FOR BROOME, CHENANGO & OTSEGO COUNTIES 

Application Opens January 24, 2025
Deadline March 3, 2025 

As of 2024, Arts in the Community Grants (ACG) have replaced the grant programs known as Decentralization (DEC) and Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) previously administered by the Earlville Opera House. Grants will continue to be available for not-for-profit organizations, municipalities and Tribal Nations, and individual artists or collectives. Please see the Eligible Applicants section in this document for full details.

Earlville Opera House has been strongly rooted in the artistic community since 1892 and we are committed to that legacy of community service established over three different centuries. In 2025 a total of $67,500 will be granted to projects in Broome, Chenango, and Otsego County. Only two categories of funding will be offered in 2025; see below for details.

Funding for Arts in the Community Grants is provided by support from the Office of the Governor, and the New York State Legislature. Additional support for Broome County grantees is provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation.

 Grant Webinars 

Webinar participation is encouraged but not required. Webinar registration is required. Contact the Program Director to receive the Zoom link at [email protected]

• Thursday, January 23, noon

• Saturday, January 25, 1 pm

• Wednesday, January 29, 2 pm

• Saturday, February 1, 1 pm

• Monday, February 3, 4:30 pm

Full Guidelines BELOW!

2025 Arts in the Community Grants Guidelines 

Grant cycle timeline

An Intent to apply form is required prior to applying.

• The Grant Portal will open January 24, 2025. The application will be on the Submittable platform.

• Grant Webinars - Dates are listed below and on the EOH website. Workshops will be offered online in both group and one-on-one formats.  Webinar participation is encouraged but not required. Webinar registration is required. Contact the Program Director to receive the Zoom link at [email protected].

  o   Thursday, January 23, noon

  o   Saturday, January 25, 1 pm

  o   Wednesday, January 29, 2 pm

  o   Saturday, February 1, 1 pm

  o   Monday, February 3, 4:30 pm

• Applications will be accepted January 24, 2025 through March 3, 2025. NOTE: Pre submission reviews end February 21, 2025. THIS IS A FIRM DATE.

• Peer Review Panel meets to review applications April 2025.

• EOH Board of Directors ratifies panel recommendations April 2025.  Grant notifications and letters of agreement will be sent shortly after. 

• 2025 Funded Projects MUST take place January 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.

Final Reports are due within 30 days of project end.

CATEGORY OVERVIEW 

PLEASE NOTE 

Maximum funding requests are noted in each category. No match is required. Applicants may only apply in one category.   For 2025, artists who have received funding during the previous grant cycle are not eligible to apply. This includes Individual Artist Commission Cycle 2024/Individual Artist Professional Opportunity 2024.

Previous funding through any Earlville Opera House source does not ensure support in any succeeding year.   

AVAILABLE GRANTS 

Community Arts Grants (CA)

AMOUNT AVAILABLE $500 - $3,000

CA grants provide support for arts and cultural projects to community-based not-for-profit organizations and groups and collectives and individual artists working in partnership with a local not-for-profit organization.  CA support enables  organizations and artists to grow professionally and to enhance the cultural climate in communities and neighborhoods where they live and operate.  CA grants provide support to develop, foster, promote, enhance, and increase access to community arts that address current cultural needs in Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties.  Projects in this category must be community based and open to the general public.

Requests may be made between $500 to $3,000. Full funding is not guaranteed. No match is required.

Eligible Applicants

• A 501(c)(3) or New York State not-for-profit organization with an active board of trustees either incorporated in NY State or registered to do business in NY State

• A government or quasi-governmental entity, or Tribal Nation.

• Individual artists, groups or collectives, and unincorporated entities who are working with a community-based partner are eligible.

• A community-based not-for-profit partner working with an artist is only required to provide a letter of commitment confirming the partnership with the applicant and outlining the scope of the partnership and each partner’s investment or contribution (in-kind and/or cash) towards the proposed project. 

• Lead applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of submission and may not be enrolled in a full-time degree program.

Individual Artists (IA)

AMOUNT AVAILABLE: $1000

Individual Artist Grants (IA) represent a “live & work” investment in local artists. They are designed to increase support for local artist-initiated activity and to highlight the role of artists as important members of the community. The total amount of each grant is $1000.

For 2025, artists who have received funding during the previous grant cycle are not eligible to apply. This includes Individual Artist Commission Cycle 2024/Individual Artist Professional Opportunity 2024.

Community Engagement

IA projects must include a form of community engagement to be determined by the artist. The purpose is to impact a segment of the community by exposing the public to the creative process of the artist. This could take the form of an exhibition, performance, reading, screening, workshop, or artist talk that is open to the general public during the creation of the artist’s work, or after.

Artists are not expected to do both a public program and engagement with a segment of the community during the creative process. Rather, they can select the type of engagement that is appropriate for their project.

Alternatively, artists can include community involvement in the development and creative process of the artist’s project. This can be in the form of feedback, response, interaction, and/or social process by or with community members. Some examples of this type of community interaction are interviews with a segment of the community, creation of parallel work by a community group, or stories and anecdotes collected from a community group that relate to the concept or content of the project.

Individual Artist Grants are offered in the amount of $1,000. There is no match required.

 Eligible applicants for Individual Artist Grants

Artists apply directly for the Individual Artist Grant.

• Applicant/artist must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application  and may not be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program.

NYS Residency Requirement

Individual Artist applicants must be current New York State residents and must be a resident in the county where their proposed project will take place. Proof of residency is required. Documents must contain the individual’s name and address and documentation must be dated no earlier than two years prior to an application.

List of acceptable proof of residency documents must include one of the following:

• Telephone Bill

• Credit card or bank statement (first page only; social security and financial information should be blocked)

• Current lease or mortgage agreement listing the artist’s name and NYS County address

• Utility Bill

• NY State Drivers License or ID card

• Voter Registration Card

In addition to the guidelines listed for each of the above categories, applicants must meet certain requirements to be considered for ACG funding, including:

• The legal address of an applicant must lie within the service area of Broome, Chenango, or Otsego County. The funded activity must take place within the same county as the applicant’s legal address.

• All non-profit organizations must provide proof of not-for-profit status. The following documentation will be accepted:

• Letter of Determination from the IRS indicating tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3)

• Documentation of charter by the NY State Board of Regents under section 216 of the NY State Education Law

• Documentation of incorporation under Section 402 of the NY State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law

• Current NY State Bureau of Charities (Office of the Attorney General) filing receipt

• Official authorization as an arm of local government (i.e., a formal letter on official stationery signed by the appropriate county, city, town or village executive)

• Authorization as a federally recognized Tribal Nation

The following entities and individuals are not eligible to apply for funding:

• New York State agencies and departments (including SUNY schools)

• Public universities, colleges; and public, private, or parochial secondary and elementary schools

• ACG site Staff or Board members (see Conflict of Interest section)

• Student projects

• Unincorporated applicants without an eligible sponsor or partner organization (Exception: Individual Artist category)

• Non-incorporated chapters of organizations whose “parent” is incorporated outside of the service area

• Past re-grantees that have failed to submit final reports

 Funding Priorities (in no specific order)

• Artist support

• Production/technical costs

• Project materials

• Marketing costs

• Community impact and reach

 Non-fundable expenses and limited expenses

ACG funds are unable to fund the following expenses:

• Operating expenses of privately-owned facilities (e.g. homes and studios)

• Acquisition of works of art

• Contingency funds

• The purchase of permanent equipment that exceeds $1,000 or capital improvements

• Creation of textbooks or classroom material

• Lobbying expenses

• Regrants by applicants to fund other activities

• Cash prizes, juried shows, fellowships, educational scholarships or other awards to students

• Activities not open to the public

• Competitions and contests

• Entertainment costs for receptions, openings, and fundraising benefits/events

• Out of state travel expenses

• Programs that are essentially recreational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic

REVIEW PROCESS

Review panels consist of community representatives reflecting the artistic, geographic and demographic ranges of Broome, Chenango and Otsego counties.  The panel will evaluate applications according to the funding priorities listed above and adherence to application guidelines.

 APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• All applicants intending to apply for 2025 funding must notify the Earlville Opera House by submitting an intent to apply form following the link listed above.

• All applicants are encouraged to attend an applicant seminar prior to applying. Dates will be posted on the Earlville Opera House website and are listed above. Application seminars will be offered on Zoom. Individual assistance is also available. Registration for Zoom webinars can be made by emailing the Program Director at [email protected].

• A voluntary pre-submission review of applications is also strongly recommended and available through February 21, 2025.  After this date, applicants may no longer request pre-submission review.   

• All applications must be submitted through the Submittable online platform. Instructions on access and use will be available on the EOH website and during the information seminars.

• Applications must be submitted by Monday, March 3, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. No exceptions will be allowed.

WORK SAMPLES

An artistic work sample is a critical component of your application. Prepare a well-organized presentation that showcases your proposed project. Submit samples of work created and/or presented within the past three years. Do not submit edited promotional or interview materials.

Work Samples must be uploaded and submitted through the online application portal. There are no exceptions to the deadline.

WORK SAMPLE FORMATS

Submit samples of past and current work through the online application form in ONE (1) of the following formats, based on the discipline or form of your projects.

Performing Arts, Film, Media, and Other Time-Based Projects

Upload recordings: 2 maximum

• Submit up to two (2) recordings of past/current works or projects in performing / media / music / film / other time-based art forms.

• Submit up to (2) recordings. Check application for acceptable formats.

Note: The selection panel will view each recording for up to 2.5 minutes. However, we encourage you to submit full-length work, if possible. Provide a cue point for any work sample that is longer than three (3) minutes total.

Literary Projects

Upload manuscripts: 10 pages maximum.

• Submit samples no longer than ten (10) pages of scripts, poetry or prose.

• Check application for acceptable formats.

Visual Arts Projects

Upload images: 10 maximum

• Submit a maximum of ten (10) digital images. Check application for acceptable formats.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRANT RECIPIENTS 

• Sign a letter of agreement and, if necessary, submit a W-9. 

• Properly credit grant funding on publicity and press materials. Acknowledgment should include the Earlville Opera House logo:

“This project is funded by Earlville Opera House's Arts in the Community Grants Program, made possible by the NYS Legislature with support of the Office of the Governor, and administered by the New York State Council on the Arts.” 

• Broome County recipients only, if applicable, must use both the previous credit line as well as crediting the Hoyt Foundation in the following manner:

“Additional support for the Broome Arts in the Community Grants Program provided by the Stewart W. and Willma C. Hoyt Foundation, Inc.”  

• Proper credit line information and logos are available on our website HERE. 

• Submit a Final Report due 30 days after the completion of the funded project, including copies of promotional and advertising materials regarding the project.