THE GRANT PROGRAM

Types of Grants:

1. City Arts Operational Grant. A grant to an Alexandria-based arts organization intended to provide general operating support for regular programming activities and administration.
   
   
2. City Arts Project Grant. A grant to an arts organization or an individual artist intended to support an arts project performed/presented to benefit the citizens of the City of Alexandria.
   
   
3. City Arts Technical Assistance Grants. Two types are available: 1) A non-matching grant intended to provide support to an Alexandria-based arts organization’s personnel to attend educational events aimed at a specific operational or strategic goal; 2) a matching grant intended to provide an Alexandria-based arts organization small-scale enhancements to operational support equipment.
   
   
4. Special Opportunities Awards. These grants are designed to fund creative initiatives and innovative projects that will have an impact on the City of Alexandria.

Details of application preparation for each grant type are provided in the Appendix to this Guide for Funding.

Grant General Eligibility Requirements:

All grant applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Demonstrate artistic competence in, and the ability to produce, present or otherwise directly support disciplines that enrich the artistic experience of citizens of the City of Alexandria. Supported disciplines include music, dance, literature, theatre, the visual arts and/or combinations thereof.
   
   
2. Establish that the project/program proposed will enrich the artistic experience of citizens of the City of Alexandria in a significant way.
   
   
3. Demonstrate sufficient management skills to carry out the proposed project/program in a financially sound and business-like manner.
   
   
4. In the conduct of the project/program not engage in discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, martial status, age, sexual orientation or disability.
   
   
5. Not engage in any activities or present any programs in violation of the statues of the Commonwealth of Virginia or ordinances of the City of Alexandria.
   
   
6. Comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which includes provisions that no otherwise qualified person, solely by reason of a handicap in any way or form, shall be excluded from, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any form in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
   
   
7. Where required, comply with federal Fair Labor Standards which stipulate a) that all professional performers and supporting personnel will be paid not less than the minimum compensation as determined by the Secretary of Labor to be prevailing minimum compensation for persons employed in similar activities; and that professional and support personnel will not be subject to unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous working conditions in organizations’ projects or products.

Ineligible Organizations or Artists: Applicants are ineligible for consideration by the Commission if:

1. There is a default of payment to any agency of the City of Alexandria.
   
   
2. Applicant does not complete the grant application in full, or fail to supply information or documentation when and where required.
   
   
3. Applicant, during either of the last two fiscal years, fails to complete the ACA-funded program/project according to the terms of the grant application, without full permission and consent of the Commission.
   
   
4. Applicant failed to complete a final report form or have an outstanding final report form from a previously-awarded grant from the Commission.
   
   
5. The grant request is for an event or activity not considered by the Commission to be an artistic event. (Note: An ethnic festival, as defined by the City of Alexandria, is not considered to be an artistic event, however artistic activities included in, part of, or sponsored by an ethnic festival may be eligible for project grants.)

Activities Not Funded. The Commission does not fund:

1. Activities intended to influence, either directly or indirectly, the actions of any public official or body, elected or appointed, on any existing or proposed legislation.
   
   
2. Activities (with the exception of those proposed in a technical assistance grant application) restricted, entirely or substantially, to the membership of the organization.
   
   
3. Activities completed prior to the beginning of a granting period.
   
   
4. Activities that take place outside the city limits of Alexandria.
   
   
5. Activities that are exclusively religious in nature.
   
   
6. Capital expenditures associated with improvement in facilities and/or purchases of equipment in excess of $1,000.
   
   
7. Expenses related to reduction of accumulated deficits or debts.
   
   
8. Expenses related to fund-raising events.
   
   
9. Expenses related to social functions, whether an integral part of the project funded by the Commission or not.
   
   
10. College and university-based or K-12 projects that are part of a required course or curriculum.
    
    
11. K-12 projects designed primarily for private schools.
    
    
12. Awards, fellowships and prizes.
    
    
13. Programs or projects that are essentially rehabilitative or therapeutic in nature.
    
    
14. Programs or projects designed to achieve goals that are primarily political, religious or social.