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

General Operating Support (GOS) provides unrestricted support for ongoing institutional activities of museums that own and care for a collection, or for museum service organizations.  The Council examines the nature, scope, and quality of an organization's programs and activities, its managerial and fiscal competence and public service when considering the provision and level of GOS support.  Such support reflects NYSCA's recognition of the artistic and organizational capabilities of qualified arts and cultural organizations.

GOS grants will be no less than $5,000, and will not exceed 25% of an organization's budget.  In the Museum Program, GOS awards for Museums are often less than 8% of an organization’s budget.  GOS support is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for GOS, an organization must meet each of the following conditions.

Eligibility for Other Museum Program Funds

Organizations receiving General Operating Support from the Museum Program may not apply for additional support within the Program.

Additional funds may be requested from other discipline programs of the Council. Please be reminded of the Council's four-request limit.

Application Instructions

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

First-time GOS applicants are strongly advised to consult with Program staff well before the registration deadline.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Program Overview
What are your organization’s ongoing programs?  

2. Changes/Developments
What new programs and/or initiatives are planned for the next three years?  What are your goals in undertaking these activities and expected outcomes?

3. Challenges
What are your key programmatic challenges and how will you overcome them?

4. Collections
What does your collection include and what is its significance? How do you care for it?  Please describe your collection in terms of local, regional, national and/or international significance, noting its size as well as breadth/depth.  

Managerial/Fiscal

5. Staff
What is your staffing structure?  Please indicate the principal positions.  Have there been any changes of key staff members?  If so, what has been the impact of those changes?

6. Governance
What is the size and committee structure of your board?  How often do they meet? How are board members recruited?  How reflective are they of your community?  Do board members have term limits?  Please describe the involvement of your board in management and program oversight.

7. Organizational Development
How do you actively engage board, staff and the public in organizational planning?

8. Finances
How is the current financial landscape affecting your organization?  What are your plans for meeting current and future expenses?  How is your board involved in these efforts?

Service to the Public

9. Current Audience
Who are the audiences and communities served by your organization?

10. Expanded Audience
What are some opportunities for audience growth and diversification?  What steps are you taking to accomplish this?

11. Membership
If you are a membership organization, how many members do you have, and how fully do they represent your audience and community?  What are some potential areas of growth?  What levels of membership and benefits do you offer?

12. Marketing
What strategies are used for expanding and diversifying audiences through the packaging, promotion and pricing of programs?  Please describe a recent success.

13. Online Resources
How do you use the Internet and social media to better serve the public?  Please include your URL.

14. Assessment
How do you set programmatic goals?  How do you carry out the ongoing assessment of programs, services and/or other organizational initiatives?

15. Community Context
What other organizations provide similar or complementary arts services to the community and how do you work in partnership with them?

Support Materials

Support material must be postmarked, hand-delivered, emailed or made available online.  Please direct them to your appropriate program contact at: NYSCA, 175 Varick Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10014 or kherron@nysca.org, fchiu@nysca.org, or cleahy@nysca.org by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.