DAC Creative Showcase Grant - Pilot Program

Durham Arts Council is piloting the Creative Space Grants as a new method for making the Durham Arts Council building available to arts nonprofits and individual artists based in Durham County NC. The need for more creative space in Durham has been emphasized through the Cultural Road Map City/County Planning Process. Guidelines or application questions may be adjusted as we learn from the experience of administering these grants.  Creative Space Grants include Creative Hours Grants, Creative Showcase Grants and Creative Residency Grants. 
 

Who May Apply? 

  • Arts and cultural nonprofits incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and based in Durham County, NC
  • individual artists residing in Durham County, NC
  • Arts Administrators organizing an event on behalf of an arts nonprofit 501c(3) based in Durham County, NC.
  •  If a project is bring produced by an unincorporated group of artists, one artist may apply on behalf of the group.  
  • All applicants must be at least 18 years old.   

What Can I Request? 

  • This grant supports short term public facing arts and cultural activities—such as performances, showings and presentations. Short term is defined as 40 hours or less of room use.  The request may include rehearsals and production meetings related to the public performance or event.  Applicant can receive one Creative Showcase grant per year however the 40 hours can be used for more than one production.
  • Creative Showcase grants requesting the PSI Theatre must be submitted 120 days before the first day of event. Due to administrative procedures and theatre tech needs, any requests sent earlier will not be considered. All other Creative Showcase requests must be 2 weeks before the first date requested.

What Can I Not Request?

  • This grant does not support fund raising events.  Learn more about renting the building for fund raising events here.
  • This grant does not support commercial enterprises, except for ticketed performances or events.  If you are interested in conducting classes and workshops you can submit a proposal to the DAC School here.
  • Gallery exhibition in DAC gallery spaces.  For exhibitions contact Artist Services for information about the annual call for exhibits: cscott@durhamarts.org
  •  For closed events—such as rehearsals and meetings—please apply through the Creative Hours Grant.  
  •  For year-round use or events requiring more than 40 hours of space within a 12-month period, including office space, use the Creative Residency Grant.

 What Does the Creative Showcase Grant Cover?

  • The grant covers rental costs.
  • A cleaning/maintenance fee is charged for each use. For most events this will be $25 + the number of people present per event.
  • For activities taking place outside regular building hours, an hourly security fee will be added at $55/hour.  Regular building hours are 9-9 Monday-Saturday, 1-6 Sunday.  
  • For activities taking place in the PSI Theatre, an hourly tech fee will be added at $60/hour. 

 Your grant will appear as a credit against the total cost of your request. When your grant is awarded, you will receive a contract and invoice that itemizes all fees and grant credits. 

 What Factors Are Considered When Evaluating a Grant Application?

  •   Applicant eligibility.   
  •  Quality of the arts or arts experience and evidence of sustained commitment to arts programming or artistic practice.  
  •  Appropriateness of the activity for the DAC building.
  • How the project activates the DAC building.
  • Innovative projects and projects outside of what the DAC traditionally        presents and programs- adding new work to the arts ecosystem

More details about the entire grant process are available on the Durham Arts Council webpage for Creative Space Grants.

 

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