Promotion of the Arts-Partnership Agreements (45.025)
Program
45.025 Promotion of the Arts-Partnership Agreements
Federal Agency
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
Authorization
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended, Public Law 89-209, 20 U.S.C. 951 et seq.
Program Number
45.025
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
The National Endowment for the Arts enriches our Nation and its diverse cultural heritage by supporting works of artistic excellence, advancing learning in the arts, and strengthening the arts in communities throughout the country. This mission is accomplished in partnership with the State and special jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional organizations (RAOs). SAA Partnership Agreements support three components: 1) the basic State arts plan; 2) elements of the State plan addressing arts education; and 3) elements of the State plan fostering arts in underserved communities. In carrying out their plans, SAAs work with the Endowment to address common goals: access to the arts, artistic creativity and preservation, learning in the arts, and partnerships for the arts. The 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico also may receive Challenge America funds for a fourth component, support for program activities that make the arts more widely available in communities throughout the country. RAO Partnership Agreements offer support for 1) a basic regional arts plan, and 2) the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Performing Arts Touring Program, a Challenge America initiative, intended to give all Americans access to excellent, live performing arts. Limited Partnership funds are available also for national services provided by membership organizations of SAAs and RAOs.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants; Project Grants; Advisory Services and Counseling.
Uses and Use Restrictions
SAAs may use funds to address program priorities identified in their individual State plans, having demonstrated provisions for inclusive planning, responsive plans, evaluation, involvement of underserved groups, fair decision making, and reporting on funded activities according to the national standards. Challenge America funds awarded to SAAs help expand the public's access to the arts. These funds must be used for programming and may not be used for administrative or overhead costs. Challenge America funds awarded to RAOs for touring are to assist and strengthen networks of arts presenting organizations in rural and underserved communities. No more than 15 percent of such funds may be used for RAO administrative costs. Endowment partnership agreement funds must be used to supplement and not to supplant non-Federal funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Agencies officially designated as the State arts agency by the Governor in each of the 50 States and six special U.S. jurisdictions; regional arts organizations representing State arts agencies; and organizations providing support services to State and regional arts agencies at a national level.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The official arts agencies of the 50 States and six special U.S. jurisdictions, regional arts organizations, and organizations providing support services to SAAs and RAOs at the national level. Through activities and services supported, beneficiaries include local arts agencies, nonprofit organizations, artists, and the general public.
Credentials/Documentation
The State Partnership Agreement requires that the agency be legally designated as the official State arts agency. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Where applicable, applications from State government agencies for Partnership Agreements must be reviewed under the State's intergovernmental review process, if one has been established, per E.O.12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." The Regional Partnership Agreement stipulates that the regional organization must be authorized by two or more State arts agencies to apply for funds on their behalf.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Applicants must use standard application forms in Partnership Agreements guidelines.
Application Procedure
Applicants must obtain Partnership Agreements Guidelines and appropriate standard application forms from the Endowment. In off years, applicants receiving multiyear approval must submit simplified applications, including a description of substantial changes in their plans or process. SAAs are encouraged to submit their applications electronically through the Endowment's e-GRANT online application system. This program is covered under OMB Circular Nos. A-102 (State agencies) and A-110 (regional organizations).
Award Procedure
Application review for both SAAs and RAOs is on a staggered, three-year cycle. Applications are reviewed in open session by an advisory panel composed of State arts agency board and staff members, including at least one knowledgeable lay person. Panel funding recommendations are reviewed in open session by the National Council on the Arts, the advisory body to the Endowment. The Council's decision not to fund an application is final. All applications for which the Council recommends funding are then considered by the Endowment's Chairman, who makes the final award decisions.
Deadlines
Deadlines are announced to official State arts agencies and to regional arts organizations. Deadline for all FY 2004 Partnership Agreements applications: October 3, 2003.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Information on requests for reconsideration may be obtained from the headquarters office.
Renewals
Partnership Agreements are reviewed every three years. Funding is subject to annual review and approval by the National Council on the Arts and the Endowment's Chairman.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Formula and competitive grants must be matched 1:1 with non-Federal funds. The Congress has stipulated that no less than 40 percent of all grantmaking funds appropriated for the Endowment be reserved for grants to SAAs and RAOs, also directing that support for program activity in underserved rural and inner-city communities within each State be established as a funding priority. Formula: State Partnership Agreement awards: 1) Of the SAA-RAO reserve, at least $200,000 will be allotted to each SAA with an approved State plan. Up to a quarter of any funds remaining in this reserve will be apportioned by Agency policy, with current policy allotting part to be divided among SAAs based on population, part to the RAO Partnership Agreements, and part for national services. Any funds still remaining will be divided equally among the 52 SAAs serving populations over 200,000. 2) Fifty percent of the funds available to States for arts education will be apportioned among SAAs with plans meeting relevant review criteria. Of these funds, half (25 percent) will be available based on equal shares per State and half (25 percent) based on school- age population. Apportioned funds to a single State will not exceed $50,000. The remaining half of arts education funds will be awarded competitively among SAAs with strongest plans and accomplishments according to review criteria. The annual maximum awarded for arts education is $100,000. 3) Fifty percent of the underserved funds to be administered through Partnership Agreements will be apportioned equitably among SAAs with plans meeting review criteria. Of these funds, three-fourths (37.5 percent) will be available based on equal shares per State and one-fourth (12.5 percent) based on population. The remaining 50 percent will be awarded competitively among SAAs with the strongest plans and accomplishments according to review criteria. The maximum competitive funding a SAA may receive in one year is $75,000 or 1/20th of funds for competitive distribution, whichever is less. 4) Challenge America funds will be awarded in equal shares to the 52 SAAs serving populations over 200,000. Formula: Regional Partnership Agreement awards: One-third of funds available for RAO basic regional plans will be distributed in equal base amounts per RAO and two-thirds in equal shares per state. Challenge America funds for the touring will be allotted to qualified RAOs in the same proportions as in FY 2000. Two- thirds of any funds exceeding this amount will be allotted in equal shares per region; one-third will be allotted based on regional population.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Each award is for the full fiscal year or as designated. Generally, requests for payment to cover immediate project expenses may be received at any time. FY 2003 grants support activities scheduled to begin on or after July 1, 2003.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress reports are required for all grants, and must be submitted at the time the cumulative amount requested exceeds two- thirds of the grant amount. Final reports, comprising prescribed standard data and a final expenditure report, are required on all projects supported with grant funds within 90 days of the end of the grant period. RAOs must report on geographic location of grant activity within 30 days of award receipt or at the time of the initial cash request, whichever comes first.
Audits
Applicant and grantee-initiated audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," State governments expending $300,000 or more in Federal awards within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. Recipients other than State governments must comply with audit requirements for nonprofit institutions mandated by A-133. Nonprofit institutions expending $300,000 or more in Federal awards shall have an audit made in accordance with A-133's provisions.
Records
Grant-related records to be retained by grantee for three years following submission of a final financial status report.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 2003, the Endowment made 64 Partnership awards.
Financial Information
Account Identification
59-0100-0-1-503.
Obligations
(Grants) State and Regional: FY 02 $25,268,000; FY 03 est $24,641,000; and FY 04 est $24,723,000. Arts education: FY 02 $2,082; FY 03 est $2,100; and FY 04 est $2,100. Underserved: FY 02 $6,813,000; FY 03 est $6,668,000; and FY 04 est $6,691,000. Challenge America: FY 02 $6,760,000; FY 03 est $6,755,000; and FY 04 est $6,800,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 2003: The range of SAA awards is $239,600 to $962,900, averaging $586,229. The range of RAO awards is $827,200 to $1,250,600, averaging $1,053,967.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
FY 2004 Partnership Agreements Guidelines are available in downloadable format through the Endowment Web site at http://www.arts.gov.
Related Programs
45.024, Promotion of the Arts_Grants to Organizations and Individuals; 45.026, Promotion of the Arts_Leadership Initiatives.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
State and Regional Director, National Endowment for the Arts, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506-0001. Web site: http://www.arts.gov. Telephone: (202) 682-5429. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing should call: (202) 682-5496 (Voice/T.T.). Individuals unable to use conventional print should contact the Endowment's Office for AccessAbility (202) 682-5532 for help in acquiring an audio recording of guidelines.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal year 2003 Partnership Agreements with State arts agencies support their arts education activities; fostering of arts in underserved communities; and grant, service, or administrative programs. Fiscal year 2003 Partnership Agreements with regional arts organizations support presenting and touring, and grant, service, or administrative programs. (For links to SAA and RAO Web sites, visit http://www.arts.endow.gov/artforms/RAO_SAAs.html.)
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
SAAs: Basic plan: Quality of process by which plan was developed; quality of plan; quality of implementation. Limited competitive funds for arts education and arts in underserved communities components will be awarded only to SAAs with the most exemplary plans. Proposals for Challenge America funds will be reviewed for consistency with Challenge America priority areas and potential to exemplify the arts' benefit to communities. RAOs: Basic plan: Quality of partnerships with member SAAs; identification of needs and opportunities through inclusive planning; evaluation of accomplishments; quality of plan; program decisionmaking criteria that account for artistic excellence and merit; cost-effective operation; development of substantial, diversified non-Federal support for programming; extension of resources and effectiveness through partnerships and other means. Review of touring proposals will consider aspects such as ensuring high proportion of performances occur in underserved communities and extending access through educational activities and community partnerships. (See Partnership Agreements Guidelines for additional criteria and specific information about evaluating SAA and RAO applications.)
