INTENT: To activate vacant and underused spaces through the arts to help bring together community members around the art, history, and culture of the community. 

DESCRIPTION

This program provides funding for communities with populations of 15,000 or less to reinvigorate spaces by creating new murals or public art that incorporate the community’s history, culture, heritage, tourism, or other community led art piece.  This mural and public art grant program is intended to support projects in rural communities that are immediately ready to begin work on their mural, with community engagement, location selection, site approvals, and muralist selection being completed by May 10, 2024. 

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Communities with a population of 15,000 or less, located in a county of 50,000 or less. 
• Units of local government
• Economic/Community Development and Tourism non-profits (501c3 or 501c6)
• Federally recognized tribes
• Non-profit organizations (501c3)

MAXIMUM REQUEST: $7,500 

MATCH REQUIREMENT: 

• Dollar for dollar (1:1)

• The total project cost must be at least twice the amount of the grant request.

• The match requirement must consist of at least 25% cash expenses provided by the applicant

• In-kind non-monetary donations and volunteer hours may be counted, up to 75% of the required match

MATCH EXCEPTION

Organizations or projects in communities with populations of 1000 or fewer:

• In-kind non-monetary donations may be counted as 100% of the required match 

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

• May 2024 – December 31, 2024

• Murals painted on exterior walls using paint or an adhesive material need to be completed by mid-October 2024 to ensure weather does not inhibit the curing process. 

• If more time is needed to complete your project, KCAIC has an additional program that could be a better fit. 

ELIGIBLE COSTS/EXPENSES

• Artist and consultant fees including travel expenses and accommodation expenses

• Applicable project materials and supplies

• Additional administrative costs (beyond annually budgeted general operating costs) related to the approved project

• Allowable marketing expenses directly related to the approved project (This does not include campaigns or materials used solely to raise awareness of the organization.)

• Equipment purchases needed to complete art or mural project under $5,000

• Wall or surface repair – limited to 15% of total project cost (tuckpointing, mortar repair)

• Surface preparation (smoothing, resurfacing, cleaning, etc.)

• Lighting or display materials to highlight the art piece

• Landscaping or clean-up of the space that could affect the visibility of the mural

INELIGIBLE COSTS/EXPENSES INCLUDE:

• General operating costs of an organization not directly related to the approved project (Applicable general operating costs directly related to the approved project may account for no more than 50% of an applicant’s cash match)

• Fundraising campaigns or related expenses, scholarships

• Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities

• Financing of political activities, lobbying, or murals that are directly tied to a political party affiliation

• Honorariums (artists and contractors must be paid as fees for services rendered)

FUNDING PRIORITIES

• Communities or Counties that have not previously received funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce for murals or public art

• Projects that can show that they are ready to begin. This means that the community engagement phase is complete, muralist has been identified and they are available, and that the location of the mural has been identified and approvals given to put the mural on the wall.

• Projects that can be completed by December 31, 2024, or if they will be painted on an exterior wall, that this will be completed before mid-October.

• Murals or public art that is done collaboratively across the county or as a region to celebrate their history or culture as a Kansas community

See KCAIC Mural Making Guidebook further information. Please contact the Office of Rural Prosperity at RuralKanProsper@ks.gov or 785.289.3763 with any questions.

Grant Timeline:

February 23, 2024  Spring 2024 ORP Rural Mural Grant Opens

May 1, 2024 - Priority project deadline - Applications submitted by May 1, 2024 will receive additional scoring points

May 10, 2024  Spring 2024 ORP Rural Mural Grant Closes (11 weeks)

By June 15, 2024  Awards Announced – Projects can begin upon award notification

Mid July  Grant Award Payments issued