Minn. R. agency 112, ch. 1900, pt. 1900.2255 - ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESSES FOR COMMUNITY ARTS SCHOOLS AND CONSERVATORIES PROGRAM

Subpart 1. Definition.

"Community arts school or conservatory" means an arts organization or arts affiliate that provides arts instruction to all interested individuals regardless of perceived talent, level of skill, or ability to pay. It provides rigorous, structured instruction that emphasizes the development of proficiency in an arts form. A community arts school or conservatory does not confer academic degrees, although its host organization may.

Subp. 2. Purpose of program.

The purpose of the community arts schools and conservatories program is to provide operating support to high quality, established community arts schools and conservatories that provide arts instruction programs offered by a professional faculty to all interested individuals.

Subp. 3. Eligibility.

Community arts schools and conservatories applicants must:

A. be a community arts school or conservatory as defined in subpart 1;

B. have been in existence, actively providing arts learning programming, for at least two consecutive years before applying for the community arts schools and conservatories program for the first time;

C. not receive an operating support grant within the same fiscal year; and

D. meet the average qualifying expense and charitable arts support requirements printed in the most current program materials. These levels shall be calculated and adjusted in the even year of each biennium, based on the rate of change reflected by a professionally acknowledged economic indicator, or index, such as the Consumer Price Index.

Subp. 4. Uses of grants.

Community arts schools and conservatories funds may be used only:

A. to support the direct costs associated with providing structured and rigorous arts learning programming; or

B. to underwrite only those administrative, indirect, or institutional overhead costs that are directly related to and necessary for programs that provide arts learning opportunities to Minnesotans of all ages.

Subp. 5. Criteria used by advisory panel and board to make grants.

Applications in full review under subpart 7 shall be reviewed by an advisory panel, which shall make recommendations to the board based on the degree to which the advisory panel finds that the applicant meets the criteria in items A to E. Applications in interim review under subpart 7 shall be reviewed by Arts Board staff using the same criteria.

A. Artistic excellence and leadership that must, at a minimum, be demonstrated by the following:

(1) the qualifications and achievements of teaching artists and artistic leadership; and

(2) high quality arts learning activities that provide opportunities for individuals to develop proficiency in an art form.

B. Management and fiscal responsibility that must, at a minimum, be demonstrated by the following:

(1) organizational and fiscal stability; and

(2) evidence of an ongoing ability to achieve measurable outcomes.

C. Inclusive public engagement that must, at a minimum, be demonstrated by the following:

(1) diversity of the board, staff, faculty, and participants; and

(2) evidence of efforts to reach underserved communities and steps taken to mitigate any barriers to participation in the arts.

D. Benefit to the public that must, at a minimum, be demonstrated by the following:

(1) a commitment to community arts education that fosters understanding and awareness of artists and art forms; and

(2) efforts to engage with community leaders and partners to make the arts a vital part of community life.

E. Assessment and evaluation that must, at a minimum, be demonstrated by the following:

(1) an effective self-evaluation plan that measures outcomes, the organization's progress towards goals, and the strength of its programs and operations; and

(2) evidence that self-evaluation is used to shape the organization's plans and activities.

Subp. 6. Merit funding.

Applicants who have met all review criteria in subpart 5 may be eligible for additional merit funding if the review panel finds that the applicant has exceeded program expectations. Applicants shall be scored by an advisory panel based on the degree to which the applicant exceeds review criteria, and available merit funds, if any, shall be distributed based on scores.

Subp. 7. Multiyear funding.

The community arts schools and conservatories program shall use a two-year grant cycle. For each grant cycle, applicants shall undergo a full application review according to program materials. In the second year of the cycle an abbreviated interim application and review shall take place to ensure the applicant's continued compliance with program criteria.

Subp. 8. Dollar amount of grants.

The minimum and maximum amounts for grant awards and any matching fund requirements for the community arts schools and conservatories program shall be determined by the board based upon available resources and shall be printed in current program information.

Notes

Minn. R. agency 112, ch. 1900, pt. 1900.2255