Registration deadline: February 22, 2011
Application deadline: April 1, 2011

General Program Support (GPS) represents an investment by NYSCA for ongoing activities of arts and cultural programs that are operated as independent entities within their own organization or for significant arts programming within a non-profit whose mission is not art-based. For example, a performing arts center that is operated as a separate entity within a college or university or a multi-arts center that umbrellas a theatre.

The Council examines the nature, scope, and quality of an organization's programs and activities, its managerial and fiscal competence, and its public service when considering the provision and level of GPS support.

GPS grants will be no less than $5000 and shall not exceed 25% of the arts or cultural program's budget, based on the income and expense statement for the most recently completed fiscal year. GPS support is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Eligibility for other NYSCA support

Applicants cannot apply for both General Operating Support and General Program Support.

Organizations receiving GOS from NYSCA may also apply for project support in other disciplines. In addition, sponsored applicants and the following categories are exempt from the three-request limit:

Apprenticeships (Folk Arts)

Independent Projects (Architecture, Planning & Design)

Commissions (Dance)

Long-Term Residencies (Dance)

Rehearsal Space (Dance)

Translation (Literature)

Facilities (formerly Capital Projects)

Decentralization

Regrants (all disciplines)

Partnerships (all disciplines)

Prerequisites

Application Instructions

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Background
Describe the program for which support is requested in this application, how it was developed, and how it relates to your organization as a whole.

2. Artistic/Cultural Vision
Articulate your program's artistic and/or cultural vision.

3. Program Overview
Describe your programs, services and/or field research for the coming year and how they help your organization to realize your artistic and cultural vision. Discuss any new programs and/or initiatives which are planned for the next two years, your goals in undertaking these activities and the expected outcomes.

4. Changes and Challenges
Describe any significant programmatic changes, developments, and/or challenges, indicating how any challenges are being addressed.

5. Collection of Field Research Materials
If your organization has carried out field research to document folk arts traditions, describe the archive receiving field research materials, including materials in the collection, storage equipment, accessibility, location, description and cataloguing methods, and policies pertaining to access to the public.

Managerial/Fiscal

6. Staff
Identify the key administrative and artistic staff members responsible for this program. Detail any recent significant changes in key staff positions.

7. Governance
Identify this program's board or advisory committee. Describe in detail the committee structure, diversity, meeting schedule, and approach to staff and fiscal oversight of the governing body responsible for this program. Also, discuss the relationship of the applicant organization's board to this arts and cultural program.

8. Facilities
Describe the facilities used for this program.

9. Organizational Development
Outline your program's approach to planning, highlighting the roles of staff and board. Discuss how this program is incorporated into your organization's long range plan.

10. Finances
Detail your plans for meeting current and future expenses of this program. Include sources of earned and unearned income. Explain any current and/or recurring surplus or deficits.

11. Artist and Programmatic Consultant Fees
Indicate how payment to artists and any outside consultants is determined. Please include your range of fees.

Service to the Public

12. Constituency
Describe the audiences and communities served by this arts program.

13. Development and Outreach
Detail efforts being undertaken to cultivate and broaden the constituency for this program.

14. Marketing
Describe your marketing strategies.

15. Online Resources
Describe your use of the Internet and social media.

16. Evaluation
Articulate how this program evaluates its programs, services, and/or other organizational initiatives.

Support Materials

17. Support Materials
Please list all of the support materials and/or work samples you are submitting. These materials are critical to your application's assessment.

Support Material

Support material must be postmarked, hand-delivered or made available online by the deadline. Please direct them to your appropriate contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or rbaron@nysca.org or rputnam@nysca.org.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Refer to the Instructions for Work Samples and Support Materials prior to submission.

NYSCA encourages the submission of Web-based Work Samples and Support Material whenever possible.

1. Résumés or biographical statements of key staff.

2. Organizational Chart.

3. Representative marketing materials, brochures or other printed materials used for public programs.

4. Audio and/or visual examples representing recent public programs, presentations and/or exhibitions, on a Windows compatible CD, DVD, or reference to a website. If your organization undertakes field research of living traditions, provide audio and/or visual examples of documentation activity, and sample release forms used for interviewees. Complete a visual support materials script to accompany your audio or visual examples. Audio or video documentation samples should be cued to the excerpts you would like the panel to see or hear. The total length of the samples may not exceed 5 minutes. See the Instructions for Work Samples & Support Materials for tips on providing support materials on CDs or DVDs.

5. Conflict of Interest policy.

6. Audited financial statement or approved board financial statement.

7. Long Range or Strategic Plan (optional).