Public Art Across Maryland (PAAM) Conservation Grants – US

Funding Information

• The PAAM Conservation grant program provides two types of support:
  • The Conservation Planning Grant awards $10,000 to support artwork conservation planning efforts including: project administration, consultancy fees, community engagement, and collection management services and technology.
  • The Conservation Implementation Grant awards up to $30,000 to support the conservation of permanent public artwork. The conservation project must be fully developed including identification of the project team and support and approval of the owners of the artwork and the site where it is located.

Use of Funds

• Conservation Planning Grants may be used to support conservation planning efforts for the proposed public artwork located in Maryland. Grants may be used for:
  • Administrative fees related to project management and planning
  • Consultant fee(s) such as:
    • Professional Conservator
    • Artist
    • Structural Engineer
    • Materials specialist (painter, welder, etc.)
    • Historian
    • Preservationist
  • Community Engagement includes:
    • Public meetings
    • Community Education
    • Information campaigns
  • Collection Management Activities & Technology including:
    • Collection Management consultant
    • Local survey or inventory work
    • Inventory file digitization
    • Creation or update of an artwork database
    • Purchase or lease of collection management software
• Conservation Project Grants may be used to support the execution of a fully developed and planned conservation work on the proposed public artwork located in Maryland. Grant funds may be used for:
  • Relocating a public artwork within or to Maryland to increase public access to the artwork and its long-term preservation. It is intended the artwork be conserved as part of this process.
  • Conservation and maintenance activities that will contribute to the long-term appreciation and sustainability of the artwork including but not limited to:
    • Cleaning, waxing, coating, and painting conducted by professional service providers
    • Replacement or addition of components to provide structural integrity to the artwork, frame, plinth, pedestal, base, or foundation integral to the display of the artwork
  • Landscape site improvements such as drainage, plant pruning, maintenance, and/or replacement
  • Lighting and electrical work that contributes to public accessibility by increasing visibility and safety, or improves energy efficiency of outdated lighting and digital components
  • Conservation of existing or the creation of new identification and interpretive signage, including writers, designers, fabrication, and installation
  • Organization administration/project management fee (cannot exceed 10% of the grant request)

Ineligible Expenses

• Grant funds may not be used for:
  • Signage (artwork can include a sign component or interpretive plaque) however the grant cannot fund signage in and of itself
  • Artworks that have a final sited location outside of Maryland
  • Artworks that do not fall under MSAC’s definition of public art. Refer to the Glossary here
  • Purchase, lease, or exhibition of artwork or editions
  • Ongoing operational expenses of the applicant or partner
  • Capital improvements not directly related to the public artwork
  • Artwork that is not publicly accessible
  • Acquisition of capital assets
  • Capital improvements or purchases of permanent equipment
  • Activities for the exclusive benefit of an organization’s members

Artwork Eligibility

• The final location of the artwork to be conserved must be in Maryland
• The artwork type may include, but not be limited to:  sculpture, mural/painting, tile mosaic, mixed media, photography, and digital works. The artwork may also be functional amenities such as: benches, bike racks, creative way-finding, fences, screens, gateways, light works, awnings, and trellises
• Artwork must be publicly accessible
• Artwork must comply with the local jurisdiction’s regulations, permissions, and permitting requirements for conserving artwork(s) on public or private property. Applicants are required to do their own research in this regard.
• Artworks installed on private property must describe how the site is significant to the community and is accessible to and benefits the greater public

Who can apply?

• Eligible applicants for Conservation grants must be an organization, as outlined below.
• Organizations or Art Programs must be one of the following:
  • Nonprofit organization (i.e., an organization with an IRS-designated 501(c)3 status) based in Maryland
  • Nonprofit, Maryland-based fiscal sponsor organization applying on behalf of a Maryland-based group, project, or artist(s) with whom it has a Model A fiscal sponsorship agreement in place (i.e., comprehensive sponsorship, in which the assets, liabilities, and exempt activities collectively referred to as “the project” are housed within the fiscal sponsor)
  • Unit of government (e.g., town, city, county, state, etc., with the capacity to undertake an arts program)
  • College or university (i.e., an established higher education institution in Maryland)
  • School (i.e., a public or private school serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12)

For more information, visit MSAC.