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

General Operating Support (GOS) is unrestricted support for ongoing institutional operating activities of organizations whose central mission is to provide cultural programs within and for communities of color and other ethnic traditions. 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 capabilities 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.

Eligibility for Other NYSCA Funds

Additional funds may be requested from other discipline programs of the Council. Please be reminded of the Council's four-request limit.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Application Instructions

The online application form includes the following questions, and a project budget. Please complete the Events Schedule and/or Workshops/classes forms as appropriate. Required support materials are listed below.

First-time GOS applicants are strongly advised to consult with Program staff before the January registration deadline to determine eligibility.

Application Narrative Questions

Artistic/Programmatic

1. Organization Overview
Please describe your organization, its discipline focus and the community you serve. List any recent accomplishments, especially those with a measureable impact on the field.

2. Program Overview
What are your organization’s ongoing programs?  Please provide details, where applicable, on productions, classes, workshops, student enrollment, exhibitions, etc. 

3. Changes/Developments
What new programs and/or initiatives are planned for the next three years?  What are your goals in undertaking these activities and expected outcomes? 

4. Challenges
What are your key programmatic challenges and how will you overcome them?

Managerial/Fiscal

5. Staff
What is your staffing structure?  Please indicate the principal positions.  Have there been any changes in key staff members?  If so, what has been the impact of these changes?

6. Governance
What is the size and committee structure of your board? How often do they meet?  How are board members recruited? How do you ensure that they are reflective of  your  community?  Do board members have term limits?  Please describe the involvement of your board in management and program oversight.

7. Organizational Development
Describe any significant changes or developments in the organization since it was last reviewed.   How do you actively engage board, staff and the public in organizational planning? How are programs and other institutional initiatives evaluated and assessed? 

8. Finances
How  is the current financial landscape affecting your organization?  What are your plans for meeting current and future expenses? How is your board involved in these efforts?  Highlight revenue that is confirmed and/or secured for this multi year request.  Explain any deficits that will affect your organization’s operation and your plans to address the issue. 

9. Facilities
Briefly describe your facilities as they relate to programming and services. Are there any plans to relocate or renovate the facility in the future? If so, describe the expected effect on your activities.

Service to the Public

10. Current Audience
Other than your primary audience as described in the Program Overview, are there other communities served  by  your organization?

11. Expanded Audience
What are some opportunities for audience growth and what steps are you taking to accomplish this?

12. Membership
If you are a membership organization, how many members do you have? What are some potential areas of growth?  What levels of membership and benefits do you offer?

13. Marketing
What strategies are used to expand your audiences through the packaging, promotion and pricing of your programs?  Please describe a recent success.

14. Online Resources
How do you use the Internet and social media to better serve the public?  Please include your URL.

15. Assessment
How do you set programmatic goals?  How do you carry out the ongoing assessment of programs, services and/or other organizational initiatives?

16. Community Context
What other organizations provide similar or complementary arts services to the community and how do you work in partnership with them?

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.

1. Representative samples of flyers, performance programs, catalogues, etc. that document past, current, and, if available, proposed activities.

2. Brief resumés of key personnel, if new.

3. For applicants with an exhibition component: 10 slides or CD-ROM of the work to be exhibited and two to three slides, color photographs or CD-ROM of the exhibition space; a slide script must be included or details of the artist(s) work notated in the CD ROM; resumes or bios of exhibiting artist(s) and curator(s). If request includes a touring exhibition, submit a list of venues with dates, attendance figures, and a percentage demographic breakdown of the audience by ethnicity for each.

4. For those with an instruction and training component: resumes of instructors, 2 copies of class schedule or curriculum brochure, representative list of former students who have entered professional careers. Submit a demographic breakdown of the students by ethnicity.

5. For those with a touring performance component: include a list of the proposed sites and dates and, name(s) of the production(s). Letters of invitation from or contracts with local sponsors are required.