Arts Access—Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is different about the Arts Access program compared to the outgoing Project Support program?
The main difference is eligibility: to qualify for an Arts Access grant, you must either be a new applicant or have an annual budget under $25,000 (please read the Guidelines section on Who May Apply). In the past, organizations receiving Operating Support could also apply for Project Support grants; in the new system, organizations receiving Sustainability support are ineligible for support through Arts Access, and vice versa. There are also no grant requests made to the Arts Access program; instead, grant amounts are determined using a formula based on each organization's budget and panel score. Read the Guidelines section on the Arts Access program or contact your Program Coordinator to discuss the eligibility of your application.

2. Can you give me an example of the types of projects that might be funded in this new category?
Arts Access grants are available to new organizations, applicants that have never before applied for OAC funding, community-driven one-time projects, and organizations with budgets under $25,000. Click here to read some examples of eligible projects, and please contact your OAC Program Coordinator to discuss the eligibility of your project.

3. My organization received support through the Appalachian Arts Program last year. Is it eligible for an Arts Access grant?
It may be. If the organization's budget is under $25,000, it is eligible for this program. If the budget exceeds $25,000 but you have less than 2 years of funding history with the OAC, you are also eligible. If, however, your budget exceeds $25,000 and your organization has received OAC funding for several years, you are ineligible for an Arts Access grant. You should instead read the Guidelines section on the Sustainability program.

4. My organization has one year of funding history with the OAC, and a budget of $30,000. May I apply to the Arts Access program this year, and then move to the Sustainability program next year?
We anticipate that this exception will affect only a small number of applicants. For those who are affected, the answer depends on the year in which you are applying to the OAC.

• Sustainability grants are all two-year awards, meaning that every other year there are no Sustainability applications reviewed. Applications are reviewed during the spring of every year ending in an odd number - 2005, 2007, etc. These applications are then awarded funding for fiscal years (July 1 - June 30) that end in even numbers - fiscal year 2006, fiscal year 2008, etc. No Sustainability applications are reviewed during the spring of an even-numbered year, and no new Sustainability awards are granted for an odd-numbered fiscal year.
• If your organization gains a two-year funding history at a time when applications to Sustainability are accepted and it meets all pertinent criteria, it may certainly apply.
• If your organization gains a two-year funding history at a time when applications to Sustainability are not accepted, it will have to wait until the following year to apply. In the meantime, your organization is eligible for a third year of Arts Access support.
• Organizations with budgets of less than $25,000 are eligible for the Arts Access program regardless of funding history, and therefore are not subject to these stipulations.

For more information, please contact your OAC Program Coordinator.

5. Are support materials still required as part of my application?
Yes, this program does require one complete set of support materials.  Support materials must be received in the OAC office within seven calendar days of the deadline date to be accepted.  You will be notified via e-mail when your materials have reached our office.  Please read the Support Materials section for the types of materials to include, or contact your OAC Program Coordinator.

6. May I hand deliver my support materials to the OAC office in Columbus?
Yes. Materials must be here no later than 7 days after the program deadline for which you are applying. Our office closes at 5:00 pm each business day.

7. I would like to start a non-profit arts organization. What resources exist to help me with this process?
In the Resources section of our website are lists of Ohio service organizations and other community arts organizations that may be useful contacts for you. A packet created for community arts development work in Chile entitled Developing Community through the Arts is also available for interested organizations. These resources are bilingual and available in English and Spanish. We also have several resources available only in hardcopy that may be useful; please contact your OAC Program Coordinator for more information. You may also wish to contact the Secretary of State's Office for a packet that will provide you with templates and sample documents for Articles of Incorporation and your mission statement.

8. Will the OAC panel meetings still be open to the public?
No, OAC panel meetings for this program will not be open to the public. 

9. Which OAC staff member should I contact for assistance with this program?
Program Coordinators have been assigned to assist constituents by geographic region rather than by arts discipline or OAC program. This will allow constituents to work with a single coordinator for all their questions, regardless of application type (with the exception of Arts Learning grants) and will allow our coordinators to become familiar with all the organizations in a given region of the state. For a map and listing of the regions covered please visit our staff page.

10. What is the cash match required for the Arts Access program?
There is a 1:1 match required for all organizational grants. Cash and some documented in-kind donations are allowable as part of that match.

11. How can I determine if my organization's programming or project addresses the process of creating public value for my community?
The OAC believes that practically every arts activity planned with the community creates value for people and the community-at-large in some fashion. Capturing, documenting and evaluating that value is often much more complicated! Essentially, organizations need to tell better stories about how people's lives are changed as a result of their work. For more information on current research in this area you should first begin by reading the Cultural Participation Policy section of our Guidelines. In addition, you may wish to discuss your specific question with the OAC program Coordinator in your region. He/she will have additional suggestions on ways in which you can become part of the public value conversation.