Louisiana Project Grants

Louisiana Project Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Louisiana Division of the Arts
Amount: US $2,500 - US $7,500
Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Summary

The Louisiana Project Grants, managed by the Louisiana Division of the Arts, aim to enhance community engagement through diverse artistic initiatives. The program supports various art forms, including dance, music, and visual arts, focusing on innovation and collaboration. By prioritizing equity and inclusion, the grants foster artistic growth while ensuring access for all residents. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and educational institutions within Louisiana, emphasizing projects that benefit the community and promote cultural diversity.

Overview

Louisiana Project Grants Mission The Louisiana Division of the Arts (LDOA) in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council (LSAC) is the catalyst for participation, education, development and promotion of excellence in the arts. Vision It is the responsibility of LDOA to support established arts institutions, nurture both emerging arts organizations and our overall cultural economy, assist individual artists, encourage the expansion of audiences and stimulate public participation in the arts in Louisiana. Core Values The arts are an essential and unique aspect of life in Louisiana to which each citizen has a right. Access to the arts should not depend on your geographical location, physical abilities, or income. All residents should have an equitable stake in the arts in Louisiana, which provide a wonderful quality of life and add to our rich cultural heritage. LDOA Equity Statement: LDOA aspires to intentionally advance diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of our work. LDOA celebrates our state’s diversity and promotes the role of the arts to connect people, bridge our differences, and inspire an appreciation of our shared humanity. LDOA is committed to integrating DEI into the fabric of our organization and our work, from our internal culture to how we partner with communities and other organizations to how we use our resources. We continually seek ways to expand our impact and improve our performance on these measures. Louisiana Project Grant (LPG) Goals Diversity, Equity and InclusionStimulate healthy competition in grant proposal submissionsIncrease the level of creativity, innovation and awareness of new trends in project developmentEncourage professional artists to undertake projects that have meaningful community involvement and collaborationLeverage additional local and national support for the arts in Louisiana LPG Priorities Must be an ART project involving dance, design arts, folklife, literature, media, music, theatre, or visual artsMust show how the project accounts for the population of the region and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibilityEmphasis on Innovation and ArtistryRisk Taking/Trying something newFocus on learning as an outcome as well as quantitative outcomesCross-parish partnerships between larger, urban organizations and their rural counterparts or vice versaProjects that have a trajectory to continue to enhance the region beyond the funding period Artistic Disciplines Louisiana Project Grants provide funding for arts projects. The artistic disciplines described below are considered eligible art forms: Dance - Dance projects can focus on ballet, modern, jazz or ethnic dance. Dance project grants assist artists and organizations to make innovative dance programs that meet a need in their community and are accessible to all. Design - Design Arts projects can involve the design fields of architecture; landscape architecture; urban design; historic preservation and planning; interior design; industrial design; graphic design; and fashion design. This project area provides an opportunity for visual arts and design professionals to collaborate on projects involving design practice, media, theory, research, and education about design. Projects may include publications, audiovisual presentations, or conferences. Design arts do not include purchase of plantings, seeds, gardening equipment, construction equipment, or building supplies. Folklife - Folklife refers to traditions currently practiced within a community that have been passed down informally over time and not learned through workshops, classes, or magazines. Folklife includes Performing Traditions (music, dance, storytelling) and Traditional Arts & Crafts (occupational, festive and food ways traditions). See definition of folk artist in the glossary. Folk traditions are created within specific cultural contexts that need to be understood to be appreciated. Most folklife projects are greatly enhanced with the services of a professional folklorist or other trained cultural specialists such as those with academic training in folklore, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology or other related fields. Cultural specialists should be involved in planning and implementation phases of a project. Folklife does not include historical re-enacting or living history. Folklife projects are evaluated for the cultural significance of the art form and the involvement of trained cultural specialists (folklorists, anthropologists, ethnomusicologists). Literature - Literature project grants are intended to support innovative projects that utilize the literary arts such as works of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction to meet a community need and promote diversity, equity and inclusion. In addition, the category supports not-for-profit small presses and magazines that publish fiction, poetry, creative prose, or literary criticism for production and distribution projects. Such magazines must have been published at least once. Media - Media project grants provide financial assistance to organizations and artists involved in film, video, radio, or related media. Projects should focus on the development of film, video, and radio as art forms where experimentation, technique and, creative processes are included in the project design. Music - Music project grants assist artists or organizations sponsoring musical programming or the presentation and development of musicians, composers, and/or music ensembles and orchestras in all genres, including band, chamber, choral, ethnic, jazz, new, opera, orchestral, popular, solo/recital. Theater - Theater project grants are intended to use dramatic and musical theater to engage the public, promote diversity, equity and inclusion and help meet a community need or support the development of nonprofit professional and community theater, puppetry, mime, and storytelling. Visual Arts and Crafts -Visual Arts and Crafts project grants are intended to support projects or services of museums, art galleries, art centers, and other community organizations concerned with visual arts. This includes drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, glass, ceramics, fiber, wood, metal, mixed media, and art in public places.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. All applicants must apply in the region in which the organization is domiciled and incorporated. The nine regions and relevant councils are listed below:Region 1: Arts Council New OrleansRegion 2: Arts Council of Greater Baton RougeRegion 3: Bayou Regional Arts CouncilRegion 4: Acadiana Center for the ArtsRegion 5: Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest LouisianaRegion 6: Arts Council of Central LouisianaRegion 7: Shreveport Regional Arts CouncilRegion 8: Northeast Louisiana Arts CouncilRegion 9: St. Tammany Parish Government Commission on Cultural AffairsLouisiana nonprofit tax-exempt organizations registered as nonprofit with the Louisiana Secretary of State, or with 501(c)(3) status with the IRS are eligible. Nonprofit status must be current and in good standing at the time of the application deadline.Local, parish, or state governmental agencies such as libraries or municipalities are eligible and are not required to submit proof of nonprofit status.Public or private schools and school boards are eligible (each school within a school system is considered a separate entity).Colleges or universities sponsoring activities (each university department is considered a separate entity) intended for community participation (not academic, credit-producing, or curriculum-oriented projects) is eligible. Such activities must provide significant access and the probability of significant attendance by the general public.Organizations or entities who lack the legal status to be an applicant may apply using an eligible nonprofit organization to be a fiscal agent. The fiscal agent assumes legal and financial responsibility for the project.Individuals may apply for a grant by using an eligible nonprofit organization as a fiscal agent. The project must directly benefit the community and include community participation. The fiscal agent assumes legal and financial responsibility for the project.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Applicants:Organizations receiving line item support from the state legislature. These organizations are ineligible to receive grants for arts programming related to those line items.Regional Arts Councils are not eligible to be an applicant or a paid provider of services on a grant.Organizations acting as a fiscal agent on behalf of an individual or organization are ineligible to be a paid provider of services on the same grant.Past grant recipients who are not in compliance with the Regional Arts Council, the Decentralized Arts Funding Program, or the Louisiana Division of the Arts.Any organization that is not in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State.There are eligibility requirements within the Louisiana Project Grants program. Specific items that are ineligible for funding are listed below: Operating costs not directly associated with the proposed projectProgramming associated with an organizations regular programmatic scheduleNon-arts oriented exhibitions or production componentsActivities that occur before October 1, 2021 and after September 30, 2022Expenses incurred prior to October 1, 2021 and after September 30, 2022Activities that are generally not available to the publicActivities intended to serve only an organization’s membershipRe-grant by the applicant to other organizationsActivities intended primarily for fundraising purposesAccumulated deficits or debt retirementContingency fundsAcquisition of entire collections of works of artCapital improvements including restoration of buildings and sitesConservation of non-arts related collectionsActivities used for academic degreesTuition for academic studyCreation of textbooks or costs associated with recurring curriculum Normal, traditional school activitiesPayment of administrative or teaching staff for any school or school systemArtists filling teacher vacanciesOperational costs to universitiesFood or beveragesScholarships, purchase awards, or cash prizesExhibitions or productions by children without the involvement of professional artistsFees to children under the age of 18Fines, penalties, interest on loans, or costs of litigationLobbying expenses or advocacy effortsActivities that take place outside of the region where the grant is fundedPurchase of equipment or long-term rentals of equipmentPurchase of property or library holdingsCapital improvementsHigh school, college, or university faculty exhibitionsActivities that primarily serve social or religious purposesLicensing fees of any kindTravel or transportation of any kind, including transporting students to arts eventsExhibits or activities that primarily focus on historical topicsRestoration of historic buildings and sites