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  General Operating Support

General Operating Support represents an investment by NYSCA in an organization's ongoing work, rather than a specific project or program. GOS is intended to help organizations become more effective in fulfilling their mission.

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 GOS support.

GOS grants will be no less than $5000 and shall not exceed 25% of an organization's budget, based on the income and expense statement for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year. GOS 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:

Individual Artists

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

An applicant for GOS must meet the following conditions:

  • A primary focus in the discipline in which the organization is seeking GOS.
  • Organizational mission is primarily devoted to arts and culture with a prior record of accomplishment in producing or presenting cultural activities.
  • Demonstrate fiscal stability as indicated by such factors as a positive Fund Balance; an absence of substantial, recurring organizational deficits; a realistic and balanced organizational budget; diverse revenue sources; and strong internal controls.
  • One or more qualified, salaried administrative staff.
  • A viable board of directors and officers that exercises oversight and accountability for governance, operations, programming and finances.
  • Must have ongoing programs, exhibitions, productions or other art and cultural activities that are open to the general public.

  • Application Instructions

    The online application form includes the questions below. Applicants are also required to submit: online Organizational Budget for the current fiscal year, Project Budget (projected Organizational Budget; please use the Budget Notes section to detail income and expense items), Cultural Data Project Report and support materials.

    Please note that your request amount should not exceed 25% of the total Project Budget.

    First-time applicants are required to call staff before the registration deadline.


    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 programs and/or services for the coming year and how they help your organization to realize your 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.

    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 materials 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 khelmerson@nysca.org or cleahy@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 (do not include press coverage, reviews or notices).

    4. Conflict of Interest policy.

    5. Audited financial statement or approved board financial statement.

    6. Long Range or Strategic Plan (optional).

    7. Up to 10 images that best represent your request for support.

    8. One copy each of sample programs and organizational flyers, catalogs or brochures of the past two years.

    9. Program schedules including a list of participating or exhibiting artists and works presented over the past two years.

    For GOS Workspace Facilities requests, please include:

    1. A list of participating artists for current and previous years, dates on site and stipends paid. Identify New York State artists.

    2. List of available tools, equipment and computers, including special software, available on site for artists' use.

    3. Recent written evaluations (at least 3 and up to 10) from New York State based artists who have participated in your workspace program.

    4. Work samples in cases where there is training or workshops.

    For GOS Exhibitions and Installations, please include:

    1. An exhibition schedule for the proposed year of activity and any comments relating to the schedule, including: date of exhibition(s), minimum and maximum artist's fees, title of exhibition(s), names of curator(s) and artists involved in the exhibition. Note those artists confirmed to date.

    Visual Arts

    Intro
    Exhibitions and Installations
    General Operating Support
    General Program Support
    Regrants and Partnerships
    Services to the Field
    Workspace Facilities
    Printer friendly version
    Technical Assistance
    eScript for Work Samples
    Instructions for Work Samples & Support Materials
      ©2004 New York State Council on the Arts.