City Arts Investment Fund
2024 Grant Program

Application Closed on Friday, January 26, 2024, 11:59PM MT 
2025 Application will open December 2024. To receive alerts, please email your request to [email protected].
First-time applicants and Native-led organizations strongly encouraged to apply. 

About the Program

The City of Rapid City believes arts and culture are essential to public welfare. Established by the City of Rapid City, the Arts Investment Fund aims to provide financial support for nonprofit organizations providing rich artistic and cultural experiences or arts education for the citizens of the City of Rapid City.

The Arts Investment Fund (AIF) Grant Program is managed by the Rapid City Arts Council as the agency responsible for advising the city on the artistic and cultural development of the community. 

For 2024, City Council has approved a budget of $100,000 for the Arts Investment Fund. Under city statute or agreement, five municipal arts organizations will receive a portion of the funds and up to 10% of the fund is designated support for the arts council. The remaining funds are available to eligible applicants through a grantmaking process managed by the Rapid City Arts Council.

All grant funded activities must align with the purpose of the AIF:

• Contribute to and provide cultural, educational, entertainment, and recreational benefits available to and used by the citizens of the City of Rapid City.
• Promote and encourage public programs to develop public interest and build awareness of the arts.

The 2024 grant application will be open to eligible applicants through January 26, 2024. Award decisions are expected before March 1, based on the timing of city council approval.

Application Guidelines

Download PDF of the Guidelines

I. How to Apply

1. No letter of interest required.
2. Application Form: Complete the questionnaire in the outline and format provided in the 2024 Grant Application Form (listed in Application Materials section below). Only complete and timely applications that conform to the form outline will be considered.
3. Submittal Instructions: Submit completed application form and required supporting documents, as listed in the “Required Supporting Documents” section of these guidelines, to the Rapid City Arts Council by 11:59 PM MT on Friday, January 26, 2024. Submit the application using one of the three methods listed in the “Acceptable Submittal Methods” section on the application form. Confirmation of successful submissions will be emailed within two (2) business days. Meeting the application requirements does not ensure activities will be funded. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. 

​
II. Question & Answer Process

1. Submit Any Questions in Writing: Questions about the grant process and/or requirements are welcome by email only. Questions received by email at [email protected] before 5:00PM MST, January 5, 2024, will receive a response from the committee.
2. Answers to Questions Online: Responses to all questions (received as instructed) will be posted on this webpage by close of business on January 8, 2024. Replies to questions will also be sent directly to the original sender.

III. Application Guidelines
1. Proposed activities must align with goals of AIF:
The City of Rapid City considers the arts to be “essential to public welfare." The city established the AIF by statute to support municipal arts organizations and to further the artistic and cultural development of the Rapid City community. Grant activities must align with this stated purpose of the fund. Applicants must present a clear and compelling rationale for how their proposed activities would support the following community development goals: (1) Contribute to and provide cultural, educational, entertainment, and recreational benefits to the citizens of the City of Rapid City, and (2) Promote and encourage public programs that develop and build public awareness and interest in the arts.

2. Activities allowed under this grant program:
General operating support (GOS) to provide/present performing or visual arts or other programming promoting the unique culture of the region WITHIN CITY LIMITS of the City of Rapid City.

3. Activities NOT allowed/restricted under this grant program:

• Meeting or workshop fees
• Cash prizes
• Money for contest prizes
• Membership or participation rules that do not comply with non-discrimination laws
• School-based projects/programs produced by or on behalf of governmental agencies
• Brick and mortar and capital improvements
• Activities that have already been completed
• Religious programming and activities
• Fundraisers and social events
• Lobbying activities
• Political contributions
• Legal fees
• Programming outside of city limits of Rapid City

​
IV. Eligibility
Applicants are eligible to apply if AT LEAST ONE of the following criteria are met:

1. Under city ordinance: Applicant is identified as eligible for funding under City Code of Ordinances, Title 2, Chapter 2.84.
2. Under city agreement: Applicant is eligible through formal agreement with the City of Rapid City.
3. Nonprofit in good standing: Applicant is a nonprofit that proposes to serve the artistic and cultural needs of the citizens of the City of Rapid City (within city limits of Rapid City), AND is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) as determined by the IRS (copy of determination letter required) and in good standing.
4. (NEW IN 2024) Project with fiscal sponsorship: Applicant represents a local cause that is not recognized by the IRS, AND proposes to serve the artistic and cultural needs of the citizens of the City of Rapid City (within city limits), AND has an established fiscal sponsorship with a credible Rapid City-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (copy of determination letter required) that agrees to lend nonprofit status to the applicant, retains control and discretion over funds, and reports on use of funds. A copy of a signed sponsorship agreement detailing fiduciary oversight, fiscal management, grant reporting and other administrative services that ensure appropriate use of the proposed grant funds must be submitted with the grant application.

Anti-Discrimination: Organizations whose policies do not comply with non-discrimination laws are not eligible to apply. Award recipients must comply with applicable conscience protections and federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, and age. Compliance requires taking reasonable steps to provide programs that are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.

Budget Size: Proposals for funding requests exceeding 25% of applicant’s annual operating budget (or program budget if applicant is a subsidiary or project of a larger organization) are not eligible. This stipulation does not apply to the organizations funded under city ordinance/agreement.

Please review the Guidelines (PDF) for additional information.

Application Requirements

1. 2024 AIF Grant Application Form – available for download in the materials section below (submittal must conform to outline provided).
2. Total budget for the program/project, including income and expense details.
3. List of current officers and board members.
4. Most recent IRS 990 form or financial statements prepared by a certified public accountant.
5. IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (new applicants only)
6. Grant_guidelines - Applicants must certify on the application form that they have reviewed the grant guidelines in full.
7. Submittal delivered to RCAC by the stated deadline via an approved submittal method (listed on first page of Application Form)

See Guidelines for important selection criteria, awards requirements and administrative details

Application Materials

Application Guidelines ​(Applicants must certify in applying that they have reviewed the guidelines)	Download 2024 PDF ​updated 1/15/25 - corrected formatting of item #8 (no material changes to content)
Questions & Responses	Posted Above
2024 Application Form	Download Word.doc Download PDF

2024 Arts Contingency Fund Awardees:

• Black Hills Historical Society (formerly, Minnilusa Historical Association) received $5,000 for the storage, curation, exhibition, and programs associated with the Duhamel Collection under a city contract.
  
• Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, a city establishment, received $19,500 for the concert season, the 4th-grade music safari, and partner performances.
  
• Dakota Choral Union, a city establishment, received $9,000 supporting a young vocal competition and a three-concert season.
  
• The Rapid City Municipal Band, a city establishment, received $15,000 for seven summer evening concerts.
  
• The Rapid City Ranger Band, a city establishment, received $7,500 for the youth summer marching band.
  
• Black Hills Community Theater received $9,000 for five full theater productions and an array of educational programs and special events.
  
• Black Hills Pow Wow Association received $9,000 for the annual event featuring world-class championship dancing, singing, art exhibition, and a trade show.
  
• The Chamber Music Festival received $1,000 for Musical Story Time and Children’s Concerts in conjunction with a three-concert classical music series.
  
• Flutter Productions, a part of the Black Hills Works family, received $5,000 for a summer production with workshops in theater, acting, dance, and music for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  
• Racing Magpie received $9,000 for artist studios, a Native art gallery, arts and cultural programming and collaborations, and community space.
  
• Rapid City Arts Council received $9,000 under a contract to manage the fund, in addition to presenting visual art exhibitions, performances, arts education, and arts advocacy while providing free admission to the Dahl Arts Center for 15,000 visitors annually.
  
  

Q&A // Posted 01.08.2024

Q: Our proposed activity is at a venue outside of the city limits of Rapid City. Are we eligible to apply?
A: NO. Grant funds are only available for activities occurring inside city limits.

Q: If we were to receive a grant, are we required to open our books to the city upon request?
A: NO. As stated in the guidelines, grantees are only obligated to provide RCAC with accounting records for only the grant amount if an inspection of records is deemed necessary. Any information collected is held in confidence.

---

2023 Grant Recipients
​Black Hills Symphony Orchestra* $17,500
Dakota Choral Union* $9,200 
Black Hills Historical Society, formerly known as Minnilusa Historical Association* $5,000 
Rapid City Municipal Band* $16,100 
Rapid City Ranger Band* $9,200 
Backroom Productions, Inc. $2,500 
Black Hills Chamber Music Society $3,500 
Black Hills Dance Theatre $4,000 
Black Hills Pow Wow Association $9,500 
Chamber Music Festival $4,500 
Dakota Artists Guild $800 
Flutter Productions, Black Hills Works, Inc. $2,700
Rapid City Concert Association $2,000
Rushmore Music Festival $4,500 
Rapid City Arts Council will also receive $9,000 from the fund 

​2022 Grant Recipients
Black Hills Chamber Music Society, $3,726
Black Hills Community Theatre, $8,279
Black Hills Symphony Orchestra*, $19,663
Cave Collective, $3,000
Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills, $3,726
Dakota Artists Guild, $828
Dakota Choral Union*, $10,349
Minnilusa Historical Assoc & Pioneer Museum**, $5,988
Rapid City Municipal Band*, $18,110
Rapid City Ranger Band*, $10,349
Rushmore Music Festival, $4,657
Backroom Productions, $3,726

*Funding by City Ordinance
**Funding by City Agreement

​Important Dates & Information

• No letter of interest required
  
• Question Period: Questions about the grant program or application must be submitted via email to [email protected] by January 5, 2024.
• Response Period: Responses to questions received by email will be posted on this webpage on January 8, 2024.
• Application Due Date: 11:59PM MT, Friday, January 26, 2024 (Late applications will not be considered)
• Expected Award Notification: February 29, 2024
• Final Report Due: October 25, 2024 (may be adjusted for grantees with seasonal programming)