Bravo Greater Des Moines Announces Local Arts Program Grant

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Bravo Greater Des Moines announced a new grant program in its 2017 grant cycle which opens today. The Local Arts Program Grant will provide financial support up to $10,000 for community-based arts and culture programs in central Iowa. The addition comes in response to the growing number of local arts, culture and heritage programs that didn’t meet Bravo’s historic funding model but are adding essential value to the region’s cultural landscape.

Recognizing that the arts bring communities together and strong communities make for a stronger region, the Local Arts Program Grant is being added as a two-year pilot program. Eligible applicants include 501c organizations or agencies, commissions, councils or boards of government which present arts, culture or heritage programs. Full guidelines can be found here.

“The demand for arts programming in central Iowa is expanding and Bravo is pleased to support these essential contributions to quality of life in our communities. The Local Arts Program Grant is an exciting new way to provide funding and support for the arts and we are excited about this pilot program,” said Sally Dix, Bravo executive director.

Also opening today is Bravo’s Cultural Enrichment Grant, which has directed more than $20 million in unrestricted general operating support to the region’s arts, culture and heritage organizations over the last 10 years.

All Bravo grants are made possible by its local government partners who each contribute a portion of hotel/motel tax money to Bravo to be invested in arts and culture organizations and programs – Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Polk County, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.

Applications for both grants are due on October 19. Awards will be announced mid-November. Applications for the Capital Campaign and Project Grant, Bravo’s other grant program, will open in early 2017.