These funds are allocated to Franklin County through the Grassroots Arts Program administered by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, a state agency. The Franklin County Arts Council is the designated, Local Distributing Agent for these funds. The Grassroots Arts Program funds may be spent for any type arts programming meeting criteria outlined below in Franklin County. Deadline for applications is September 30, 2006.

The Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Grassroots Arts Program Requirements, Guidelines, and Criteria for your review as well as an application packet. If you have a project in mind that falls into a category for funding consideration, please contact the Franklin County Arts Council and we will be glad to assist you in project development and in the final grant application, either through subgrants or other state grants.

The Franklin County Arts Council will consider grant applications from Franklin County organizations for projects which explore directions or provide special services to the community. Organizations must operate on a non-profit basis, and have been in existence for one year. The grant limit is not to exceed $800.00. If your organization requests more than this amount or if your application form is not completed you will not be considered for funding. Organizations must show effective use of previous grants, including sound accounting and prompt as well as complete reporting practices. Failure to do so will result in loss of grant consideration. Previous awards from the Arts Council does not guarantee continued funding.

The following criteria shall be considered in evaluating your organization's requests for funding.

• Complements the mission of the Arts Council. (to encourage, sponsor, develop, promote, and coordinate cultural and educational activities in Franklin County).
• Demonstrates management and fiscal capability.
• Fills a demonstrated need in the county.
• Is feasible and workable.
• Identifies, develops or employs local artists.
• Demonstrates efforts to actively involve traditionally undeserved audiences and reflects racial and cultural diversity in Franklin County.
• Demonstrates strong cooperation and support among community organizations, cultural organizations and artists.
• Provides opportunities for the creation and/or presentation of new work which is innovative
• Does not duplicate a program by another group.
• Indicates strong need for grant.
• Demonstrates ability to monitor and evaluate project.
• Is able to generate matching funds.
• Plans for future funding.

Subgrant funds must be matched one-to-one. Matching funds must be in cash, and may not be used to match other Arts Council grants. Subgrant funds and matching project funds have to be spent on the same project, and must be spent in the same fiscal year. Specific projects that have been funded in the last two or three years will not necessarily be given priority consideration. We encourage innovative programming and preferential consideration will be given to those projects who most complement the Franklin County Arts Council's overall priorities. In an effort to advocate a more creative approach to project development, previous grantees are being encouraged to submit grant applications with projects differing in nature than those funded in the past. Allowable costs include arts operations, programming and administrative expenses, but not food, capital expenditures or permanent personnel positions.

The grant funding period expires on June 30 of each year, funds must be used prior to that time and unused monies are to be returned to the Arts Council. A project evaluation and final report are due by June 28 or at completion of your project, whichever comes first.

Please include the following credit line in all publicity for the project (news releases, posters, flyers, programs, notices, etc.) THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE FRANKLIN COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL THROUGH THE GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL, A STATE AGENCY AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS.

For additional information contact the Franklin County Arts Council, PO Box 758, Louisburg, NC 27549 or call the Arts Council at 919-496-1191 and leave a message on the machine and we will call you as soon as possible.