233.04.22 Ark. Code R. 002
ARKANSAS DEPARMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE AND TOURISM DIVISION OF HERITAGE
Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Act Rules
Effective Date: May 31, 2022
An Arkansas cultural institution as defined in Section 3.0, may apply for a grant from the Arkansas Cultural Institution Trust Fund. The guidelines and access to the online application will be available on the Division of Arkansas Heritage website under Division of Arkansas Heritage grants at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants.
The application will request that the applicants provide detailed information regarding the project and applicants will be allowed to submit documents and pictures to support their applications.
The applications for grants from the fund will be reviewed by the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee.
The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will be created by the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 13-8-303. The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will include three members including (1) the director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage; (2) the director of the Division of Arkansas Tourism; and (3) a director of an accredited museum within the Division of Arkansas Heritage.
In evaluating applications, the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will evaluate the application and will consider the following factors:
In evaluating the application, the total project cost should be a minimum of $7 million. Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee (Committee) will consider the economic impact of the project including the impact upon the region where the cultural institution is located including, but not limited to, tax revenue generated by the project, number of visitors, jobs and business creation, impact on existing businesses as well as overall tourism impact. The Committee can consider other factors in addition to the above referenced factors. As part of the application process, applicants will be allowed to submit documents and pictures to support their application.
The criteria for the distribution of grant funds will include, without limitation, the following factors:
Each member of the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Committee will review the application. After individual review by each member, the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Committee shall meet to discuss award recommendations based on the amount of funding available.
The recommendations of the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for approval.
The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund will be used for major capital improvement projects at Arkansas cultural institutions. The Division of Arkansas Heritage will submit an annual report to the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism by June 30 of each year. The report will include a summary of the grants awarded and amounts distributed by the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund. Additionally, the report will include recommendations directed toward furthering the purposes of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, including preservation and promotion of Arkansas's natural and cultural heritage.
Under Ark. Code Ann. § 19-5-1155(a), the funds for this grant program will be held in the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund through the Treasurer of State, the Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State. The fund shall consist of grants, donations, or transfers made by any person or government agency or office and any other funds authorized or provided by law. Any remaining funds will carry over to the next fiscal year.
The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund will be used for the purposes set out in § 13-8-305.
Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program
This grant is being offered by the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. The Division of Arkansas Heritage is a division within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Since 1975, the Division of Arkansas Heritage has been charged with discovering, strengthening, protecting, and preserving Arkansas's natural and cultural heritage. To fulfill its mission, the Division of Arkansas Heritage coordinates the following natural and cultural heritage resource areas:
The Heritage Museums: Museums research, preserve, present, and interpret historic structures, objects, and natural and cultural assets. They serve as a partner in education with public and private schools throughout Arkansas. The department's four museums are the Delta Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum.
The Heritage Resource Agencies: The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission identifies, protects, and promotes areas that best exemplify Arkansas's rich heritage of biological diversity. These areas might be habitat for rare or disappearing species, or natural communities such as a tallgrass prairie or a river and its dependent aquatic system. The Arkansas Arts Council and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program are conduits for federal and state grant money, and they provide technical assistance for developing and conserving Arkansas's cultural resources. They preserve and promote Arkansas's cultural resources including Arkansas's fine and traditional arts and historic structures, landscapes, and archeological sites. The Arkansas State Archives collect and preserve the official records and historical materials for the state of Arkansas. These include state, county, and federal records, manuscript materials, newspapers, military records, family histories, an extensive Arkansas history and genealogy library, and a collection of Arkansas art and artifacts.
Guidelines for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program
Grant Program Goals
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism through the Division of Arkansas Heritage has set these goals for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program:
* Further the purposes of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, including preservation and promotion of Arkansas's natural and cultural heritage
* Increase the ability of cultural institutions to preserve, promote and educate related to these items that are significant to the heritage of Arkansas
Who May Apply
The following are the types of museums and organizations that are eligible to apply:
* Nonprofit organizations located in the State of Arkansas that are open to the public or if the applicant is in the process of opening a new or modified facility, the applicant plans to be open to the public on a weekly basis. These organizations must acquire, conserve, research, communicate, or exhibit works of art, artifacts or works of cultural or historic significance, or related items significant to the heritage of Arkansas for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment.
Examples of these types of nonprofit organizations are listed below.
* History Museums
* Military Museums
* Natural History Museums
* Art Museums
* Other museums that meet the criteria provided above
Evaluation Criteria
The criteria for the distribution of grant funds, includes, without limitation, the following factors:
General Conditions
There are two general conditions for eligibility in the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program:
Additional Requirements
To be considered for Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program, the applicant must meet the following requirements:
* Applicant must be located in the State of Arkansas
* Applicant must have tax exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization with the IRS as a nonprofit organization
* Applicant has a formal and appropriate program of documentation and care for collections
* Applicant must be open to the public on a weekly basis or if the applicant is in the process of opening a new or modified facility, the applicant plans to be open to the public on a weekly basis.
* Applicant must agree to submit periodic progress reports as outlined in the contract and a final report at the completion of the project. Time and format of the report will be determined by the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee.
Eligible Expenses
Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grants can only be used to underwrite an eligible institutions' major capital improvement expenses. The following expenses are examples of major capital improvement projects:
Application Timeline and Availability
* Grant opportunity will be posted on the Division of Arkansas Heritage website at least 60 days before submission deadline. Updates will be made on Division of Arkansas Heritage website once funding is available. The website will allow interested parties to sign up for email notification updates. The website is https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants.
* Deadline for revisions or additional material will be no later than 15 days after submission.
* Submission deadline will be included with grant guidelines at
https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants.
* Grant awards will be announced within 60 days of application submission deadline
Decision Process
Committee
The Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will include three members including (1) the director of the Division of Arkansas Heritage; (2) the director of the Division of Arkansas Tourism; and (3) a director of an accredited museum within the Division of Arkansas Heritage.
Recommendation
The recommendations of the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Committee will be submitted to the Secretary of the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for approval.
Factors Considered by Review Committee
In evaluating applications, the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee will evaluate the application and will consider the following factors:
In evaluating the application, the total project cost should be a minimum of $7 million. Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Review Committee (Committee) will consider the economic impact of the project including the impact upon the region where the Cultural Institution is located including, but not limited to, tax revenue generated by the project, number of visitors, jobs and businesses created, impact on existing businesses as well as overall tourism impact. The Committee can consider other factors in addition to the above referenced factors. As part of the application process, applicants will be allowed to submit documents and pictures to support their application.
Criteria for Distribution of Funds
The criteria for the distribution of grant funds, include, without limitation, the following factors:
To Apply
Applications will be submitted online. Guidelines and directions will be posted on the Division of Arkansas Heritage website at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants.
Application for the Arkansas Cultural Institutions Trust Fund Grant Program
This application will be completed and submitted online. Instructions will be posted at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/available-grants/division-of-arkansas-heritage-grants.
Applicants may attach documents and pictures to support application.
The period during which grant funds will be spent and when the project will take place. Include a timeline for the proposed project. Grant funds shall be utilized within one year of receipt of funds. Awardee can request an extension of an additional year if the funds cannot be utilized during the one year time frame.
From__________________________ To ___________________________
Month/Day/Year Month/Day/Year
Provide a brief history of the Arkansas cultural institution, include information as to the date of establishment, the organization's mission statement, the focal point, and a brief overview of the contents of exhibits, collections, interpretation, and programming.
Provide specifics as to what is to be accomplished during the grant period. Include a list of numbered specific Work Elements. Work Elements should be organized to coincide with, and support Line Item Budget provided in below referenced item number seven (7) "Project Cost."
Provide more information regarding the planning of the major capital improvement project. Applicant should attach photos, drawings, plans from architects, engineers, construction manager etc. If this is a renovation or rehabilitation project, include photos of areas requiring work.
Provide budget information regarding overall cost of the major capital improvement project.
* Include a detailed Line Item Budget.
* Organize headings to coincide with "Work Elements" section provided in above referenced number four (4) "Description of Proposed Project."
* Provide information regarding availability of other project funding sources, including other grant awards being pursued or received.
Identify the audience to be served by this project and explain how they will benefit. Include an estimate of the number of people to be served based on current museum visitor demographics if applicable.
Provide evidence of non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) organization.
List board of directors and key staff.
________________________________
Project Director
________________________________
Address
Email Address__________________________________
Telephone___________________________________
________________________________
Executive Director/President of Organization
Email Address__________________________________
Telephone___________________________________
________________________________ ____________
Name of Organization Date
_____________________________________________________
Signature* Title (Print Name)
* Individual with legal authority to bind organization to the proposed project
233.04.22 Ark. Code R. 002