Rural arts grants open up monies to areas that may not otherwise be exposed to the arts.
Rural arts grants support programs and/or organizations in rural areas to expand existing programs, create new programs or open up the arts to those who would not otherwise be able to take advantage of the arts. Rural areas are generally defined as large counties, parishes or similar areas that are not densely populated and are usually in more remote places. People in these areas usually do not have access to a variety of services.
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services aims to open up access to libraries and museums in order to provide citizens in all areas of the country the opportunity to learn. Part of their grant programs is to create or sustain museums in rural areas. For example, the Museums of America grant provides funds that range from $5000 to $15,000 to organizations looking to expand both projects and activities in order to better serve their community. This is a three-year grant, and the monies can be used for a number of different types of projects. Grants range by type and scope and eligibility varies by grant.
Institute of Museum and Library Services
1800 M Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
202-653-4657
imls.gov
Arts Council England
The Arts Council England provides grants to fund projects and programs in both rural and urban areas. These grants are broken down into four types: regular funding for organizations and managed, sustained and unlimited funds. The regular funding for organizations gives funds to organizations on a yearly basis, and they are assigned a lead officer to work with. The managed funds grants provide monies to up-and-coming projects. The sustained grant is to sustain important arts programs during an economic downturn. The unlimited grant is given to disabled or deaf artists in order to display their works at the London Olympic or Paralympic Games in 2010.
Arts Council England
14 Great Peter Street
London SW10 3NQ
0845-300-6200
artscouncil.org.uk
The National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) provides grant monies to fund all types of art projects and programs throughout the nation, including in rural areas. The goal of the NEA is to open up arts opportunities to all types of communities and to assist in growing arts programs. Grant categories range from communities of artists to dance to literature to theater to museums to visual arts. Grant monies and eligibility vary by grant. For example, the Local Arts Agencies grants provide monies to either individual artists or organizations looking to open up art programs to their communities or offer services to artists. Funding ranges from $5,000 to $150,000.
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506
202-682-5400
arts.endow.gov
