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 organizations rather than a specific project or program. It is intended to help these organizations become more effective in fulfilling their mission.

GPS is available to arts and cultural programs that are operated as independent entities within their own institutions. GPS support is also provided for programming involving multiple art forms or types of programming. For example, a performing arts center that is operated as a separate entity within a college or university or a multi-arts center that serves as an umbrella for a theatre company; a community-based arts organization that produces ongoing programming in more than one art form, such as exhibitions, performing arts presentations and/or literary readings; or a neighborhood cultural center presenting a series of programs in a single art form consisting of various types of activities such as workshops, children's programs and performances.

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 organization'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.

First-time applicants must consult with NYSCA staff well before the registration deadline.

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 your organization and how it was established.

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

3. Program Overview
Describe your activities for the coming year which have as their primary focus providing cultural programs within and for communities of color or other specific ethnic communities. How do these activities help your organization to realize its artistic and cultural vision?

4. Changes and Challenges
Describe any recent significant programmatic changes, developments, and/or challenges, indicating how any challenges will be addressed.

Managerial/Fiscal

5. Staff
Detail any recent significant changes in key staff positions.

6. Governance
Describe your board in detail including committee structure, diversity, meeting schedule, and approach to staff and fiscal oversight. How do you ensure that your board is reflective of your community?

7. Organizational Development
Outline your organization's approach to institutional planning, highlighting the roles of staff and board.

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

9. 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

10. Constituency
Describe the audiences and communities served by your organization.

11. Development and Outreach
Detail efforts being undertaken to cultivate and broaden your constituency.

12. Marketing
Describe your marketing strategies.

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

14. Evaluation
Articulate how your organization evaluates its programs, services, and/or other organizational initiatives.

Support Materials

15. 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 bbrown@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 samples of flyers, performance programs, marketing materials, and catalogues that document past, current, and, if available, proposed activities.

4. Audio or visual examples of representative performances or exhibitions presented by your organization, provided on a Windows compatible CD, DVD, or reference to a website. For applicants with an exhibition component, include ten images of the work to be exhibited and two to three images of the exhibition space. Complete an eScript for Work Samples 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 audio or video 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. If your request includes a touring component, submit a list of venues with dates, attendance figures, and a percentage demographic breakdown of the audience for each.

6. For applicants with an instruction or training component: résumés of instructors, class schedule or curriculum brochure, and a representative list of former students who have entered professional careers. Submit a demographic breakdown of the audience by ethnicity.

7. Conflict of Interest policy.

8. Audited financial statement or approved board financial statement.

9. Long Range or Strategic Plan (optional)