Building for the Arts
Building for the Arts was created by the Legislature in 1991 to award grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations. The program awards grants to performing arts, art museum, and cultural organizations for up to 20 percent of eligible capital costs for acquisition, construction, and/or major renovation of capital facilities.
Funding Availability Information
The current funding cycle is closed. The next opportunity to apply will be in the spring of 2014.
Project Qualifications
Ranking criteria include:
Ability to complete the project expediently.
Organizational capacity to run the facility effectively.
Community need.
Availability of other funding sources.
The state’s investment in these local projects provide:
Temporary construction jobs.
Permanent arts-related jobs.
Improved quality of life for residents.
The grants are funded by the sale of state bonds (no federal funds are involved). Projects are selected through a competitive grant application process conducted every two years by the Department of Commerce. An advisory committee evaluates and ranks the project applications. Commerce sends the list of recommended projects to the Governor for consideration in the upcoming capital budget.