Monroe County is proud to support our arts and cultural sector. This year the County once again increased its funding for mid-sized arts organizations and created an opportunity for community festivals to receive financial support.
In the 2023 budget, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello increased mid-sized arts and festival support from $500,000 to $1.2 million. Approximately $300,000 of that was used to support two dozen community festivals, and the remaining $900,000 is allocated to support mid-sized arts and cultural organizations.
How did Monroe County fund arts previously?
In each of its annual budgets, Monroe County sets aside funds to support arts and cultural organizations. Historically, this money was used to support large arts and cultural organizations, while mid-sized organizations received only a small fraction of the funding.
Past Funding (Fiscal Year 2020):
- Tourism and municipally owned event spaces (Blue Cross Arena/Convention Center) - $5.1 million
- Larger arts, cultural, and educational entities - $1.7 million
- Mid-sized arts support - $45,000
Who will be eligible for mid-sized arts funding in 2023?
Organizations seeking to apply for FY 2023 mid-sized arts support must meet the following eligibility guidelines:
- The organization must have a significant presence in Monroe County – conducting at least 50% of its operations in Monroe County and maintain a physical location in Monroe County.
- The organization must have been legally recognized for at least one year with a tax filing as a 501(c)3 organization or LLC.
- The organization’s primary mission must be directly related to arts and culture.
- **NEW EXPANDED QUALIFICATION**The organization’s annual operating budget (operating expenses) must be between $50,000 and $4,000,000.
Excluded from eligibility are event spaces, sports teams, leagues, tournaments, and other organizations for which arts and cultural programing is not the organization’s primary function.
When is my application due?
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Can arts and cultural festivals apply for funding in 2023?
No. Applications for Community Festival Funding were due earlier in the year. It is anticipated that this funding stream will be available for applications again next year. To learn more about community festival funding go here: https://www.monroecounty.gov/festivalfunding.
Can I have a fiduciary organization apply on behalf of my organization?
No – all organizations must have legal standing as either a 501(c)3 or LLC with their own legal status.
Will larger arts, cultural, and educational entities need to apply using this funding source?
Organizations that have historically received funding from Monroe County and are directly included in the Budget will not need to apply for this funding. They will undergo the same process they have in previous years.
How much money will my organization receive through the mid-sized arts support?
The amount of funding organizations receive depends on factors including number of eligible applicants, evaluation of responses, and funds available. Funding allocations received by organizations in previous years do not necessarily reflect available funding for this year or future years.
What if my organization’s operating budget doesn’t fall within $50,000 - $4,000,000?
Only organizations that have operating budgets that fall within this range qualify for mid-sized arts support for the 2023 application. This range has been changed to be more inclusive; previous eligibility ranges included organizations with operating budgets from $100,000 to $1,500,000.
Can community festivals apply for this funding?
No. Festival funding is reviewed separately and applications have closed for 2023 Community Festival Funding. To learn more about Community Festival Funding you can go to www.monroecounty.gov/festivalfunding
Can individual artists apply for this funding?
No. This funding is to support arts and cultural organizations and their operations.
If you have questions regarding this application kindly reach out to BJ Scanlon at [email protected] or 585-753-1026.
If you need assistance filling out this application in a language other than English, you can contact [email protected] for assistance with language accommodation.
