Folk Arts Learning Grant Guidelines

Folk Arts Learning Grants create opportunities for the Folk and Traditional Arts to thrive in Iowa by investing in learning projects that help sustain artistic traditions and cultural heritage in Iowa. Eligible projects must engage master folk artists and culture bearers to pass on their skills and knowledge to Iowans.

Funding for the Folk Arts Learning Grant Program is made possible by an appropriation from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, to the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council on behalf of the department. Applicants must adhere to the funding policies of the Iowa Arts Council and federal government through 2 CFR Part 200.

Questions

Potential applicants, especially first time applicants, are encouraged to review all published material and contact Program Manager Jennie Knoebel at jennie.knoebel@iowa.gov with questions well in advance of the application deadline.

Accessibility

The Iowa Arts Council is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to eligible applicants. For application support, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator Lindsay Keast at 515-281-8352 or lindsay.keast@iowa.gov at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline.

Timeline

Application Deadline
November 1, 2022 at 11:59 PM for the funding period of December 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023.

Selection Announcement
Applicants will be notified of funding decisions via email by November 30, 2022.

Final Report Deadline
Grant recipients are required to complete a final report by August 1, 2023.

Funding

Grant Request Amount
Applicants may request up to $5,000 in funding for eligible one-time project expenses that are incurred and expended within the eligible funding period. 

Funding Period
All project activities and incurred expenses must occur within the eligible funding period of December 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.

Applicant Requirements

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must be one of the following types of entities and must meet all of the related requirements. Entities who do not meet these requirements are not eligible to apply.

Master Folk Artists

• Master folk artists or culture bearers that are recognized as exemplary practitioners of their Folk and traditional art form ​within their cultural community. This includes being held in high regard by their peers for their skill, knowledge, and community-based practice. See Grant Terms & Definitions for how we define Folk and traditional arts.
• Current, full-time Iowa resident with permanent address in Iowa
• Legal Iowa resident as defined by Iowa Code 422.4 and Iowa Administrative Code 701.38.17 (422)
• 18 years of age or older
• An application must support a project that is initiated, produced, and/or managed by the individual artist, not another entity or organization
• Individuals who seek funding on behalf of programs or entities that are not yet formally organized as a nonprofit must apply as a nonprofit and adhere to the Fiscal Agent Policy
• Applicants who represent an artist collective, artist team, or band must apply as an individual on behalf of the group and clearly state their individual role in the project proposal as the individual will be legally obligated to the terms of the grant agreement.

Nonprofits

• Federally tax exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated and physically located in Iowa
• Physical location of the organization is defined as maintaining a current home office and registered agent address in Iowa defined by Iowa Code 490.501 as well as maintaining a primary staff presence physically located and working in Iowa
• Entities located in a border community may be eligible under the Border State Policy
• Entities not yet formally organized may be eligible under the Fiscal Agent Policy

Schools

• Public and private schools that serve grades pre-K through 12 and are physically located in Iowa
• Nonprofit institution of higher education physically located in Iowa

Communities

• Unit of local, county or federally-recognized tribal government physically located in Iowa

Ineligible Applicants

The following types of entities are not eligible to apply:

• Applicants who have already submitted two unfunded applications for the same project
• For-profit corporation or business
• Individuals enrolled in any type of undergraduate or graduate degree granting program at the time of application
• Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grantees who have already received a grant from the department for any part of the project
• Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grantees with an outstanding final report or who have been placed on a department funding moratorium

Folk Arts Learning Grant Requirements

Eligible Projects
Eligible projects must involve a master folk artist or culture bearer and the transfer of knowledge and skills to other practitioners through either a formal apprenticeship program or hands-on, participatory workshops that are accessible to Iowans.

Applicants must have a vested interest in keeping the identified artistic tradition alive. Priority is given to living art forms with fewer remaining practitioners.

All project activities must have a clear beginning and end date within the eligible funding period.

Master Artist 
A master artist must be teaching the artistic tradition. They are considered a tradition bearer who is recognized by fellow artists and community members as exceptionally skilled and committed to perpetuating a traditional art form based on their cultural heritage. Master artists selected to lead the program must demonstrate expertise and excellence, teaching ability, and deep cultural knowledge of the art form.

Apprentice or Emerging Artist
Applicants are welcome to engage an apprentice or emerging artists in the project. An apprentice artist already has some experience working within the artistic tradition, and is committed to improving their skills within that tradition to teach others in the future. An emerging artist is one that has some prior experience within the artistic tradition, but is interested in gaining skill and proficiency to carry on that tradition.

Ineligible Projects
Projects that fall outside of the identified types of eligible projects may not request funding through this grant program. Ineligible projects also include the following types of activities.

• Examples of art forms that are not eligible under this program include the work of professional teachers or contemporary studio craft workers, historical recreations and copies of antiques, or contemporary interpretations of traditional art forms (for instance, a theatre artist who wants to create a performance based on traditional storytelling or dance)
• Capital projects
• Collection maintenance, restoration or digitization
• Domestic travel dominant projects that primarily benefit the applicant
• Fundraiser or benefit event
• Lobbying activity
• Non-arts project
• Operating costs including ongoing projects or programming for which the identified beginning and end dates are arbitrary
• Projects intended primarily for students, faculty members, or other on-campus or in-school audiences
• Projects that result in an applicant’s course credit, degree or certification
• Projects that occur prior to or after the funding period
• Projects that have already received an Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grant for any part or phase of the project
• Religious activity

Budget Requirements
Folk Arts Learning Grants support one-time, direct eligible project expenses that are essential to the completion of the proposed project. Expenses identified in the grant request should be based on competitive, current market pricing. These grant funds do not need to be matched by the applicant.

Eligible Grant Request Expenses
The grant request expenses must be legitimate parts of the proposed project and must be incurred and expended within the eligible funding period. Eligible grant request and match expenses include direct project costs such as:

• Master artist’s honorarium
• Domestic Travel for master artist and apprentice(s) (e.g. mileage, accommodation, per diem)
• Marketing to help with apprentice/emerging artist recruitment or to promote events
• Necessary tools, equipment, and materials for the apprentice or student’s work
• Personnel Time Dedicated to the Project* (e.g. planning, execution, evaluation time)

*Applicant must demonstrate how personnel time is specifically dedicated to the proposed project. Personnel benefits are not eligible.

Ineligible Grant Request
Expenses that fall outside of the identified eligible expenses for the project may not be included as part of the grant request. Applicants that include ineligible expenses in the grant request will be considered ineligible.

Ineligible grant request expenses include:

• Acquisition/purchase of artwork including public art
• Activity that results in an applicant’s course credit, degree or certification
• Budget shortfalls
• Capital expenditures, including equipment over a total of $5,000 per unit
• Collection maintenance or restoration expenses
• Deficit or debt reduction, including loan, line-of-credit, or mortgage payments
• Donations or contributions to other organizations
• Expenses incurred prior to or after the funding period
• Food, beverage, and alcohol
• Foreign travel
• Fundraising or benefit activity expenses
• Home studio/office costs or expenses, including utilities and mortgage payments
• Lobbying activity
• Ongoing or operating expenses, including utilities, rent/lease, office supplies, and personnel time that is not dedicated to the project
• Personnel benefits
• Prizes and awards
• Property maintenance, restoration or renovation expenses
• Unallowable expenses for federal awards as defined in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles

Iowa Arts Council Administered Grant Program Eligibility

• Applicants may not submit more than one application during a single grant deadline or cycle regardless of grant program
• Applicants may not submit more than two applications for the same project regardless of fiscal year if both applications are unfunded
• Projects may not receive more than one Iowa Arts Council administered grant regardless of applicant, phase of project or fiscal year

Funding Priorities

Applications are encouraged from all applicants that meet the applicant eligibility requirements; however, priority will be placed on applications from individuals and organizations that are led by or primarily serve populations that have historically been under-resourced by arts and cultural funding due to rural geography, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status as defined in the Grants Terms and Definitions for fiscal year 2023.

Review Process

Department Eligibility Review

Submitted applications are reviewed by staff for completion, eligibility and adherence to published funding priorities and guidelines. Applications are reviewed as submitted. New application information or subsequent application clarification submitted after a program deadline is not considered unless requested by a program manager. Staff will also review an applicant’s record of compliance and good standing with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, State and Federal government. Applications or applicants determined by staff to be ineligible or incomplete will not move forward to panel review and are specifically denied any appeals process.

Competitive Panel Review

Eligible applications will be referred to a competitive review by a panel of professionals with appropriate expertise commensurate to the purpose of the grant program. Applications will be scored and ranked based on the published scoring rubric. Recommendations are submitted to the Administrator of the Iowa Arts Council and Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs for consideration and funding approval. Applications will be awarded funding based on the ranked list, funding priorities, and available funding. All funding decisions are final and may not be appealed due to dissatisfaction. Applicants may review the department appeals policy for information on grounds for appeal and the appeal process.

Decision Notification

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by November 30, 2022. Applicants are notified of the status of their application whether they are or are not selected to receive funding. Applicants will be contacted if any additional information is required and are encouraged to refrain from contacting staff for application status updates until funding decisions are made.

Online Application Submission

Applicants must submit applications via the Iowa Arts Council’s SlideRoom, an online application portal. Applications will not be accepted in any other format. Late, incomplete or ineligible applications will not be accepted. Applicants can access the current online application requirements at iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com. Applicants must create a login to view the full application requirements for the program. Applicants can visit help.liaisonedu.com for assistance related to the online submission.

Project Description
Describe the proposed program for which grant funds are being sought, including:

• overall apprenticeship/residency program structure and the folk art discipline or tradition that will be taught
• the need for training new artists in the identified folk art discipline or tradition and how the artists will be recruited to participate
• timeline for program planning and activities to take place