Iowa Arts Council Policies
Appeals Process
Audits
Border States
Compensation to Artists
Diversity
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
Extensions
Fiscal Agent
Freedom of Expression
Funding Procedures
Imagine Iowa 2010 Goals
Political Advocacy
Public Information
Record Keeping
Appeals Process
The Iowa Arts Council has established an appeals process for its grant programs. Please note that incomplete applications are specifically denied any appeals process.
Requests for appeals must be made in writing and be postmarked or received in the office within 30 days of receipt of notification of the Council’s decision. An informal appeals process [Iowa Code 22-2.3(32)a-d] is available only to applicants whose applications were declined on procedural impropriety or error as evidenced by any of the following reasons:
- The application was declined on the basis of review criteria other than those appearing in the guidelines.
- The application was declined due to influences on the advisory committee or board by members who willfully or unwillingly failed to disclose conflicts of interest.
- The application was declined because of highly erroneous information provided by staff, review committee, or board members at the time of review despite the fact that the applicant provided accurate and complete information on regulation forms as part of the standard application process.
- A formal appeals process also exists. Decisions by the administrator may be appealed through the contested case process as set out in Iowa Code sections 17A.10 to 17A.19.
Audits
Grant recipients may be asked by the Iowa Arts Council or the National Endowment for the Arts to submit to periodic on-site programmatic, managerial and fiscal audits. If a recipient receives $500,000 or more in Federal funds, grant recipients are subject to federal audit requirements in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133 for the year in which the funds were received and spent. Information about Circular A-133 auditing requirements can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a133/a133.html.
Border States
Applicants located in states bordering Iowa are eligible for project support if the project clearly demonstrates that a majority of the individuals/participants involved in the project are Iowans. Additionally, the applicant must be located in a bordering community immediately adjacent to Iowa. Nonprofit organization applicants in border states must still comply with other IAC rules for eligible organizations, including being incorporated under the Iowa nonprofit corporation Act and being federally tax-exempt.
Compensation to Artists
Artists must be compensated financially for their services. The Iowa Arts Council expects applicants to adequately compensate artists for their services and expenses.
Diversity
Making the arts accessible to Iowans of all races, cultures, religions, abilities and economic backgrounds is a priority in all Iowa Arts Council programs and services. The Council recognizes Iowa’s rich diversity by promoting artistic expression as a tool to value and celebrate the cultural life of each community.
An important aim of Council programs and services is to encourage opportunities that integrate the arts of diverse cultures and increase access to the arts. In considering grant requests and roster applicants, the Council prioritizes applications that utilize events or procedures that broaden the public’s cultural awareness and participation. Methods to address diversity in your community include involving individuals from diverse populations and/or organizations by representing them in the planning, implementation, evaluation and follow-up of a program.
Assistance with translation in grant preparation is available upon request.
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and services of the Iowa Arts Council is provided to all individuals regardless of race, national origin, color, creed, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or associational preference.
In evaluating applications, review committees consider the efforts of applicants to increase the accessibility of their product or services to the public. Sponsors and grant recipients are required by federal law not to discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, or any person participating in Council funded or sponsored projects and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, physical or mental disability.
All parties involved in projects and activities funded or sponsored by the Council must comply with:
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
- The Fair Labor Standards under Section 5(j) of the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965,
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Extensions
Grant recipients must request extensions to their contracted grant period in advance, in writing or via email from the IAC Grants Office. Requests will be approved at the discretion of staff. Extensions may only occur within the fiscal year of the original grant; the IAC will not extend any grants beyond June 30 of the applicable fiscal year.
Fiscal Agent
If your nonprofit organization does not have federal tax exempt status, you may apply through an eligible nonprofit and federal tax-exempt organization, which agrees to be the legal Applicant/Fiscal Agent for the grant activity. The eligible organization becomes the legal applicant of record, redistributes the funds to the intended receiver and is responsible for all requirements of the granting program. This includes contracts, fiscal records and final reports. Both the Fiscal Agent and the Nonprofit Organization must sign the application.
All 501(c) statuses are acceptable except for 501(c)6. Organizations with 501(c)6 status are NOT permitted to use fiscal agents with appropriate federal tax-exempt status to avoid this requirement.
The Iowa Arts Council recommends that the fiscal agent enter into a formal agreement with the group implementing the project, outlining the working relationship between the two parties.
Individuals should not apply for IAC grants using fiscal agents. Please contact IAC staff with any questions about this policy.
Freedom of Expression
The mission of the Iowa Arts Council is to enrich the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. Support of free speech is the centerpiece of this mission. The Council is an advocate for and defender of the right of free speech for all citizens under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The Council also recognizes the need for public support of the arts and understands the responsibilities that accompany the allocation of public funds. The Council seeks the advice of qualified Iowans through the use of review committees for funding recommendations. To uphold and maintain the highest artistic standards and to encourage excellence in the arts is a directive of the Council. The Council respects the integrity of an artist’s personal vision and right to freedom of expression. Attempts to control or censor the arts are rejected by the Council. The Council supports freedom of choice and access to the arts for all citizens.
Funding Procedures
The Iowa Arts Council distributes funds across Iowa in the form of grants. In all cases, the following elements apply:
- Applicant must submit a complete application, according to guidelines specific to the funding program.
- Applicant must meet eligibility requirements specified in the program guidelines.
- Applications are reviewed according to the criteria and timeline specified for the funding program.
- Grant recipients are legally bound to meet the obligations specified in the Iowa Arts Council Service Contract, which is signed and submitted with the application.
Imagine Iowa 2010 Goals
Imagine Iowa 2010 is a set of goals and priorities identified by Iowa citizens, so that by 2010, Iowa will be distinguished as a national leader in culture with support for an environment that allows the arts, history, humanities and sciences to thrive. The Imagine Iowa 2010 goals provide vision and direction for the Department of Cultural Affairs, and for the Iowa Arts Council as a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Funding programs of the Iowa Arts Council, and priorities within those programs, advance the vision of Imagine Iowa 2010. Grant applications and special projects which do not advance Imagine Iowa 2010 are unlikely to be supported by the Iowa Arts Council. More information on Imagine Iowa 2010 can be found on the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs' web site.
Political Advocacy
Recipients of Iowa Arts Council grants may not utilize funds for any lobbying purposes.
Public Information
Information submitted to the Iowa Arts Council as part of grant, roster, and scholarship applications is public information, in accordance with Code of Iowa Section 22.11, the Fair Information Practices Act. This policy is in accordance with 221–Chapter 2, Iowa Administrative Code. For additional information please consult the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Open Records Policy.
Record Keeping
All grant recipients are required to keep financial records, supporting documents, statistical records and all other records pertinent to grants for a minimum of three years after the end of the project. Grant funds may be considered taxable income. Please consult with qualified tax consultants.
