integrating the arts into non-arts classrooms and in out of school programs. MAC works with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to ensure that these programs support student achievement.  Grant categories follow:
  • Artist in Residence is designed to strengthen school arts programs and allows artists to work with students, teachers, parents, and community members through a variety of activities.
  • Out of School supports quality arts education programs for school-aged youth that are at-risk, urban, and/or rural underserved. Activities must take place outside of the normal classroom day.
  • Professional Development supports projects that provide learning opportunities, such as presenting qualified speakers to teachers, school administrators, and teaching artists.
  
  
• Folk Arts Program provides financial support for projects that perpetuate and present the folk arts of the state. Folk arts are defined as the living, functional and expressive arts of everyday people passed down informally by word of mouth or imitation within close-knit groups.

• Established Institutions provides operational and program support for arts institutions with operating revenues exceeding $2 million whose primary purpose is to present or produce art (other restrictions apply). 
  For FY2010, MAC will accept Established Institutions applications.

• Mid-Sized Arts Organizations provides operational and program support for arts organizations with operating revenues of at least $500,000, but less than $2 million, and whose primary purpose is to present or produce art (other restrictions apply). For FY2010, MAC will accept Mid-Sized Arts Organizations applications.

• Arts Services provides financial support to statewide arts service organizations to assist in the delivery of services to arts constituencies and for MAC initiated projects that address special needs.  By invitation only.

• Missouri Touring Program provides fee support (60% of eligible artist's fees) to Missouri community presenters to create performance opportunities for Missouri artists on behalf of citizens across the state.
  
  

FY2009 Grant Cycle Schedule (for annual programs)
for Projects Occurring July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009

• Draft and Final Application Deadlines have passed
  
• May 13-16, 2008 – Panel Review Meetings at MAC office
• July 2008 – Award Notification Letters Mailed
• If funded, Revised Project Form Deadline: August 25, 2008
• If funded, Final Invoice and Final Report Deadline:
  July 13, 2009 or 30 days after project end date, whichever occurs first