St. Louis Regional Arts Commission

Application Process

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HOW THE APPLICATION PROCESS WORKS

  • All applications must be submitted online by the Grant Application Deadline*.
  • Applications are reviewed by the RAC staff for completeness and accuracy.
  • The review comments are sent to the applicant.
  • The revised application and complete set of copies are due in the Commission office by the Deadline for Revised Grant Applications*.

* See the Official Schedule for dates.


HOW THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS WORKS

The grant review process, which begins in January (December for Operating Support) and ends in May, is at the heart of the Regional Arts Commission's annual grants round. This process is multi-tiered and includes a citizen panel (with the exception of Program Support I), which is a vital part of the grants round procedures. Once arts organizations submit their grant applications, the following steps are taken:

  1. Citizen panels review the grant applications and recommend dollar award amounts.
  2. RAC staff reviews each application and makes dollar recommendations.
  3. A Commission committee meets to review the panel and staff recommendations and makes a final recommendation to the full Commission.
  4. The full Commission votes on the recommendations made by the panels, staff, and Commission committees.
  5. A public announcement of grant awards is made in May immediately after the full Commission meets and approves the awards.

PROGRAM SUPPORT I, II & III, OPERATING SUPPORT II

  1. Citizen Panels, composed of 5-9 individuals from the community who are knowledgeable in the different arts disciplines, meet in March and April to discuss and make dollar recommendations for each application. Recommendations are based on the Criteria for Funding listed on this site. Please contact the Commission office at the office if you would like a list of panelists in your category. It is advisable to add these panelists to mailing lists and to invite them, as well as Commissioners and RAC staff, to events. Citizen Panel Meetings are held in the Commission office and are open for observation. Applicants will be notified of the date of their Citizen Panel Meeting.
  2. The RAC staff thoroughly reviews each application and adds their dollar recommendations.
  3. A five-member committee comprised of Regional Arts Commissioners then meets to develop a final recommendation to the full Commission.
  4. Announcement of grants is made in May.

OPERATING SUPPORT I

  1. The full Commission and Operating Support panel will meet with each organization. Meetings will consist of a presentation by a staff and board member of the organization followed by a question and answer period.
  2. The Operating Support I panel will review applications according to the review criteria and make funding recommendations to the full Commission.
  3. Staff will review the applications according to the established criteria and will make funding recommendations to the full Commission.
  4. The full Commission meets to review the panel and staff recommendations and votes on the final recommendations. The Commission will hold this meeting and approve the awards following the regular monthly Commission meeting.
  5. A public announcement of grant awards is made in May immediately after the full Commission meets and approves the awards.

WHO SITS ON THE CITIZEN PANELS

  • Nominations are submitted by community members, arts organization board and staff members, Commissioners, and RAC staff on an annual basis. Self-nominations are also welcome.
  • Selection of panelists is based on the candidates' knowledge of the St. Louis arts and cultural environment or their knowledge/experience in a specific artistic discipline. Cultural or ethnic viewpoints are also taken into consideration.
  • Panelists must be willing to commit substantial time and energy to serve on a panel.
  • Final panel selections are made by Commissioners in June or July of each year.

APPEAL PROCESS

The Regional Arts Commission will review a written request for reconsideration of a grant award or a no-funding decision if an applicant can demonstrate that:

  • There was an undisclosed conflict of interest on the part of a panel or Commission member.
  • Review criteria other than the criteria published in the grants guidelines were a major part of the decision.

The Commission will review requests for reconsideration up to thirty (30) days after the date of the grant award notification letter. A decision will be made within forty-five (45) days. All requests must be submitted in writing and directed to the Executive Director of the Regional Arts Commission.