2023 City Arts Investment Fund Grant Information

Application Closed Tuesday, February 7, 2023, 11:59PM MST
New applicants and Native-led organizations strongly encouraged to apply

About the Fund

The City of Rapid City is proud to support the arts and culture sector in furthering our city’s ​collective sense of civic purpose and pride. Created by the city, the goal of the City Arts Investment Fund is to provide grants to nonprofit organizations with the purpose of providing arts and cultural opportunities for the people of Rapid City. Grants may be used as general operating support to provide or present performing or visual arts or other cultural programming to the public. The Arts Investment Fund (AIF) is managed by the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC), the city's designated arts agency, on behalf of the Rapid City community. 

For 2023, the city has budgeted $130,000 to the AIF. Five arts/cultural organizations receive annual AIF grants by ordinance or in agreement with the city. The budget increase of $30,000 for 2023 is designated for these specific organizations, including: Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, Dakota Choral Union, Minnilusa Historical Association & Pioneer Museum, Rapid City Municipal Band, and the Rapid City Ranger Band. The Rapid City Arts Council receives no more than 10% for the purposes of assisting the city in initiating, promoting and encouraging public programs to further the development, awareness of, and interest in the arts; to act in an advisory capacity in connection with the Rapid City Cultural Plan; and to administer AIF and distribute funds on behalf of the Rapid City community.

All remaining funds are available to general applicants. In 2023, general applicants may submit requests for grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. 

Annually, any award depends on the total annual budget for the fund as approved by the Common Council. Applications are reviewed and scored by an RCAC committee that serves to recommend awards. Grant awards are dispersed by RCAC in four (4) equal quarterly installments based on the timing of city disbursements. RCAC does not control timing of city funds. 

Purpose of the AIF

• Contribute to and provide cultural, educational, entertainment, and recreational benefits available to and used by the citizens of the Rapid City community
• Promote and encourage public programs to further the development and public awareness of and interest in the arts which is essential to public welfare and the artistic and cultural development of the Rapid City community.

Application Guidelines

I. Allowable Grant Activities

• General operating support (GOS) to present performing, visual, or other programming promoting the unique culture of the region.
• Grant award may not exceed 25% of total operating budget (does not apply to the five organizations funded under city ordinance/agreement).

II. Funding Restrictions
AIF does not fund the following:

• Meeting or workshop fees
• Cash prizes
• Money for contest prizes
• Organizations whose membership and participation policies 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

III. Eligibility
Organizations (a) identified as municipal organizations in City of Rapid City Code of Ordinances, Title 2, Chapter 2.84, (b) made eligible through an agreement with the City of Rapid City, or (c) organizations meeting all of the following criteria are eligible to apply:​

• Local arts/cultural organization helping to advance the goals of the Rapid City Cultural Plan and conducting activities within the City of Rapid City
• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization
• Public or private schools or other non-profit organizations seeking funding for school-based programs produced by government agencies are not eligible to apply.

IV. Application Requirements

1. AIF Grant Application Form (must conform to outline provided) - download in the Application Materials at the bottom of this webpage
2. Project budget, including income and expense details
3. List of current officers and board members
4. Most recent audited financial statements or IRS 990 form
5. IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter

Meeting these requirements does not ensure activities will be funded.

Confidentiality: Application materials are considered confidential and are shared with RCAC staff, Board Directors and committee members, and city officials strictly for the purposes of determining grant awards.

V. Submission Information

1. A complete application form, including the required attachments, must be delivered to the RCAC by 11:59PM MST, Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
2. Applications may be delivered to the Rapid City Arts Council via one of the following acceptable submittal methods:
   • Email to aif@thedahl.org, Subject: “2023 AIF Application - Organization Name”
   • Mail postmarked by the deadline and addressed to: Rapid City Arts Council, 713 7th St, Rapid City, SD 57701, ENC: AIF Application
   • In person, delivered in a sealed envelope labeled, “ENC: RCAC/AIF Application” to RCAC staff at Dahl Arts Center, 713 7th St, Rapid City, SD

Applicants will receive delivery confirmation by email within one (1) business day.

VI. Selection Criteria
The RCAC’s Arts Investment Fund (AIF) Committee reviews applications and recommends grant awards once the review process is complete. This committee includes RCAC board members, officers, city council members, and community leaders (individuals interested in participating in the AIF Committee may express interest at: aif@thedahl.org). The review process includes scoring of applications based on the following expectations:

1. Help to advance the goals described in the Rapid City Cultural Plan.
2. Provide inclusive, innovative, and inspiring arts/cultural opportunities for the people of Rapid City.
3. Enhance the diversity of arts/cultural programming available to local audiences.
4. Enhance the quality of arts/cultural programming available to local audiences.
5. Increase accessibility of arts/cultural programming for underserved communities, especially youth, Native and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities (including physical access), persons who live in rural areas, and persons affected by persistent poverty.
6. Proposes to credit/clearly acknowledge support from the City of Rapid City and the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) in promotional materials and programs related to the award, including websites, social media, and publications.
7. Performs the activities as described in the application.
   
   

Conflict of Interest: RCAC policies stipulate staff, Board of Directors and committee members must avoid conflicts of interest and any conduct which may suggest impropriety in the disbursement of federal, state, or local funds.   

VII. Award Requirements

1. Credit Requirement: Grantees must credit and clearly acknowledge support from the City of Rapid City and the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC) in promotional materials and programs related to the award, including websites, social media, and publications. The following statement must be included: "This project is partially funded by the City of Rapid City through the Arts Investment Fund through the Rapid City Arts Council." Failure to credit this support will jeopardize continued funding and future eligibility.
2. City Council Appearance (optional/recommended): Grantees are encouraged to attend a meeting of the Rapid City Common Council to publicly thank the city for the support. Council meets the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month starting at 6:30PM in Council Chambers, at the City/School Administration Center located at 300 6th Street.
3. Accounting Requirement: All grant recipients must follow acceptable accounting procedures in maintaining accurate, current, and complete records which identify adequately the source and use of grant funds. All grant recipients must allow access to any books, documents, papers and records maintained to account for funds expended under the terms and conditions of the grant for the purpose of making an audit examination. Any duly authorized representative of the RCAC may make excerpts and transcripts. Recipients must maintain complete and accurate records, which are supported by source documentation and all financial transactions, related to the grant for a period of three (3) years.

VIII. Award Administration

• Administrator: The Arts Investment Fund is managed by the Rapid City Arts Council (RCAC), the designated arts agency of the City of Rapid City located at 713 7th St in Rapid City.
• Payment: Payment for grant awards is made by RCAC in equal quarterly installments via check mailed to the grantee. Timing of payment during the quarter varies based on the city’s disbursement schedule (RCAC does not control timing of city funds).
• Changes in Project/Program: 
  • Applicants: Notify RCAC immediately of any significant changes to your organization or project that occur after you have submitted your application. RCAC reserves the right to withdraw funding recommendations.
  • Grantees are expected to fulfill the project as described in the application. If project plans change, the grantee must notify RCAC immediately. Continued funding is not guaranteed.
• Final Reporting: A grant report will be due on October 15, 2023, and is required for both the final grant payment and future funding. This grant report includes the following questions: (1) A summary of how funding was used and the outcomes, including estimated number and characteristics of audiences engaged, (2) material demonstrating fulfillment of the plan to recognize the City of Rapid City and the Rapid City Arts Council, as submitted in the application. 

Application Materials

Application Guidelines	Download PDF
Inquiries and Responses	Download PDF
Application Form	Download Word.doc Download PDF

2023 Grant Recipients
​Black Hills Symphony Orchestra* $17,500
Dakota Choral Union* $9,200 
Minnilusa Historical Association & Pioneer Museum* $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

• Responses to Inquiries Received
• Responses to Inquiries: PDF of written inquiries received and the responses will be available for download on this webpage starting January 21, 2023
• Application Submittal Deadline: 11:59PM MST, Tuesday, February 7, 2023 (Late applications will not be considered)
• Award Notification: February 28, 2023 (Paid in 4 installments; 1st payment by March 31)
• Final Report: Due 11:59PM MST, October 15, 2023

Inquiries Process
The deadline for submitting inquiries (questions/clarification) about this grant has passed.

• Deadline for inquiries: 5:00PM, January 17, 2023.
  
• Only inquiries received in writing to aif@thedahl.org will receive a response.
• Do not contact any Rapid City Arts Council staff by telephone with any questions or comments pertaining to this grant.

The Rapid City Arts Council will publish all timely received written inquiries and responses to those inquiries in an addendum available for download on this webpage on or before the close of business on January 21, 2023.