New Federal and National Opportunities
ARP Arts Funding for Rural and Tribal Communities
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has released guidelines and applicant resources for two funding opportunities through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help arts and culture sectors recover from the pandemic. These opportunities are open to nonprofit arts and culture organizations, local governments, federally recognized tribal communities or tribes, and local arts agencies regardless of whether they have received NEA funding in the past. NEA is encouraging applications from a variety of eligible organizations including organizations that serve underserved populations; organizations with small and medium-sized budgets; organizations from rural to urban communities; and organizations applying for federal support through the Arts Endowment for the first time. Links to guidelines, applicant resources, and other materials can be found here. Applications for local arts agencies to sub-grant are due on July 22, 2021. Applications for arts and culture organizations, local governments, and tribes are due on August 12, 2021. On July 8 at 12:00 p.m. ET, NEA team Art of the Rural and First Peoples Fund will offer a workshop to explore these two ARP grant opportunities. Register here for the workshop.
Aspen CSG Compilation of Federal Resources for Rural Communities
The Aspen Institute's Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG) is collecting links and resources to explain federal opportunities for rural communities and people. Aspen CSG is currently tracking and expanding resources coming out of the American Rescue Plan and other federal action and legislation on a new webpage. Visit the Federal Resources for Rural America page here. If you have a rural resource or analysis you would like to add to the webpage, please share by filling out this form.
Our Town Placemaking Grants Program
The National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking Our Town grant program supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes. Projects require a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000. All grants require a nonfederal cost share/match. Initial applications due August 5.
Provide Input on USDA Program Access and Use
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a Federal Register notice inviting public input on its efforts to advance equity, racial justice, and support for underserved rural communities. Input will help USDA to identify barriers that people of color, underserved communities, and others may face in obtaining information on USDA programs and services and engaging with USDA grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs; identify opportunities to address systemic inequities and determine ways to best engage external stakeholders and community members to increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees, and decision-making processes; and use feedback to inform the Racial Equity Commission USDA seeks to launch later this year. The deadline to provide input is July 15, 2021.
Smithsonian Institution Spark! Exhibit Seeks Rural Innovations
Spark! Places of Innovation, a forthcoming exhibition hosted by the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street Traveling Exhibit Service, will feature stories about towns with populations less than 25,000 that are experiencing economic revitalization, artistic energy, collaboration, environmental sustainability initiatives, community transformation, historic preservation, technological invention, entrepreneurship, or reinvention. To share a town story for consideration, apply by July 16, 2021.
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