Registration deadline: January 22, 2010
Application deadline: February 17, 2010

General Operating Support (GOS) provides unrestricted support for ongoing institutional operating activities of organizations whose central mission is the presentation of live professional performing arts. GOS is designed to support organizations that demonstrate a consistent track record of artistic achievement, public service, and managerial competence. The Council examines the nature, scope, and quality of an organization's programs and activities when considering the provision and level of GOS support. GOS support reflects NYSCA's recognition of the artistic and organizational excellence of qualified arts and cultural organizations. 

GOS grants will be no less than $5,000, and will rarely exceed 25% of an organization's budget, based on the income and expense statement for the organization's most recently completed fiscal year. GOS support is awarded on a multi-year basis.

Evaluative Criteria

Grant requests in this Program are evaluated in accordance with the relevant agency-wide criteria. Please review the criteria when preparing your application for the most recent updates to this information.

Prerequisites

To be eligible to apply for GOS, an organization must meet each of the following conditions:

• At least three consecutive years of previous support from the Presenting Program

• Expenditure of more than 50% of its organizational budget for presenting live professional performing arts

• Present a minimum of ten performances by ten different professional performing artists

• Paid staff

Eligibility for Other NYSCA Funds

GOS applicants in this Program may make one additional request in the category of Services to the Field. Additional funds may be requested from other discipline programs of the Council. Please be reminded of the Council's four-request limit.

Application Instructions

Please Note: First-time GOS applicants must consult with the Program staff well in advance of the registration deadline.

The online application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Complete and/or update the following forms:

• Events Schedule Form (found by clicking on the "Supplemental Forms" tab after logging in to your NYSCA page)

• Organizational Profile

• Organizational Budget

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. About Your Organization
Please provide a brief history and description of your organization.  

2. Program Overview
Describe the organization's overall artistic direction and programmatic goals for the performing arts programming and how this activity relates to your organization’s mission. Detail the program selection process. Highlight programming initiatives or series.  

3. Program Activity
Describe the organization's ongoing programs and include a description of the presentations and/or series planned for the coming three years. Highlight any new initiatives under consideration. Discuss new or expanded activities. Provide a brief summary of each performance series highlighting artists, numbers or performances, and themes.  

4. Developments/Challenges
Describe any significant changes, challenges, or developments in the organization and its presenting activity since it was last reviewed. Discuss the key programmatic challenges facing your organization and how they will be addressed.  

Note: Please complete the Event Schedule form (found by clicking on the “Supplemental Forms” tab on your webpage) with projected information pertaining to the presentations for the proposed year and actual information for the past year.

Managerial/Fiscal

5. Staff
Describe the staffing structure of your organization. Indicate principal positions. Detail any changes of key staff members and impact of those changes. 

6. Governance
Detail the size and committee structure of your board. Include information regarding board recruitment and term limits and any major changes to the board. Describe the role of the board in the management and oversight of programs and services.

7. Finances
Describe your organization's fundraising strategy and any plans, projects and activities for meeting current and future expenses. Describe ways in which the Board and senior staff are involved with this work. 

8. Assessment and Evaluation
Detail how programs and other institutional initiatives are evaluated and assessed.

9. Performance Venue
Briefly describe each performance venue, including stage dimensions, seating capacity and production related amenities.

10. Co-Presenters
If applicable identify each partner and describe the delineation of roles and responsibilities among each partner. Articulate the joint planning process as well as the financial and marketing commitments for each party.

Service to the Public

11. Target Communities and Audiences
Describe the communities, including audiences and artists, served by your organization. Detail audience development goals and strategies.

12. Marketing
Describe the marketing goals and strategies, including viral and web-based efforts. Include appropriate demographic information. Highlight any new initiatives. Indicate the proposed range of single ticket/subscription prices. Provide a rationale for the admission policy even if there is no charge for admission to the event.  Include size, number, and frequency of primary marketing services and materials (i.e. mailing lists, e-lists, brochures, postcards, and media advertising). Highlight any changes since the last Council review. 

13. Audience Enrichment
Describe humanities-related activities and what they are intended to accomplish. 

14. Community Context
Identify the other organizations in your market area that provide similar performing arts activities and tell us how their activities support or differ from yours.

Support Materials

Support materials must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the Program by the application deadline. If you want support materials returned, provide a self-addressed stamped envelope.