Registration deadline: January 22, 2010
Application deadline: February 17, 2010

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants in the Decentralization category must meet the following requirements.

Additional Evaluative Criteria

In addition to the three Council-wide evaluative criteria, applicants in this category will be evaluated according to the following additional criteria.

The Community Cultural Regranting Plan

Decentralization Site Administration

The Council provides for Decentralization site administration funds that generally range between 20% and 30% of the total local regranted funds. The DEC site administration portion of the request details expenses incurred in administering the local DEC program, including salaries, clerical support, advertising, printing, travel, etc. as shown on the project budget form. The Council recognizes that the administrative support it can provide generally does not meet the full administrative expenses of the regrant program.

Application Instructions

The on-line application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Required support materials are listed below.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Program Overview
Describe your local Decentralization program and its relationship to your organization's mission. Include county or counties served, an outline of the goals of the program in terms of your local cultural plan. When was the cultural plan last revisited? 

2. DEC Site Profile
For the most recently completed DEC cycle, detail the number of applicants and the number of funded organizations. Indicate the number of organizations of color, and organizations that serve communities of color. Also provide a list of new first-time applicants to your local program. 

3. Challenges
Highlight the primary needs and challenges that arose in the cultural plan and your strategies for meeting those needs through your regranting and service components. 

4. Cultural Regranting Plan Components
If your plan calls for regranting programs for other than basic arts programming, such as for individual artists, organizational development, etc., describe specific plans for promoting and monitoring those programs. If applicable, provide a representative sample of any such grants and accompanying services you provided in past. 

Managerial/Fiscal

5. DEC Coordinator Position
Describe the duties of the DEC Coordinator and outline his/her role in the organization, covering hours, rate of pay, and any other duties or job functions that the DEC coordinator has in the organization. Describe any professional development and training opportunities provided for the coordinator.   

6. Panels
How do you select your DEC panelists? If you are making targeted grants (e.g. for individual artists), how do your panel selection process and panel meeting procedures serve the particular needs of this component? If you are a regional site, how does your panel selection process insure regional representation? 

7. DEC Site Budget
Describe plans and resources that supplement NYSCA funds to ensure that program goals are met, noting both cash and in-kind support. Describe your Board commitment towards raising the necessary additional funds to support the DEC program

8. Governance
How has the Board contributed to the success of DEC within your organization and your service area?

Service to the Public

9. Outreach
List the planned schedule of application seminars for the upcoming DEC cycle. Also, describe the outreach plans to ensure DEC program visibility and participation in all parts of the service area. Where applicable, describe how your advisory committee is involved in this work. 

10. Technical/Developmental Assistance
Outline your technical/developmental services plan in relationship to identified cultural needs. Describe the role of DEC site staff and outside professional assistance in providing technical services. Plans may include local assessment methods, constituent meetings, information services, other re-grant program offered, and a list of development seminars/workshops offered to local groups and artists. 

11. Program Context
Briefly describe other arts funding opportunities in your community, either administered by your organization or by other funders, in addition to the arts development funding that you offer. Describe any efforts made to coordinate these arts funding opportunities.

Support Materials (2 copies each, except where indicated)

Support materials must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Program by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.