4CULTURE SUSTAINED SUPPORT FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE OPERATING SUPPORT FOR KING COUNTY ARTS AND HERITAGE ORGANIZATIONS

Application Deadline is Monday, December 7, 2009

(King County) – 4Culture is pleased to announce that applications are available for the 2010 Sustained Support program, a funding opportunity for arts and heritage organizations, with a deadline of Monday, December 7, 2009.

The Sustained Support Program seeks to provide financial support to organizations who maintain a consistent level of programmatic activity, community impact and organizational stability. In 2009, 4Culture distributed $1,883,000 to over 240 organizations through the Sustained Support Program. Eligible arts organizations include arts organizations based in King County with a minimum of three years experience presenting or producing arts programs for King County residents.

Eligibility for local arts agencies includes not-for-profit organizations or official units of municipal government based in suburban or rural King County and specifically dedicated to providing arts services for its residents. Eligible heritage organizations include heritage organizations with a minimum two-year history of operating a heritage facility focusing on the histories of King County’s people and places. For more information about eligibility requirements, all potential applicants should carefully review the online guidelines.

Free public workshops will be held, offering prospective applicants an opportunity to meet with program staff and other applicants, understand specific guidelines, and walk through a step-by-step review of the application process.

•             Arts Sustained Support workshops will be held every Tuesday, from noon – 1pm through December 1, 2009 at 4Culture’s Offices, 101 Prefontaine Place South in Seattle.

•             Heritage Sustained Support workshops will be held every Tuesday, from 1 – 2 pm through December 1, 2009 at 4Culture’s Offices, 101 Prefontaine Place South in Seattle.

Applicants who have applied to 4Culture before will notice some changes to the application process this year. 4Culture is proud to introduce our new online application system. Program guidelines and links to the applications are available online at www.4culture.org.

Anyone with questions about the online process can contact Paige.Weinheimer@4culture.org or call 206 296.8605. Submitted applications will be reviewed through a peer panel review process.

Artists, arts administrators, heritage specialists and community representatives from throughout King County evaluate applications based on a set of published criteria. Panel recommendations are submitted to the 4Culture Board for final approval.