Monday Evening Workshop for Potential Contracts for Cultural Services Applicants

Roswell’s Cultural Arts Board (CAB) has established the first ever support program for Roswell nonprofit arts and cultural organizations through its “Contracts for Cultural Services” (CFCS) program - and tonight they want input from local organizations interested in being a part.

Other than the city of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Fulton County Arts Council, this is the only such local government based program for support of arts and cultural organizations in the metro area.

The CAB has established several categories to meet a range of needs both for the organizations and the community. Through its CFCS programs, the CAB wishes to encourage cultural services that enrich and benefit the entire community and particularly those which deliver arts and cultural services to Roswell’s underserved populations.

The four service categories include:

1.) Arts/Cultural Services – funding in support of operational expenses including marketing, etc. (Funding = $2000 min. to $5000 max.)

2.) Project Support – funding in support of ongoing programs or a special program or event (Funding = $2000 min. to $5000 max.)

3.) Arts Education – funding support for programs presented to school age children (Funding = $2000 min. to $5000 max.)

4.)  New Ventures Development - $1000 in funding support to help develop a new area of programming for established organizations or to assist with capacity enhancement for new organizations. A very simplified application form will be used for this category.

The CAB has established various service priorities which include the following:

1. Programs that develop and employ local artists.
2. Programs that encourage underdeveloped art forms (dance, literary).
3. Programs that broaden participation by attracting more people; diversify participation by attracting audiences different from those the organization is already attracting; deepen participation by increasing current participants’ levels of involvement.
4. Organizations that have a demonstrated history of successfully producing a project of comparable scope and demonstrated plans of future funding (if applicable).

One of the primary purposes of this new program is to level the playing field for all Roswell based arts and cultural organizations so those which already receive significant support from the city of Roswell may not be eligible.

A peer review advisory panel and the CAB will apply various review criteria to ensure that fair consideration is given to all proposals. The CAB will then make its recommendation to the Mayor and Council for the final approval of the service contracts.

“We are so excited to be able to offer funding support for some of our arts and cultural organizations here in Roswell for the first time,” said G. Morgan Timmis, Historic and Cultural Affairs manager. “It may not be a great deal of money, but it will provide a valuable injection of funds that will encourage exciting new programs and creativity in our community. And, we are hopeful that the projects and services funded will help serve those members of our community who currently have the least access to arts and cultural programming and experiences.”

Applications/proposals are due on Friday, August 17 by 4:45 p.m. All organizations who wish to submit applications for the program are required to send a representative to one of two CFCS Workshops scheduled to take place on Monday, July 16 at 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m and 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The workshops will take place at in Room 220, 38 Hill Street.

For further details and to download the CFCS program guidelines and application forms visit www.roswellcfcs.com.