Arts Access Grants

The Delaware Division of the Arts awards small grants to support the presentation of performing, visual, literary, media, or folk arts in communities throughout the state. The Arts Access Grant provides program support to organizations that offer occasional arts programs and to organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Division’s General Operating Support and Project Support categories.

To be eligible to apply for an Arts Access grant, applicants must:

• Be an established unit of municipal, county, or state government within Delaware, OR be based and chartered in Delaware as a nonprofit organization; exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) or 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; and eligible to receive donations allowable as charitable contributions under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Applicants may include arts organizations, community-based non-arts organizations, schools, libraries, parks, etc.
• Be managing an arts program that involves the presentation of work by a professional artist or artists.
• Important Information for New and Returning Applicants

Please note the following restrictions:

• Organizations that receive General Operating, StartUp, or Project Support from the Division of the Arts are generally not eligible to apply.
• Schools are eligible to apply only if the proposed project takes place after school hours and is open to and promoted to the community at large.
• The Division will not accept applications through fiscal agents.
• No individual may compile or submit an application on behalf of an organization if that individual is a member or relative of a member of the Delaware State Arts Council or Division staff.

Applicants may request up to 80 percent of the eligible cash expenses, as defined below, not to exceed $1,250. Matching funds must be cash and may not come from the National Endowment for the Arts. Awards may be less than the requested amount, and some projects may not receive support. Proposals may be funded at less than the requested amount, or not at all. Prior funding does not guarantee future support.

Generally, organizations may receive a maximum of two Arts Access Grants each fiscal year (July 1- June 30). A series of events held over six months or less may be combined on one application. Two or more distinct types of programming, such as a festival or conference, and year-round activities, may merit two applications. Contact the Division if you have questions about splitting your activities between applications.

Arts Access funding is available for arts projects that accomplish one or more of the following:

• Provide experiences of artistic merit and integrity for the public
• Involve collaborations between artists or arts organizations and community and civic groups, government entities, or social service agencies
• Reach audiences and participants with limited access to the arts or to a particular art form
• Provide lifelong learning opportunities in the arts beyond the school setting
• Offer opportunities for the creation of new works of art
• Support arts programs in new or non-traditional venues
• Provide opportunities for artistic expression of a community’s unique history, culture, or circumstances
• Provide opportunities for conservation, documentation, and appreciation of the artistic traditions of diverse cultures and communities

Download the full Arts Access Grant guidelines here.

Download Grantwriting Tips for Organizations here.

The Delaware Division of the Arts strives to keep our grant applications concise, while gathering the essential information needed for a thorough and fair evaluation. We aim to balance simplicity with the comprehensive details necessary to ensure we can effectively assess each project’s potential impact and success.

The Arts Access grant application includes:

• An organizational profile
• Narrative questions describing the project and how it meets the evaluation criteria
• A project budget
• Information about the artist(s)’ background and experience
• A letter of intent or contract with the artist(s) (if applicable)
• Letters of support from partners (if applicable)

Note: All materials submitted to the Division of the Arts during the grant application process are subject to public inspection upon request, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Please redact any confidential information contained in financial documents and audits prior to submission.

Arts Access Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis, until funds are depleted, but must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the start of the project. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, beginning in July of each year. When the funds allocated to this program are depleted, the application will be closed for the remainder of the fiscal year (ending June 30). Early applications (starting in July) are recommended, whenever possible.

Note: First-time applicants for Arts Access should contact the Division prior to beginning the application process in order to verify their eligibility and review the application process with staff. A copy of your State of Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and IRS Nonprofit Determination Letter must be submitted with your first application.

Expenses Eligible for Arts Access Support

Only the expenses listed below which are directly related to the proposed arts project are eligible for Arts Access Support:

• Artists’ fees
• Marketing or publicity
• Personnel
• Administrative costs
• Contractual services
• Supplies and materials
• Facility rental/costs
• Technical costs
• Travel and other operational expenses necessary to deliver this arts program

Expenses Not Eligible for Arts Access Support

The expenses listed below are not eligible for Arts Access Support:

• Activities for which academic credit is given
• Activities outside Delaware
• Activities with fundraising as a primary purpose
• Awards, cash prizes or donations
• Bad debt
• Building, renovating, or remodeling of facilities
• Capital expenditures and non-consumables valued over $3,000
• Traditional circus and athletic activities
• Lobbying
• Contingency funds
• Expenses incurred outside the grant period
• Investments of any type
• Meals/refreshments
• Private entertainment
• Projects restricted to exclusive participation or enjoyment
• Projects which have sectarian or religious purposes
• Scholarships or research by individuals
• Products and/or services not directly related to the artistic portion of an event or activity

The following criteria are utilized by staff to evaluate each Arts Access application.

• Artistic Quality: The quality of the artistic product, process, or service and relevance to one or more of the Arts Access program goals
• Availability of the Arts: The project provides increased access to diverse and quality arts programs, particularly in underserved communities
• Management: The organization demonstrates the capacity to carry out, market, and evaluate the project, with qualified personnel, an effective marketing plan, and a fiscally responsible budget

Division staff members, in conjunction with the Division Director, review Arts Access Grant applications using the evaluation criteria described above. The Director makes final grant decisions.

For details on the grant review process and appeals procedures, visit the Division of the Arts’ Grant Review Process.

The Division of the Arts retains the right to reduce or rescind a grant award during the grant period if the grantee is found not to be in compliance with state and/or federal grant requirements, or if funding (state or federal) is reduced during the fiscal year.

Notification:

Applicants will be notified of the funding decision within four (4) weeks of application submission. Awardees will receive full payment following notification of their award.

As part of the grant award notification, there will be a number of documents that applicants are required to read and acknowledge before receipt of your first payment.

eSupplier:

To receive a grant payment, organizations must have an active State of Delaware eSupplier record.

We recommend that you choose to receive payments through Automated Clearing House, an electronic fund transfer, when completing or updating your eSupplier record. Electronic fund transfers are faster than mailing a check.

• First-time grantees: will receive instructions on how to register electronically as an individual (not a business) in the State of Delaware’s eSupplier Portal. *If you’re an individual, your Tax Identification Number is your Social Security Number
• Past grantees: will receive instructions for checking and updating their eSupplier record.

Questions about eSupplier? Please contact: Division of Accounting by email at FSF_Supplier_Maintenance@delaware.gov or by phone at (302) 526-5600.

Payment:

Grantees will be notified of awards via email, and payments will be issued according to the payment schedule issued with the award notice. Payments of Arts Access typically occur in full approximately 4 weeks following acceptance of the grant terms.

The Statement of Assurances is the contract that all Division grantees must sign. Grant applicants must indicate that they have read and agreed to the obligations of grant recipients, should a grant be awarded. Receipt of state and federal grants carries with it certain obligations and responsibilities. By submitting a Division of the Arts grant application, applicants are affirming that they are familiar with the requirements of the Delaware Division of the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as presented in the Division of the Arts Statement of Assurances, including but not limited to:

• Crediting the Division appropriately on all materials
• Keeping public arts events current on DelawareScene.com
• Notifying the Division of any significant changes to the program or budget
• Providing complimentary tickets for use by on-site evaluators, if appropriate
• Compliance with Accessibility Requirements
• Submitting all required Final Reports

An annual final report describes how funds were spent over the most recently completed granting period. The final report collects narrative, fiscal, and demographic information in keeping with DDOA and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) requirements.

A final report is due within 30 days following the end date of the project in the smARTDE grant management portal. Failure to submit a final report on time may result in the rescinding of the grant award and may impact future funding from the Division.

You can use this interactive tool to search for Delaware Division of the Arts grants awarded to organizations and individuals from 1999 through today.