Federal and state grant programs help performing art centers to raise money for capital projects.
The federal government and private foundations provide funding opportunities for building performing art centers. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a federal agency, is a major funder of such projects through two of its grant programs---the Organizations and Individuals Grant program and the Partnership Agreements Grants program. One private foundation that supports similar projects is the Oregon Community Foundation, and its grants usually range from $5,000 to $50,000, depending on the project.
NEA Organization Grants
The goal of the NEA's Organizations and Individuals Grant program is to expand Americans' access to the arts---through building new facilities, restoring and improving old ones and commissioning artwork. Non-profit organizations that support and finance building campaigns are eligible to apply, as well as state and local agencies.
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
202-682-5097
www.nea.gov
NEA Partnership Agreements Grants
While the NEA Organization and Individuals Grant provides substantial funding for performing art center building campaigns, it is not the only source of federal funding for projects. The NEA also partners with state governments to finance and expand their local arts priorities. The goal of this program is mainly to support existing efforts to improve local arts opportunities. The grant announcement is clear that project costs should be supplemented with non-federal dollars. Official state arts agencies are allowed to submit applications under this opportunity. (See Ref. 2)
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20506
202-682-5097
www.nea.gov
Oregon Community Foundation
The Oregon Community Foundation is a private organization that funds arts centers and other programs in Oregon.
Many performing art center building campaigns are also supported with the help of local and state private foundations, who award grants fairly regularly to artistic and cultural projects. The size, eligibility and uses of these awards vary from foundation to foundation. One foundation who has historically supported both programming and capital campaigns for performing art centers in Oregon is the Oregon Community Foundation. The primary grant program they award though an open application is their Community Grant. Their awards are typically around $15,000, though they vary according to annual funding priorities. The Community Grant program awarded $18,000 in 2008 to Film Action Oregon to expand its facilities (See Ref. 3) and $8,500 to the Ellensburg Theatre Company in 2010 for building enhancements. (See Ref. 4 and 5)
