13 CAR pt. 63, Appendix A. Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program

Appendix Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program This grant is being offered by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The Division of Arkansas Heritage is a division within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Since 1975, the Division of Arkansas Heritage has been charged with discovering, strengthening, protecting, and preserving Arkansas’s natural and cultural heritage. To fulfill its mission, the Division of Arkansas Heritage coordinates the following natural and cultural heritage resource areas: The Heritage Museums: Museums research, preserve, present, and interpret historic structures, objects, and natural and cultural assets. They serve as a partner in education with public and private schools throughout Arkansas. The department’s four museums are the Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum. The Heritage Resource Agencies: The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission identifies, protects, and promotes areas that best exemplify Arkansas’s rich heritage of biological diversity. These areas might be habitat for rare or disappearing species, or natural communities such as a tallgrass prairie or a river and its dependent aquatic system. The Arkansas Arts Council and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program are conduits for federal and state grant money, and they provide technical assistance for developing and conserving Arkansas’s cultural resources. They preserve and promote Arkansas’s cultural resources including Arkansas’s fine and traditional arts and historic structures, landscapes, and archeological sites. The Arkansas State Archives collect and preserve the official records and historical materials for the state of Arkansas. These include state, county, and federal records, manuscript materials, newspapers, military records, family histories, an extensive Arkansas history and genealogy library, and a collection of Arkansas art and artifacts. Guidelines for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program Grant Program Goals The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism through the Division of Arkansas Heritage has set these goals for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program: • Further the purposes of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, including preservation and promotion of Arkansas's natural and cultural heritage • Increase the ability of cultural institutions to preserve, promote and educate related to these items that are significant to the heritage of Arkansas Who May Apply The following are the types of museums and organizations that are eligible to apply: • Nonprofit organizations located in the State of Arkansas that are open to the public or if the applicant is in the process of opening a new or modified facility, the applicant plans to be open to the public on a weekly basis. These organizations must acquire, conserve, research, communicate, or exhibit works of art, artifacts or works of cultural or historic significance, or related items significant to the heritage of Arkansas for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment. Examples of these types of nonprofit organizations are listed below. • History Museums • Military Museums • Natural History Museums • Art Museums • Other museums that meet the criteria provided above Evaluation Criteria The criteria for the distribution of grant funds, includes, without limitation, the following factors: 1. Estimated economic and tourism impact of the project; 2. Availability of other project funding sources; and 3. Overall project cost General Conditions There are two general conditions for eligibility in the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program: 1. The Arkansas cultural institution is a nonprofit organization that acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, or exhibits works of art, artifacts or works of cultural or historic significance, or related items significant to the heritage of Arkansas for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment. 2. Grant awards are for major capital improvement projects that include construction of new or modified facility, permanent structural addition, change or the restoration of some aspect of a building utilized by an Arkansas cultural institution. Additional Requirements To be considered for Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program, the applicant must meet the following requirements: • Applicant must be located in the State of Arkansas • Applicant must have tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization with the IRS as a nonprofit organization • Applicant has a formal and appropriate program of documentation and care for collections • Applicant must be open to the public on a weekly basis or if the applicant is in the process of opening a new or modified facility, the applicant plans to be open to the public on a weekly basis. • Applicant must agree to submit periodic progress reports as outlined in the contract and a final report at the completion of the project. Time and format of the report will be determined by the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee. Eligible Expenses Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grants can only be used to underwrite an eligible institutions’ major capital improvement expenses. The following expenses are examples of major capital improvement projects: 1. Roof replacement 2. Structural remodeling of existing facility or additions to existing facility 3. Installing new heating, ventilation, and air systems 4. Major capital improvements to improve the accessibility for the disabled Application Timeline and Availability • Grant opportunity will be posted on the Division of Arkansas Heritage website at least 60 days before submission deadline. Updates will be made on Division of Arkansas Heritage website once funding is available. The website will allow interested parties to sign up for email notification updates. The website is https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available- grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants. • Deadline for revisions or additional material will be no later than 15 days after submission. • Submission deadline will be included with grant guidelines at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants. • Grant awards will be announced within 60 days of application submission deadline Decision Process Committee The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will include three members including (1) the director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage; (2) the director of the Division of Arkansas Tourism; and (3) a director of an accredited museum within the Division of Arkansas Heritage. Recommendation The recommendations of the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Committee will be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for approval. Factors Considered by Review Committee In evaluating applications, the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will evaluate the application and will consider the following factors: 1. The estimated economic and tourism impact of the project; 2. Availability of other project funding sources; and 3. Overall cost of the project. In evaluating the application, the total project cost should be a minimum of $7 million. Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee (Committee) will consider the economic impact of the project including the impact upon the region where the Cultural Institution is located including, but not limited to, tax revenue generated by the project, number of visitors, jobs and businesses created, impact on existing businesses as well as overall tourism impact. The Committee can consider other factors in addition to the above referenced factors. As part of the application process, applicants will be allowed to submit documents and pictures to support their application. Criteria for Distribution of Funds The criteria for the distribution of grant funds, include, without limitation, the following factors: 1. Estimated economic and tourism impact of the project; 2. Availability of other project funding sources; and 3. Overall project cost. To Apply Applications will be submitted online. Guidelines and directions will be posted on the Division of Arkansas Heritage website at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas- heritage-grants. Application for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program This application will be completed and submitted online. Instructions will be posted at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants. Applicants may attach documents and pictures to support application. 1. Name, address, county, and telephone number of applicant organization, website, email address and normal hours of operation. 2. Proposed Grant Period The period during which grant funds will be spent and when the project will take place. Include a timeline for the proposed project. Grant funds shall be utilized within one year of receipt of funds. Awardee can request an extension of an additional year if the funds cannot be utilized during the one year time frame. From__________________________ To ___________________________ Month/Day/Year Month/Day/Year 3. History of the Arkansas Cultural Institution Provide a brief history of the Arkansas cultural institution, include information as to the date of establishment, the organization’s mission statement, the focal point, and a brief overview of the contents of exhibits, collections, interpretation, and programming. 4. Description of Proposed Project Provide specifics as to what is to be accomplished during the grant period. Include a list of numbered specific Work Elements. Work Elements should be organized to coincide with, and support Line Item Budget provided in below referenced item number seven (7) “Project Cost.” 5. Describe the economic and tourism impact of the project. 6. Project Planning Provide more information regarding the planning of the major capital improvement project. Applicant should attach photos, drawings, plans from architects, engineers, construction manager etc. If this is a renovation or rehabilitation project, include photos of areas requiring work. 7. Project Cost Provide budget information regarding overall cost of the major capital improvement project. • Include a detailed Line Item Budget. • Organize headings to coincide with “Work Elements” section provided in above referenced number four (4) “Description of Proposed Project.” • Provide information regarding availability of other project funding sources, including other grant awards being pursued or received. 8. Target Audience Identify the audience to be served by this project and explain how they will benefit. Include an estimate of the number of people to be served based on current museum visitor demographics if applicable. 9. Non-Profit Status Provide evidence of non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) organization. 10. Board of Directors and Key Staff List board of directors and key staff. 11. Project Director’s name, address, email, and telephone number ___________________________________ Project Director ______________________________________ Address Email Address _______________________________ Telephone __________________________________ 12. Executive Director/President of Organization _____________________________________________ Executive Director/President of Organization Email Address _______________________________ Telephone __________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________ Name of Organization Date _________________________________________________________________________ Signature* Title (Print Name) *Individual with legal authority to bind organization to the proposed project