The St. Lawrence County Arts Council (SLC Arts) reported the start of its 2022 grant cycle, on Monday, Aug. 23. This means funding is available for 2022 community arts projects, such as concerts, theatre, exhibits or classes. 

Each year, through the New York State Council on the Arts State Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization Program), SLC Arts distributes more than $60,000 throughout Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties, for the purpose of funding community arts experiences. Grants are available to artists, artist collectives, local municipalities, public libraries, and 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. 

Disciplines include, but are not limited to music, visual arts, theater, dance, electronic media, film and literary arts. The FY2022 grant cycle - offering grants for projects that will take place in 2022 - will begin Monday, Aug. 23. The application deadline for all three grants is Friday, Dec. 10.

SLC Arts offers three 2022 Grant Opportunities: 

Individual Artist Grant

● Purpose: To offer support to individual artists who are interested in working within a community setting.

● Who May Apply: Individual artists

● Focus: Funds are intended for the creation of new work that engages a segment of the community through a public program, such as a public exhibition or performance, and/or the inclusion of community involvement in the project’s development and creative process.

● Amount: $1,000 - $2,500.

● No matching funds required. 

Arts Education Grant

● Purpose: To provide support for meaningful arts education projects.

● Who May Apply: Individual artists, non-profit organizations, or unincorporated organizations, working in partnership with K-12 public schools or community-based partners.

● Focus: The exploration of art and the artistic process. The Teaching Artists’ Fund offers two funding strands:

● K-12 In-School Projects: Work in partnership with public schools to engage K-12 public

school students in rich, artistic learning experiences during school hours.

● After-School and Community-Based Learning: Work in partnership with community partners, in an after-school or community-based setting, to provide rich, artistic learning experiences to youth, seniors and/or learners of all ages.

● Amount of Request: $300 - $5,000.

● NEW FOR 2022: NO FINANCIAL MATCH REQUIRED 

Community Arts Grant

● Purpose: To fund public arts experiences, foster creative communities, and reach out to communities that might not otherwise be able to access state funds.

● Who May Apply: Municipalities, libraries, or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. In addition, individual artists or organizations may apply with an eligible municipality, library, or non- profit acting as a fiscal sponsor.

● Amount of Request: $300 - $5,000.

● NEW FOR 2022: NO FINANCIAL MATCH REQUIRED 

From August through November, SLC Arts will offer free, informational sessions, to provide information about funding opportunities and eligibility, as well as explain the application and review process. Several virtual Zoom workshops are scheduled. Please register in advance for all workshops.:

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 10am; Wednesday, Sept. 8, 11am, Thursday, Sept. 16, 7pm, Monday, Sept. 20, noon, Saturday, Sept. 25, 10am, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 10am, Monday, Oct. 04, 11am, Saturday, Oct.9, 10am; Monday, Oct.18, 1pm, Thursday, Oct. 21, 10am, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7pm, Monday, Nov. 1, noon at SLC Arts, Potsdam, Saturday, Nov. 6, 10am, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 10am, Monday, Nov. 15, 6pm, Thursday, Nov. 18, 11 am, and Tuesday, Nov. 23, 10am.

Assistance and feedback are always available throughout the application process. FY2022 applications and guidelines are available at http://slcartscouncil.org/grants. Still have questions? Please contact Alicia Murphy, Grant Coordinator, at grants@slcartscouncil.org.

Made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew M Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and administered by the St. Lawrence Council Arts Council.