Cultural Leadership Partners Program

These guidelines are written for new organizations who are not current Cultural Leadership Partners.

Cultural Leadership Partners currently represents 55 arts and cultural organizations that demonstrate an exemplary record of programming and managerial excellence and community service on a year-round basis to the citizens of Iowa. The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) believes these partnerships are a shared investment in a vigorous and rich cultural environment that improves the quality of life for all Iowans.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

• To strengthen the partnerships with our Cultural Leadership Partners based on mutual respect and an equal responsibility for advancing the cultural climate in Iowa.
• To encourage leadership and advocacy in advancing the role and value of arts and culture in Iowa.
• To provide predictable multi-year general operational funding support to our Cultural Leadership Partners.
• To identify creative solutions to common problems facing our Cultural Leadership Partners.
• To facilitate communication, collaboration and peer-to-peer networking between and among DCA and our Cultural Leadership Partners.

EXPECTATIONS OF DCA AND CULTURAL LEADERSHIP PARTNERS

• Assume an active leadership role in their community and the state and be perceived as being proactive in advancing and elevating the role, value and quality of the arts and culture in Iowa.
• Make programming and managerial choices that clearly demonstrate an artistic or cultural vision and a desire for growth, innovation and excellence.
• Adopt management practices that reflect professional practices and standards expected within their fields.
• Establish and strengthen networking and mentoring relationships with each other and with other arts and cultural colleagues in Iowa.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are accepted every three years from organizations not currently receiving general operational support funding through the DCA or any of its divisions. The next deadline is 4 pm (CST), July 1, 2010. This is not a postmark deadline.

Applications must be submitted on forms provided by DCA. Mail or hand-deliver applications and all supporting documents in one package to:

Department of Cultural Affairs
Cultural Leadership Partners Program
Administrative Office, 3rd Floor West
600 E Locust
Des Moines, IA 50319-0290

APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process for new organizations is evaluative and can last a year or longer. After applications are reviewed by staff for eligibility and completeness, a three-member evaluation team is formed for each applicant. The evaluation team conducts a one or two day on-site evaluative visit that typically includes:

• Extensive conversations with the organization’s staff and board regarding the application and supporting documents.
• Conversations with the applicant’s community stakeholders.

When deemed necessary by the evaluation team, additional visits may be scheduled to continue the review process and/or provide the team an opportunity to attend specific programs and services of the applicant.

Applicants that successfully complete the application process and are determined ready to be a Cultural Leadership Partner are eligible to receive operational support funding. DCA’s first priority is to fulfill our multi-year funding commitments with our current Cultural Leadership Partners. Funding of new Cultural Leadership Partners is dependent on DCA receiving additional funding for the program.

Funding amounts are determined by funding steps that are based on the organization’s average operating budget of the three previous years. Funding amounts currently range from $10,000 to $29,000.

APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA

• Artistic/Cultural Excellence
• Managerial Excellence
• Excellence of Programs and Services
• Service Area
• Constituents Served
• Leadership and Advocacy

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DCA & APPLICANTS DURING THE APPLICATION REVIEW PHASE
After an application is determined to be eligible and complete, DCA staff will:

• Arrange a meeting with the applicant to plan and schedule an on-site evaluation visit.
• Form a 3-member evaluation team that will evaluate the applicant’s readiness to become a Cultural Leadership Partner and receive general operational support funding.
• Pay all expenses of the evaluation team.

The applicant will be responsible for the following:

• Meet with DCA staff to plan the site visit.
• Identify and confirm site visit participants (employees, board members, community stakeholders).
• Provide lunch during the visit for the team and community stakeholders.
• Arrange for complimentary access for the team to attend fee-based events, programs and services the team evaluates.

FUNDING LIMITATIONS FROM OTHER DCA GRANT PROGRAMS
Organizations that receive funding through this partnership program are limited in the number and types of other funding assistance they can receive from DCA and its divisions.

1. Cultural Leadership Partners ARE NOT eligible to apply for IAC Mini Grants.

2. Cultural Leadership Partners ARE eligible to receive one IAC MAJOR GRANT per fiscal year and one DCA IOWA COMMUNITY CULTURAL GRANT per fiscal year. Due to the competitive nature of these two grant programs, receipt of additional funding support is not implied or guaranteed.

• Cultural Leadership Partners funds may not to be used as match for these two grant programs.
• When applying for funds to tour an artistic work/production to other organizations in Iowa, these applications may only request funds to support the expenses to create and/or prepare an exhibition/production/etc. to tour, but not for the actual touring/presentation expenses of the sponsor. Only the sponsor may apply to DCA or its divisions for funding assistance for these expenses.

3. Cultural Leadership Partners ARE eligible to receive one IAC EZ 1-2-3 GRANT per fiscal year. These grants are awarded on a first come, first funded basis until grant funds are expended.

4. Cultural Leadership Partners ARE eligible to apply for an IAC PARTNERSHIP GRANT. Due to limited funds, the ability of DCA/IAC to award Partnership grants is not implied or guaranteed.

5. Cultural Leadership Partners ARE eligible to receive grants through State Historical Society of Iowa granting programs. Due to the competitive nature of these programs, receipt of additional funding support is not implied or guaranteed.

APPLICATION FORM
Application forms will be posted on this website January, 2010.

Updated April 8, 2008