Sullivan County Arts & Heritage Grants Program (US)

Made possible through funding provided by the Sullivan County Legislature’s Discretionary Grant Program to date, DVAA has regranted nearly $283,000 to fund cultural and heritage projects throughout the County.

Goals

• The goals of the Sullivan County Arts & Heritage Grant program are to:
  • Support artists in the creation of new work, and enhance artistic visibility and impact;
  • Support non-profit cultural groups in providing year-round, quality programming in all areas of the county, including the recruitment of new artists and groups from underserved areas;
  • Promote communication and understanding between the different facts of the Sullivan County community through arts, cultural, and heritage activities, and educate community leaders on the grant process and resources available;
  • Support the arts that encourage multi-disciplinary expression and collaboration with other community sectors, such as environmental and social service groups.

Priority Areas

• Pay a minimum guaranteed artist fee; artist fees paid solely by a share of admissions are not acceptable though a percentage of the admission revenue may supplement the guaranteed;
• Are dedicated to the development of a wide variety of culturally diverse programming throughout the year; support new and emerging artists, cultural organizations, and fresh and original works;
• Support quality programming that enhances underserved constituents and regions of the county, including racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity, rural areas, the poor, youth, and the elderly;
• Support arts and heritage activities that encourage multi-disciplinary expression and collaboration with other community sectors, such as environmental and social service groups.

Funding Information

• The minimum funding request and grant is $500; the maximum is $2,500.
• For the 2025 Grant Cycle, matching funds no less than 40% of the overall project budget must be attained. E.g. if requesting $2,000 in SCAHG support, the applicant must show at least $1,200 in matching project revenue in a balanced budget.

Eligible Costs

• Artist fees.
• Planning and preparation for an event.
• Materials and expendable equipment up to $500.
• Marketing and publicity costs directly associated with the requested project.
• Administrative costs directly associated with the requested project.
• Supplied and materials needed for the execution of the project.
• Activities and programming of local arts and cultural organizations including both live and virtual.

Ineligible Costs

• Capital expenditures, permanent equipment costs, routine operating expenses, or past debts.
• Scholarships, fellowships, cash prizes, juried shows and other awards to students.
• Programs in which children are used as artists (i.e. paid a fee).
• Lobbying expenses.
• Acquisition of works of art.
• Activities that have taken place prior to the funding cycle or activities unrelated to the project.
• Non-arts-related activities including galas, benefits, or fundraisers, including food costs and entertainment such as clowns, balloons, magicians, or bands hired as background music for an event.
• Projects for which the purpose is recreational, therapeutic, rehabilitative, or religious in nature, including at-risk and social service programs.
• Events taking place in private homes or projects that are not open to the general public.
• Start-up or seed funding for the establishment of a new organization.
• Requests greater than an applicant’s project minus total project income.
• Creation of textbooks or classroom material.
• Activities that include a presentation of the applicant’s own artistic work, even in conjunction with other artists, except where the applicant is acting as producer of the event.

Eligibility Criteria

• Sullivan County non-profit cultural and artistic groups, such as choral groups, orchestras, theaters, historical societies, libraries, heritage groups, museums, literary groups, galleries, and municipalities, may be eligible for funding.
• Individual artists or arts groups that are not incorporated non-profits may apply:
  • By partnering with an eligible Sullivan County non-profit organization as a Fiscal Sponsor
  • With an eligible Sullivan County community-based Arts Partner organization.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Intend to produce work or present cultural programming in Sullivan County between May 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025;
• Be legally located in Sullivan County and all activities must take place within Sullivan County;
• Have a board of directors or volunteers who perform board functions;
• Have been in existence for at-least one year and show evidence of fiscal competence; supply evidence of nonprofit status with ONE of the following documents:
  • An IRS letter
  • A receipt from the New York Department of State’s Office of Charities Registration
  • A charter issued by the Board of Regents of New York State
  • An authorization as an arm of local government
• Conduct all activities in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious belief, gender, sexual identity, or disability

For more information, visit Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.