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Home > Grants > Guideline Changes

Guideline Changes

Changes in

  • Fellowship Guidelines
      • Changing the way we review the fellowship applications
      Redefining the Design category as Design/Applied Arts
      Amending the language dealing with residency requirements
      Accepting digital submissions
  • Project Grant Guidelines

      • Eliminating the single project “focus questions” (e.g. Advocacy: What can you as an artist or organization do to make the arts a more visible part of your community?)
      To clarify the amount that can be requested
      To ensure that support to individual artists is not used to fund organizational programming or for-profit business ventures
      Allowing in-kind contributions for up to half the match (up to 25% of total project costs) for Education applicants only
      “Activities that have a religious purpose” would be changed to “Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities.”
      “Hospitality expenses, i.e., receptions, parties, gallery openings.”, would be changed to “Hospitality expenses, such as food and beverage for openings or receptions. Under no circumstances will the purchase or distribution of alcoholic beverages be supported.”

      We have also prepared a draft project application form

    Fellowship Guideline Changes

    Changing the way we review the fellowship applications: "A panel consisting of one in-state member, one out-of-state member and a third regional (not to exclude Rhode Island) member chosen for their involvement, mastery, or accomplishments in a particular arts discipline reviews each applicant’s support materials."

    Redefining the Design category as Design/Applied Arts: "Design/Applied Arts is defined as work created using an applied, utilitarian approach, with a focus on problem solving and production. The category may include architectural, landscape, urban, fashion, interior, industrial, and graphic design. Submit a minimum of 8, maximum of 10 images on PC compatible disc or slides, as well as a design statement of 500 words or less that describes the process of production or problem solving related to the support materials submitted."

    Amending the language dealing with residency requirements for applicants to match state law: "Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age and a resident of the State of Rhode Island for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the date of application. Rhode Island State Law (§ 44-30-5) defines a "resident" as someone "who is domiciled in this state" or "who is not domiciled in this state but maintains a permanent place of abode in this state and is in this state for an aggregate of more than one hundred eighty-three (183) days of the taxable year."

    Accepting digital submissions: "Applicants may submit a PC compatible CD instead of slides for visual works. Files must be numbered with images corresponding to a numbered Support Materials Reference Sheet that includes the title, medium, size, year of completion and other applicable information depending on the specific discipline (the artist's name should not appear on this sheet.) The artist's name should be written on the disc, but CANNOT appear on or alongside digital images themselves. Any digital images labeled with the artist's name or any other personal identification or information will be disqualified. Images must be in JPEG format, 150 - 400 dpi, 600 x 900 pixels, and no more than 500 KB. Please be aware that if your images do not meet the minimum dpi they may be deficient in quality for panel review. All files must be saved with the number corresponding to the Support Materials Reference Sheet. (For example, Fellowship1.jpeg or Photography2.jpeg). Please do not imbed images into a Power Point presentation. Adobe Photoshop will be used to open JPEGs. If they cannot be easily opened, they will not be considered. Emailed images will not be accepted."

    Project Guideline Changes

    Eliminating the single project “focus questions” (e.g. Advocacy: What can you as an artist or organization do to make the arts a more visible part of your community?) and replacing it with "Areas of Special Council Interest" (“All grant applicants should demonstrate how their project addresses one or more of the following special Council interest areas:”):

    Areas of Special Council Interest The Arts Council seeks to foster a strong, vibrant Rhode Island arts community that is diverse in its public offerings and provides the people of this state with the greatest public benefit possible. Through its planning process, the Council identifies areas of special interest that it seeks to promote through its funding programs. The Council intends to support applicants that make significant contributions to one or more of the following areas:

    • Employing, engaging or presenting Rhode Island artists, or producing/presenting their works.

    • Producing or presenting new works of art or works that strive to make significant contributions to the advancement of the art form.

    • Promoting heritage and cultural diversity and diversifying cultural participation.

    • Implementing arts education as a core subject area, education reform inclusive of the arts, and life long learning in and through the arts.

    • Encouraging access to and participation in the arts by persons in underserved areas

    • Promoting accessibility to the arts for people with disabilities. Applicants must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and make their programs as accessible as possible.

    • Expanding the number and breadth of partnerships that work to make the arts a vital part of community life and extend the reach of arts projects

    • Making the arts a vital part of economic development and cultural tourism.

    To clarify the amount that can be requested: “Applicants may request up to a maximum of $10,000, or up to half the cost of the project, whichever is less”

    To ensure that support to individual artists is not used to fund organizational programming or for-profit business ventures: "Individuals who are paid staff of a non-profit organization that receives GOS support from RISCA cannot apply for funding for projects that are part of that organization's programming. Individuals who are paid staff or proprietors of a for-profit organization cannot apply for funding for projects that are a product or service of that organization. Individuals and organizations cannot apply for funding for the same project at the same deadline."

    Allowing in-kind contributions for up to half the match (up to 25% of total project costs) for Education applicants only

    Under "What we do not fund", “Activities that have a religious purpose” would be changed to “Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities.”

    Under "What we do not fund", "“Hospitality expenses, i.e., receptions, parties, gallery openings.”, would be changed to “Hospitality expenses, such as food and beverage for openings or receptions. Under no circumstances will the purchase or distribution of alcoholic beverages be supported.”