Opportunity Information: Apply for 2011NEAOT
Apply for 2011NEAOT
- The National Endowment for the Arts in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NEA Our Town Applications, FY 2011" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 45.024 Promotion of the ArtsGrants to Organizations and Individuals.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2011 and posted on Jan 13, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 1, 2011 Deadline March 1, 2011 The Grants.gov system must receive your validated and accepted statement of interest no later than 1159 p.m., Eastern Time, on March 1, 2011.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Special district governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts County governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- Applicant Eligibility Partnerships involving a minimum of two organizations (one a nonprofit design or cultural organization, and one a governmental entity) are required of all applications. Additional partners are welcomed. One of the partners must act as the official applicant (lead applicant). This lead applicant must meet the eligibility requirements, submit the application, and assume full responsibility for the grant. Eligible lead applicants are County or local (city, town, village) governments. Each application must include a statement from the nonprofit design or cultural organization serving as the required partner reflecting its support for and involvement in the project. A public entity or a nonprofit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Each application must include a statement from the relevant government that reflects its support for and involvement in the project. A government arts agency can serve as both the government entity and the cultural organization. However, these organizations must have at least one additional nonprofit partner. Potential partners for any project may include an appropriate variety of entities such as foundations, arts organizations and artists, nonprofit organizations, design professionals and design centers, educational institutions, developers, business leaders, and community organizations, as well as public and governmental entities. Federal agencies cannot be monetary partners. The designated fifty state and six jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and their regional arts organizations (RAOs) may serve as partners, but not lead applicants, in Our Town projects. However, all grant funds must be passed on to the other partners. To be eligible, the lead applicant organization must For an organization other than a county or local government, have a three year history of programming prior to the application deadline. Meet the Arts Endowment s Legal Requirements, including nonprofit, tax exempt status, as detailed in the FY 2012 Grants for Arts Projects guidelines, at the time of application. Have submitted acceptable Final Report packages by the due date(s) for all Arts Endowment award(s) previously received. All applicants must have a DUNS number (www.dnb.com) and be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR, www.ccr.gov) and maintain an active CCR registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Mayors Institute on City Design 25th Anniversary Initiative grantees may apply for Our Town, but must come in with a different phase of a project or a different project from that which was funded. Each county or local government whether applying directly or as part of a partnership with some other lead organization is limited to one Statement of Interest and, if invited to apply, one application. Each government must coordinate internally to ensure that only one application per government is submitted. The chosen project from a municipality or region must be identified by a formal endorsement letter from the mayor or county executive. For example, ABC City may submit or be a partner in only one application not one through the mayor s office and another through the parks and recreation department. Governments with multiple applications will not be considered. An application in response to this announcement does not preclude an organization from applying under other Arts Endowment funding opportunities including Grants for Arts Projects. In each case, the request must be for a distinctly different project, which includes a distinctly different phase of a project. How t
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town program for FY 2011 (Funding Opportunity Number 2011NEAOT; CFDA 45.024) offered competitive, discretionary grants to support "creative placemaking" projects that use arts, culture, and design as central tools for strengthening communities. The core idea behind the program is that communities can intentionally shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activity in ways that make places more livable, attractive, and economically resilient. The NEA framed these efforts as strategies that can animate public and private spaces, renew streetscapes and underused structures, improve local business viability and public safety, and bring diverse groups of people together through shared cultural experiences.
The application process was structured in two steps. Organizations first had to submit a Statement of Interest through Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 1, 2011. After reviewing those statements, the NEA planned to invite selected organizations by March 25, 2011 to submit full applications, which were due April 25, 2011. If funded, NEA support for a project could begin on or after July 1, 2011. The opportunity was posted January 13, 2011, and required cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants needed to bring non-federal resources to the table alongside NEA dollars.
Award amounts were limited and ranged from $25,000 to $250,000. The NEA emphasized that funded projects should be creative and innovative and should clearly advance community livability goals. Specifically, projects were expected to show how they would improve quality of life, encourage creative activity, build community identity and a sense of place, and help revitalize local economies. Strong proposals were expected to present a persuasive vision for change, a systemic approach to civic development, clearly defined goals and objectives that place arts at the center of community life, an action plan aligned with that vision, and a realistic funding plan that demonstrates broad community support and includes a thoughtful sustainability strategy for lasting impact beyond the grant period.
A defining requirement of the Our Town program was formal partnership. Every application had to reflect leadership from at least two committed partners: one nonprofit design or cultural organization and one government entity. The NEA encouraged additional partners as well, such as foundations, artists and arts organizations, design professionals and design centers, educational institutions, developers, business leaders, and community organizations. Federal agencies, however, could not participate as monetary partners. The partnership requirement was not optional; projects that could not demonstrate this shared leadership structure were not eligible.
Eligible applicants were broad and included county and local governments, other government entities (such as state and tribal governments and special districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (other than higher education institutions). One partner had to serve as the official lead applicant and assume full responsibility for submission and grant management. The solicitation also laid out documentation expectations for the required partnership: when the lead applicant was a government, the nonprofit cultural/design partner needed to provide a statement confirming support and involvement; when the lead applicant was a nonprofit or public entity, the relevant government partner needed to provide a statement confirming its role. A government arts agency could count as both the government entity and the cultural organization, but only if at least one additional nonprofit partner was included.
The program also included several practical and compliance-related constraints. Lead applicants (other than counties or local governments) generally needed a three-year history of programming prior to the deadline and had to meet NEA legal requirements for nonprofit and tax-exempt status at the time of application. Applicants had to be up to date on final reports for any prior NEA awards and were required to have a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) throughout the application process and, if awarded, for the life of the grant. The NEA also limited each county or local government to one Statement of Interest and, if invited, one application, requiring internal coordination so that a city or county did not submit multiple competing proposals. The selected project also needed formal endorsement from the mayor or county executive.
In terms of what the grant could support, the NEA highlighted three main project types: planning, design, and arts engagement. Planning projects could include cultural or creative-sector growth plans, arts/cultural district planning, cultural asset mapping, and artist-led community engagement tied to place-based planning. Design projects could include efforts to enhance or revitalize public spaces through activities like charrettes and community-driven design processes, as well as developing design specifications for improvements such as streetscapes, pedestrian bridges, parks, landscapes, or adaptive reuse concepts for existing structures intended for cultural or mixed-use purposes. Arts engagement projects could include new public-facing arts activities such as festivals, outdoor exhibitions, performances in public spaces, and programming that activates existing community and cultural assets, along with commissioning and/or installing permanent or temporary site-specific public art (for example, murals, sculptures, sculpture gardens, or waterfront art). The NEA stated that all phases of a project (planning, development, design, and implementation) could be eligible, but applicants were generally encouraged to focus on a single phase to keep the proposal clear and achievable.
Finally, the announcement spelled out several major funding exclusions. The NEA would not support projects lacking the required nonprofit-government partnership, projects not tied directly to long-term civic development goals, or projects where arts/design/cultural activity were not central to the plan. It also would not fund stand-alone artist capacity-building efforts unless they were integral to a broader civic development strategy. Importantly, grant funds (and matching funds counted toward the grant budget) could not be used for physical construction, renovation, or purchase of facilities or land, although predevelopment work, design fees, and community planning connected to those outcomes could be eligible. Subgranting/regranting and financial awards to winners of design competitions were also prohibited under this opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NEA Our Town (FY 2011)
What is the NEA Our Town program (FY 2011)?
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town program for FY 2011 offered competitive, discretionary grants to support "creative placemaking" projects. These projects were required to use arts, culture, and design as central tools for strengthening communities and intentionally shaping the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region.
What does "creative placemaking" mean in this opportunity?
In this program, creative placemaking referred to efforts that put arts, culture, and design at the center of strategies to strengthen communities. The NEA described these efforts as approaches that can animate public and private spaces, renew streetscapes and underused structures, improve local business viability and public safety, and bring diverse groups together through shared cultural experiences.
What kinds of outcomes were projects expected to achieve?
Funded projects were expected to clearly advance community livability goals by improving quality of life, encouraging creative activity, building community identity and a sense of place, and helping revitalize local economies.
What were the award amounts for FY 2011 Our Town grants?
Awards ranged from $25,000 to $250,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching funds, meaning applicants needed to bring non-federal resources to the table alongside NEA dollars.
What was the application process and timeline?
The process had two steps:
- Step 1: Submit a Statement of Interest through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 1, 2011.
- Step 2: After review, the NEA planned to invite selected organizations by March 25, 2011 to submit full applications due April 25, 2011.
When could NEA funding begin if an application was awarded?
If funded, NEA support for a project could begin on or after July 1, 2011.
When was this opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted January 13, 2011.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included:
- County and local governments
- Other government entities (including state and tribal governments and special districts)
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (other than higher education institutions)
Was a partnership required to apply?
Yes. A defining requirement was formal partnership. Every application had to reflect leadership from at least two committed partners: one nonprofit design or cultural organization and one government entity. This requirement was not optional; projects that could not demonstrate this shared leadership structure were not eligible.
Could additional partners be included beyond the two required partners?
Yes. The NEA encouraged additional partners such as foundations, artists and arts organizations, design professionals and design centers, educational institutions, developers, business leaders, and community organizations.
Could federal agencies participate as monetary partners?
No. Federal agencies could not participate as monetary partners.
Who had to be the lead applicant?
One partner had to serve as the official lead applicant and assume full responsibility for submission and grant management.
What documentation was required to show the partnership was real and active?
The solicitation required confirming statements depending on who served as lead:
- If the lead applicant was a government, the nonprofit cultural/design partner needed to provide a statement confirming support and involvement.
- If the lead applicant was a nonprofit or public entity, the relevant government partner needed to provide a statement confirming its role.
Can a government arts agency count as both the government entity and the cultural organization?
Yes, a government arts agency could count as both the government entity and the cultural organization, but only if at least one additional nonprofit partner was included.
Was there a history requirement for lead applicants?
Yes. Lead applicants (other than counties or local governments) generally needed a three-year history of programming prior to the deadline.
What legal or compliance requirements applied to nonprofit applicants?
Applicants had to meet NEA legal requirements for nonprofit and tax-exempt status at the time of application.
Could an organization apply if it had overdue reporting on a prior NEA award?
No. Applicants had to be up to date on final reports for any prior NEA awards.
What registration requirements applied (DUNS and CCR)?
Applicants were required to have a DUNS number and an active Central Contractor Registration (CCR) throughout the application process and, if awarded, for the life of the grant.
Were counties or local governments limited in how many submissions they could make?
Yes. The NEA limited each county or local government to one Statement of Interest and, if invited, one application. This required internal coordination so a city or county did not submit multiple competing proposals.
Did the selected project need local executive endorsement?
Yes. The selected project needed formal endorsement from the mayor or county executive.
What types of projects could be supported?
The NEA highlighted three main project types:
- Planning
- Design
- Arts engagement
What are examples of eligible planning projects?
Planning projects could include cultural or creative-sector growth plans, arts/cultural district planning, cultural asset mapping, and artist-led community engagement tied to place-based planning.
What are examples of eligible design projects?
Design projects could include efforts to enhance or revitalize public spaces through charrettes and community-driven design processes, as well as developing design specifications for improvements such as streetscapes, pedestrian bridges, parks, landscapes, or adaptive reuse concepts for existing structures intended for cultural or mixed-use purposes.
What are examples of eligible arts engagement projects?
Arts engagement projects could include new public-facing arts activities such as festivals, outdoor exhibitions, performances in public spaces, and programming that activates existing community and cultural assets. This category could also include commissioning and/or installing permanent or temporary site-specific public art, such as murals, sculptures, sculpture gardens, or waterfront art.
Could a proposal include multiple phases like planning and implementation?
The NEA stated that all phases of a project (planning, development, design, and implementation) could be eligible. However, applicants were generally encouraged to focus on a single phase to keep the proposal clear and achievable.
What qualities did the NEA describe as hallmarks of strong proposals?
Strong proposals were expected to present a persuasive vision for change, a systemic approach to civic development, clearly defined goals and objectives that place arts at the center of community life, an action plan aligned with that vision, and a realistic funding plan demonstrating broad community support and a thoughtful sustainability strategy for lasting impact beyond the grant period.
What kinds of projects were not eligible because they did not meet program intent?
The NEA would not support projects that lacked the required nonprofit-government partnership, were not tied directly to long-term civic development goals, or did not place arts/design/cultural activity at the center of the plan.
Could the grant fund stand-alone artist capacity-building?
No. The program would not fund stand-alone artist capacity-building efforts unless they were integral to a broader civic development strategy.
Could grant or matching funds be used for construction, renovation, or buying property?
No. Grant funds (and matching funds counted toward the grant budget) could not be used for physical construction, renovation, or purchase of facilities or land. The announcement noted that predevelopment work, design fees, and community planning connected to those outcomes could be eligible.
Was subgranting or regranting allowed?
No. Subgranting/regranting was prohibited under this opportunity.
Could the grant provide financial awards to winners of a design competition?
No. Financial awards to winners of design competitions were prohibited.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number was 2011NEAOT and the CFDA number was 45.024.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA)
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Previous opportunity: NEA Challenge America Fast Track, FY 2012
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (2011NEAOT) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NEA GAP Art Works 2, FY2012 Apply for 2011NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2011NEA01AW2 Agency: National Endowment for the Arts Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Art Works I Application, FY2017 Apply for 2016NEA01AW1 Funding Number: 2016NEA01AW1 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| NEA Challenge America Application, FY2017 Apply for 2016NEA01CA Funding Number: 2016NEA01CA Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| NEA Literature (Poetry) Fellowships, FY2017 Apply for 2016NEA03LFCW Funding Number: 2016NEA03LFCW Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| NEA Art Works Creativity Connects Projects, FY2017 Apply for 2016NEA01AWCC Funding Number: 2016NEA01AWCC Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cultural Programming in the People's Republic of China Apply for EAPBJ 16 GR 001 EAP 011516 Funding Number: EAPBJ 16 GR 001 EAP 011516 Agency: DOS-CHN Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| 2017 Mayor's Institute on City Design (MICD) Apply for NEAPS1505 Funding Number: NEAPS1505 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| 2017 National Heritage Fellowships Awards Program Apply for NEAPS1504 Funding Number: NEAPS1504 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $310,000 |
| NEA Military Healing Arts Partnership Apply for NEAPS1601 Funding Number: NEAPS1601 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,584,000 |
| 2016 “American Day†Cultural Event in Osaka Apply for PAS OSAKA FY2016 002 Funding Number: PAS OSAKA FY2016 002 Agency: DOS Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| NEA FY 2017 Art Works II Application Apply for 2016NEA01AW2 Funding Number: 2016NEA01AW2 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Our Town FY 17 Apply for 2016NEA01OT Funding Number: 2016NEA01OT Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NEA Research Labs, FY2016 Apply for NEAPS1602 Funding Number: NEAPS1602 Agency: NEA Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Cultural Programs focused on environment preservation Apply for SDR86016NOFO003 Funding Number: SDR86016NOFO003 Agency: DOS-DOM Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| Artists in Residence Program Partner program Santa Monica Mountains Fund Apply for P16AS00470 Funding Number: P16AS00470 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Automation and Management of Cultural Reource Information between the Bureau of Relcamaiton, upper Colorado Region and the State of Wyoming Apply for BOR UC 16 N018 Funding Number: BOR UC 16 N018 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $49,699 |
| Maintenance of Utah Site Data Between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation , Upper Colorado Region and the Utah State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Apply for BOR UC 16 N007 Funding Number: BOR UC 16 N007 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $26,522 |
| Grant for Long-term Curation Betwen the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region and the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory Apply for BOR UC 16 N019 Funding Number: BOR UC 16 N019 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $36,430 |
| Community Engaged Art and Culture Apply for NPS 16 NERO 0200 Funding Number: NPS 16 NERO 0200 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY 2017 English Language Programs Apply for DOSRUS 17 CA 001 Funding Number: DOSRUS 17 CA 001 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Russia Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $180,000 |
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