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SC Arts Commission Grants Programs

 

We've made an important change in our operating support grants program. Annual and Long Term Support have been combined into one program - General Operating Support (GOS).

 

 

What is the change?

Annual Support and Long Term Support have been consolidated into one program – General Operating Support. Applicants will apply online using one application in OSCAR. Applicants will be awarded a three-year cycle or one-year cycle, depending on an applicant’s panel rating.

 

Why is the change occurring?

The changes are a response to feedback from applicants concerning the current process, including how panels function. The changes also are designed to improve efficiency and be more economical.

 

How will the change work?

• The existing operating support applicant pool, which includes Annual and Long Term applicants, has been divided into three balanced groups.
• The General Operating Support grants panel will review one group of organizations each year over a three-year period.
• Under this new system, an operating support panel will be held each year, and the applicant pool for each will be a manageable and fairly consistent number.
• Funds will be balanced among the three groups annually.
• In order to get the cycle rolling, current grantees in Groups 2 and 3 will have their grant award extended until their first review year in the new cycle, as follows:

	2010	2011	2012
Group 1	Reviewed for FY2011-2013 funding
Group 2	Extended for FY2011	Reviewed for FY2012-2014 funding
Group 3	Extended for FY2011	Extended for FY2012	Reviewed for FY2013-2015 funding

 

The panel review for Group 1 will occur April 19-20, 2010. The application deadline is February 15, 2010 for FY2011 funding.

 

• "Which group am I in?" >>>

 

How were groups divided?

Groups were sorted by the most recent panel rating, then assigned a one, two or three, straight down the list, resulting in a random, yet surprisingly balanced, three-way split.

 

	Total of FY10 Awards	Average Panel Score
Group 1	$341,285	78.90
Group 2	$339,160	78.49
Group 3	$340,541	78.80

 

How will the change affect applicants?

• All applicants
  Approval for the new three-year cycle will be based on merit (panel ratings). Higher-rated applicants in each group will be approved for three years.
• Applicants who receive lower panel ratings
  Applicants who receive lower ratings will be approved for a one-year grant or will not be funded. These applicants may reapply in the next year with three possible outcomes:
1. they receive a higher rating and are recommended for a three-year cycle.
2. they receive a lower rating, one-year funding and may reapply the following year.
3. they are not funded and may reapply the following year.

(Currently, Long Term applicants who receive lower ratings remain at a lower funding level for three years with no recourse to improve during their three-year cycle.)

• New applicants
  New applicants are eligible for a one-year award, and may enter the pool in any year. After satisfactory performance with its first award, new applicants will be eligible to apply for a three-year cycle.
  NOTE: New organizations must have completed one fiscal year of programming to be eligible to apply.
  New applicants are urged to contact their county coordinator before beginning an application, regarding eligibility as well as registration in the online system.

 

How will the panel process change?

Review panels will include in-state arts professionals whose organizations are in an “off-year” of their three-year grant cycle as well as out-of-state panelists. Using arts organization peers will bring more “local” knowledge to the table and will promote more peer understanding and knowledge within the statewide network of arts organizations. In addition, in-state arts professionals who serve on the panels will then have a better understanding of application tools and processes. SCAC will save administrative costs—long-distance travel, honoraria, etc.

 

Panels will continue to be open, and panelists will continue to base their reviews on applications as submitted. However, a new “fact checking” provision will be allowed.

• If a panelist makes a statement about an organization that contains a factual error, a representative of that organization may send a note to the panel facilitator requesting that a correction be noted.
• The facilitator may choose to simply bring the correct information to the panel or may recognize the organization’s representative for a brief explanation.

The new process is intended to correct factual errors only. It is not intended to allow applicants to dispute panelists’ interpretation of submitted information, nor will it allow applicants to fill in missing application details. Applicants must still submit complete applications.

 

The current appeals process will remain the same. The process is available for applicants who believe they have not received fair consideration by the S.C. Arts Commission. An appeal request, stating the reasons for the appeal, must be submitted in writing to the executive director within 30 days of the date of the written notification from the Commission. An appeal may be granted solely at the discretion of the board. An applicant’s panel merit rating and comments are available by contacting your county coordinator.

 

What if I still have questions after reading this material?

If you have additional questions after reviewing the program changes, the new grant guidelines, and the Applicant Groups List, please contact your county coordinator.