The Complete 2023 Grant Guidelines are available in PDF format(PDF, 378KB)
Submission Requirements
All applicants must adhere to the procedures specified in these guidelines and in the Performing Arts Grant Application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No exceptions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form and the required attachments are complete. All applications deemed complete by staff will be forwarded to the Peer Review Panel for consideration. City staff is not obligated to contact applicants for missing information and applications deemed incomplete will be disqualified.
All other application support materials, including venue letter of intent, project budget, funder report, non-profit documents, artistic samples, and collateral materials, must be uploaded and submitted by the deadline.
Project Budget
Project budgets must be submitted using the approved format only. The budget is for your proposed project only. Detailed budget notes are highly recommended. The Culver City grant request must be included in the budget, as well as other sources of funding. In-kind income and expenses must also be included, with details. Do not provide an organizational budget.
Grant-Budget-Template.xlsx(XLSX, 25KB)
Grant-Budget-Instructions-with-Template.docx(DOCX, 56KB)
Performance Venues
The Venue Letter of Intent(DOCX, 29KB) , signed by the grant applicant and signed by a representative of the venue, is required.
Performances must be available to the general public at an affordable price or for free. All events must take place in an ADA-compliant building or facility that is wholly or partially located in Culver City or under the purview of the City of Culver City or is assigned a USPS zip code in 90230 or 90232. Please contact Cultural Affairs staff in advance to verify venue addresses if necessary. See the VENUES section below for more information.
All applicants must demonstrate significant plans to attract Culver City audiences, and the performance location is an important part of those efforts. A partial list of frequently used indoor and outdoor performance venues is available in the VENUES section below.
Please note that you are not limited to the venues on these lists and the Cultural Affairs staff is available to review other creative ideas for your performance.
Contract, Acknowledgement, Marketing
Grant recipients will be required to sign a contract, defining requirements to be fulfilled, including provision of credit and logo in promotional materials and programs. Notification of changes to your grant project or performance details is required. Should the requirements not be met, the grant award is subject to withdrawal.
Grant recipients are required to contact Cultural Affairs staff two months prior to their first performance date to review marketing plans for performances in Culver City and to ensure receipt of the approved City of Culver City logo.
To ensure that acknowledgment is given to the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Culver City Arts Foundation, grant recipients are required to include a credit line, as well as logos, in all marketing materials as well as the event program. All grantees shall provide a draft of the marketing materials and event program to Cultural Affairs staff prior to their publication.
Cultural Data Profile Funder Report
The City of Culver City is participating with SMU DataArts to utilize the Cultural Data Profile (CDP). The City of Culver City, along with other funders, requires applicants to complete an annual survey that collects financial and programmatic data. Applicants will complete the online CDP and use that data as part of their application to all participating funders throughout the state. Organizations with expenses below $50K may opt to complete a shorter CDP form, making the data entry process faster and more equitable for small nonprofits. All applications must include the DataArts Funder Report for the Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program with their application. See CULTURAL DATA PROFILE section below for further instructions.
Tax Exempt Status Verification
Applicant organizations, or their fiscal receiver, must qualify as tax exempt – as defined by the Internal Revenue Service and CA Secretary of State – at the time the application is submitted. A copy of the non-profit determination letter issued by the IRS and a screenshot or confirmation page from the CA Secretary of State showing active nonprofit status within 60 days of the deadline, must be submitted with the application to be considered eligible.
Use of Funds
Grant awards from Culver City may only be used for direct expenses related to the performances in Culver City. No grants will be awarded for performances that are staged in conjunction with a fundraiser or a class presentation. Funding may be awarded for a single production or a series of performances.
Compliance
Compliance with licensing and insurance requirements established by the facility at which the performance will be held is required. If the applicant’s production requires performance or staging rights, the applicant should include a letter indicating that rights have been secured. Please provide a copy of the Performance Rights License with the completed application. Applicant shall perform all work in accordance with applicable laws, codes and regulations required by all authorities having jurisdiction over such work.
Final Report and Payment
Grant recipients will be required to submit an invoice after the performance and an evaluation form detailing audience attendance, comments, and zip code tally.
Special Permits
Productions may require a permit through the City’s Committee on Permits and Licenses. Application must be made with the Finance Department at City Hall. Please contact the Business License Division at (310) 253-5870 for information on permit fees.
Culver City Business Tax Certificate
All grant recipients shall be required to obtain a Culver City Business Tax Certificate before a contract can be issued and before any performances. Visit the Culver City Business Services website or call the Business Support Services at (310) 594-7847 for information. If you already have a Business Tax Certificate, it must be renewed annually. No grant contract will be issued without a valid Business Tax Certificate.
Evaluation and Selection Process
Grant applications will be reviewed by staff to ensure that the application is complete. The applications will be presented to a Peer Review Panel for evaluation and scoring. The recommendations of the review panel will be presented to the Performing Arts Grant Program Subcommittee who will forward its recommendation to the Cultural Affairs Commission for consideration. The City Council will review the recommendations made by the Cultural Affairs Commission and make the final determination concerning grant awards. All applicants are encouraged to attend the Cultural Affairs Commission meeting to answer any questions and to promote their events. Applicants will receive notification of the specific date for the Cultural Affairs Commission meeting at least seven days in advance.
Scoring Criteria - 100 Total Possible Points
Artistic excellence and cultural merit of proposed project - 45 possible points
Outreach and engagement with the Culver City community - 20 possible points
Realistic project budget and funding base - 20 possible points
Contribution to cultural equity and inclusion - 15 possible points