For Immediate Release: February 8, 2008
Contact: Jeff Morgan
Public Relations
515.281.3858
Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov
Iowa Arts Council Major Grant applications due April 1
(DES MOINES, Iowa)— Iowa artists, arts organizations, schools and other community groups applying for Major Grant funding from the Iowa Arts Council have until April 1, 2008 to submit applications and support materials.
Grant applications and support materials are due in the IAC offices, 600 E. Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 by 4:30 p.m. on April 1. Grant applicants must visit www.iowaartscouncil.org and use eGRANT, IAC’s online grant application and submission system. In addition, hard copies of support materials, work samples and the service contract must be received in the IAC office by 4:30 p.m. on April 1.
Projects submitted under the April 1 deadline must occur during IAC’s fiscal year 2009 that begins July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2009. Contact Linda Lee at linda.lee@iowa.gov or 515-242-6194 for more information.
IAC Major Grants are designed to provide financial assistance for projects developed to bring excellence in the arts to all Iowans. The program emphasizes artistic excellence, service to Iowans, and solid project planning and implementation. Applicants may request up to $10,000 but no more than 50 percent of the project’s total expenses. Applicants must match the amount requested.
IAC Major Grants are available in the following categories:
- Artist Grants
- Artists in Schools and Communities Residency Grants
- Arts in Education Grants
- Conference, Workshop & Forum Grants
- Folk & Traditional Arts Grants
- Organization Grants
- Public Art Grants
For fiscal year 2008, requests for IAC Major Grants outpaced available funds. IAC received 144 applications requesting nearly $1.2 million in major arts and organizational grants and awarded 39 of them $255,000.
Iowa ranks 45th in the country for investments in the arts per capita, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Iowa invests $0.41 cents in the arts per capita compared to the national average of $1.07. Hawaii ranks first at $4.84; Maryland, New York, Delaware and Rhode Island round out the top five.
Minnesota is the highest ranked Midwestern state at 9th. Other Midwestern states invest the following in the arts per capita:
(State, investment per capita, rank)
- Illinois, $1.06, 18th
- South Dakota, $0.79, 27th
- Nebraska, $0.66, 30th
- Missouri, $0.64, 33rd
- Kansas, $0.57, 38th
- Wisconsin, $0.44, 43rd
- Iowa, $0.41, 45th
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The Iowa Arts Council is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and works to enrich the quality of life and learning in Iowa communities by encouraging excellence in the arts through leadership, grants and technical assistance. Funding for the Iowa Arts Council and its programs is provided by the State of Iowa and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please visit www.iowaartscouncil.org for more information.