Guidelines Released for 2011-2012 General Operating Support and 2011 Project Support Programs 16. November 2009 Administrator News Release Cleveland (November 16, 2009) - Updated application guidelines for Cuyahoga Arts & Culture’s two principal funding programs are now available on the Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) website (www.cacgrants.org). CAC General Operating Support (GOS) and Project Support (PS) guidelines, each presented as a separate document, detail for prospective applicants—and the broader community—the processes by which grant dollars will be distributed to arts and cultural organizations in 2011 and 2012. One of the nation’s most significant sources of local public funding for arts and culture, CAC supports nonprofit organizations in Cuyahoga County, Ohio with the proceeds of a ten-year levy on cigarette sales approved by voters in 2006. Having made awards totaling more than $33.5 million in just over two years, CAC is a vital resource for organizations and institutions throughout Cuyahoga County struggling to navigate the challenges of the current economy while sustaining the stellar quality for which they are known. General Operating Support grants account for the majority of CAC grantmaking. Currently, sixty-three area nonprofits receive a combined total of $14.9 million in CAC General Operating Support each year while Project Support grants totaling nearly $1.8 million have been awarded since 2008.According to CAC interim executive director Meg Harris, organizations that wish to obtain a grant from CAC must first submit an Intent to Apply form and eligibility documentation. Intent to Apply forms and instructions for their completion can be downloaded from the CAC website. These materials must be received at CAC’s downtown Cleveland office by 4:30 PM on:Wednesday, February 17, 2010 for organizations seeking 2011-2012 General Operating SupportTuesday, June 8, 2010 for organizations seeking 2011 Project SupportMs. Harris and her colleagues will conduct workshops for first-time applicants (organizations that have not previously applied for CAC General Operating Support or Project Support as well as prior grantees interested in applying to the alternate program) next month and in early January 2010; these sessions will provide a general overview of CAC grantmaking and assistance for those attempting to identify which CAC funding mechanism is best suited to their efforts and their needs. First-time applicants are encouraged to attend one of three sessions, which are scheduled for:December 9, 20093:00-4:00 PMTrinity Cathedral2230 Euclid Avenue—Cleveland, Ohio 44115Register online at http://trinitycathedral.eventbrite.com/December 10, 20093:00-4:00 PMBeachwood Branch, Cuyahoga County Public Library25501 Shaker Boulevard—Beachwood, Ohio 44122-2398Register online at http://beachwoodlibrary.eventbrite.com/January 7, 20103:00-4:00 PMWestlake Porter Public Library27333 Center Ridge Road—Westlake, Ohio 44145Register online at http://westlakeporterlibrary.eventbrite.com/Grant applications will be made available only to organizations whose eligibility has been confirmed through the Intent to Apply process.Harris commended the team that developed the updated guidelines and thanked them for the thoroughness of their review and revision process. Steven A. Minter, president of CAC’s five member board of trustees added, “My fellow board members and I recognize that CAC’s capacity to impact and enhance the quality of life in Cuyahoga County rests on the effectiveness with which it communicates. Through careful research and great attention to detail, I am confident that the updated GOS and PS guidelines will help to ensure a fair—albeit rigorous—application process that is, by design, wholly inclusive and genuinely accessible.Minter continued, “From its inception, CAC grantmaking has deliberately been—and will continue to be—a transparent process. Our aim is to be responsible stewards of the significant public support with which we have been entrusted. In fulfilling that aim, we must distribute CAC grants in a manner that is respectful not only of the treasures to which this community is home, but also of individuals from neighborhoods throughout Cuyahoga County whose passion and hard work bring rich arts and cultural experiences to our children, our schools, and all of us.”Cuyahoga County residents and visitors currently benefit from 145 organizations and programs that receive matching grants from CAC. Details of CAC grantmaking to date are included in the 2009 Report to the Community available on the CAC website. For additional information about Cuyahoga Arts and Culture or to obtain a hard copy of the updated guidelines and associated definitions, visit www.cacgrants.org or call 216.515.8303.Press Release- 11/16/09 (PDF)