Grants: Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions on our grant programs? Brooklyn Arts Council has answers.
Please review our FAQs to see if your question has been answered here. If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please email grants@brooklynartscouncil.org
TIMELINE
Open Call Phase (September - November)
Grant Cycle Opens: September 9, 2024
Panelist Nominations Open: September 9, 2024
Paneling Phase (includes post-submission requests) (October - January)
Panelist Nominations Close: October 21, 2024
Grant Cycle Closes (Updated): Monday, November 11, 2024 at 11:59PM EST
Final Reports + Final Payments Phase (December - March)
Project Extension Requests Due: December 15, 2025
Final Reports Due: March 15, 2026
Notifications + Announcements Phase (January - May)
Eligibility
Q: Would a project that undergoes development in 2025 but isn’t presented until 2026 be eligible?
All funded projects must take place in the calendar year of 2025.
Please note that any proposals for Brooklyn Arts Fund and Local Arts Support must have a community engagement component that benefits the public (as defined by you). If you experience unexpected and unplanned project delays that cause projects to take place outside of the calendar year, you can file a Project Extension Request. The deadline for filing a Project Extension Request is December 15, 2025, and all projects should be completed by March 15, 2026.
Q: If my 501C3 org has already applied to funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs OR the New York State Council on the Arts, am I automatically ineligible for Brooklyn Arts Fund and Local Arts Support grants?
Yes, you would be ineligible to apply for additional funding from the corresponding funder of each grant. If you have sought funding from DCLA, you are ineligible for Brooklyn Arts Fund. If you have sought funding from NYSCA, you are ineligible for Local Arts Support. Even if you do not receive funding from either of them.
Q: I am a student. Am I eligible to apply for BAC grants?
For Local Arts Support and Brooklyn Arts Fund grants: Full-time students are not eligible, but part-time students are eligible.
For Creative Equations Fund grants: All students are eligible.
Q: How is eligibility determined for collectives?
Collectives applying for funding should select a lead applicant. Eligibility will be determined by the lead applicant’s information, and the details of the project you are seeking to fund.
Q: What expenses are ineligible to be funded?
For Local Arts Support, ineligible expenses include:
Purchase of permanent equipment;
Building purchase or renovation
Cash prizes
Fees paid to children under the age of 18
Utility bills, rent or mortgage of a privately-owned facility
Acquisition of works of art
Opening events or receptions
For all other funds, there are no ineligible expenses. Budgets will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Q: I am an individual or an unincorporated collective. Do I need a fiscal sponsor to apply?
For Local Arts Support: If you are an NYC-based artist or collective that is not Brooklyn-based, you will need a Brooklyn-based fiscal sponsor to apply. If you are a Brooklyn-based artist or collective, you will need a Brooklyn-based fiscal sponsor or community partner to apply. A community partner is a non-profit organization that is participating in the project in some way. This can include but is not limited to: acting as a venue, promotional support, fiscal support, production support.
For all other grants: Fiscal sponsorship is not necessary and will not affect the panel decision.
Q: I am an individual or an unincorporated collective applying with a fiscal sponsor. How does my fiscal sponsor affect my eligibility?
A fiscal sponsor must meet all the requirements that an applying organization would need to meet. Please refer to the organization requirements listed in the guidelines of the specific grant you are applying for more information.
Q: I am an undocumented person and would like to apply. How can I go about this?
Brooklyn Arts Council seeks to make our grants as accessible to the different communities that make up Brooklyn as possible. We are dedicated to supporting people with marginalized identities. Please email grants@brooklynartscouncil.org for assistance on visa or citizenship-related questions.
Location
Q: Does every part of the project have to take place in Brooklyn? What if the culminating event for a project takes place in another borough?
We want to fund aspects of the project that are benefiting Brooklyn. If you can clearly state how the overall project is Brooklyn-based and has a clear impact on Brooklyn communities, then it may still be eligible.
Q: What if I work in, but don't live in Brooklyn?
You may be eligible to apply to our Local Arts Support program with an eligible Brooklyn-based fiscal sponsor.
You may also be eligible for grants within the Creative Equations Fund if you can provide documentation that shows your work is based in Brooklyn, such as an office or studio address.
Q: Where should I apply if my project isn't in Brooklyn?
Every NYC borough has different funding sources that grant city and state funds through programs similar to ours. For funding that is specific to your borough, please see:
Manhattan: Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC)
Queens: Queens Arts Fund at NYFA and Flushing Town Hall
Staten Island: Staten Island Arts
Application
Q: What information should I include in my project budget?
The project budget must include the grant request amount and how the funds will be spent. In the contingency plan and budget notes sections, you may also include income and expenses for the entire project beyond the scope of the grant request—this is not required but may provide useful context to panelists.
Q: Can I only apply for one BAC fund?
You can apply to as many funds as you are eligible for.
Q: Can you elaborate on “1 project per fund” please?
Each application you submit should be about one specific project. You can only apply to each fund once a year. If you have multiple projects, you may apply to multiple funds, or you can apply to multiple funds with the same project.
Q: What are the types of supplemental materials I can include in my application?
Supplemental materials could include a letter of support from a council member, venue, respected leader in the community, or an event attendee. It can be a press kit or clipping, or anything that establishes your previous work and relationships.
Q: What projects does the Charlene & Ella grant fund?
Charlene & Ella funds professional development for woman-identified Brooklyn artists and arts administrators. It must be related to your craft and your creative practice. It can be business-related or administrative if you are further developing your skills. If you can explain how this Professional Development is going to make you a better impactor, intervenor or better serve a Brooklyn audience. Training can take place outside of Brooklyn so long as the applicant is Brooklyn-based. Charlene and Ella cannot cover airfare.
Q: If we’ve previously received BAF or LAS grants in the past, is there anything we should keep in mind when reapplying to expand the project that was previously funded?
It’s useful to show an element of reflection in your response in relation to past iterations of the project, e.g. “here is how we are evolving, “this is what we are maintaining because it was a strong element based on feedback,” etc.
Q: What happens if there are changes in my project after I have applied?
If you receive a grant, you will be notified via an email through Submittable. This notification will include a “Change of Scope” form. This form serves as acceptance of the grant, and a way to notify us of any changes that have occurred in the project since the application was written. Any changes made must still be eligible within the terms outlined in the grant guidelines.
Application Assistance
Q: Do I have to attend an info session?
It’s highly recommended that applicants attend an Info Session. Re-recorded sessions are also available on our On-Demand Programming page.
Q: I've unsuccessfully applied in the past; can I get my panel notes?
Due to limited staff capacity, we are only able to offer panel notes after Notifications have gone out. Sign-ups for Feedback Calls will be made available through our BAC Newsletter.
Program Questions
Q: When are final reports for the previous grant cycle due?
Reports for 2024 projects are due two weeks after the project is complete or by January 15, 2025. Extensions are possible but must be formally requested.
Q: How do you make the funding decisions?
Brooklyn Arts Council makes its funding decisions via a process of peer panel review. The review criteria is outlined in the Guidelines for each fund.
Q: When will I receive my award payment?
Award payments are generally sent out some time between May-July. This varies year to year depending on the funder of your grant.
Q: Who are your current grantees?
A full list of 2024 Grantees broken down by program and discipline is here. It may be helpful for new applicants to see who has been funded in the past – you’ll get a sense of the types of projects our Panelists thought were most successful in impacting Brooklyn.
Q: What are my responsibilities if I get funded?
Grantee responsibilities are outlined in the For Current Grantees section of the website.
For Everything Else
Q: Does BAC provide fiscal sponsorship?
No, BAC does not provide fiscal sponsorship. Below are some organizations you could consider approaching for fiscal sponsorship
Does your organization provide fiscal sponsorship? We’d love to add you to the list please reach out to us know at grants@brooklynartscouncil.org.
Q: How can I keep updated on new opportunities at BAC?
Please sign up for our newsletter. Also, follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads.
I still have so many questions.
That's cool That's what we're here for. Email us at grants@brooklynartscouncil.org.
