OVERVIEW
We aim to distribute approximately $6,250 to an undetermined number of individual artists before
June 30, 2023. Micro-grants will range from $250 – $500 and be distributed based on adherence
to the Funding Priorities, as well as the Evaluation Criteria. We anticipate a high number of
competitive submissions to this program. Applicants are encouraged to adhere to the Funding
Priorities and Evaluation Criteria whenever possible to maximize their score.

GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE
The Artist Career Empowerment Grant Program is designed to stimulate artists’ careers, and by
extension benefit the arts and cultural sectors, the creative community, and economic ecosystems
of Salt Lake City.
As the Salt Lake City Arts Council, we acknowledge that our current economic conditions have
disproportionately impacted our creative sector. Further, we acknowledge that Black, Indigenous,
and/or other racialized persons have persisted through even greater challenges stemming from the COVID-19 Global Pandemic as well as the violence of prolonged systemic racism and inequities which exist in our industry and society at large. Thus, we are committed to addressing these systemic inequities by providing this grant opportunity.

This grant program will aid in Salt Lake City’s phased economic recovery efforts and provide
necessary financial resources to incentivize individual artists in our creative sector. The Artist
Career Empowerment Grant Program will directly contribute to a more expeditious and equitable
recovery of Salt Lake City’s thriving creative economy.

ABOUT OUR FUNDING
The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Tier 2 Artist Career Empowerment Grant program is generously
supported each year in the Salt Lake City Mayor’s proposed budget, which is subsequently
approved by a vote of the Salt Lake City Council. The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Grants program
is designed to provide financial support for arts programs and projects in Salt Lake City.

Please read the Program Guidelines thoroughly as substantial changes have been made.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applications for Salt Lake Arts Council’s Tier 2 Artist Career Empowerment Grant Program must be submitted and administered by an individual artists who meets all of the following Eligibility Criteria at the time of submission: 

1. Is a current resident of Salt Lake City;
2. Is legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (e.g. citizen, green card holder, and/or permanent resident who can provide a W9 and SSN or ITIN);
3. Is 18 years of age or older;
4. Is an individual person who considers themself an artist or artisan. Artist groups/collectives are ineligible to apply as such;

FUNDING LIMITATIONS 

Funds cannot be expended for the following activities and/or expenses: 

1. Activities and/or expenses incurred outside of the grant timeline (Jun 1, 2023 through Aug 31, 2023);
2. Activities and/or expenses already underway;
3. Activities and/or expenses incurred for the purposes of debt reduction; 
4. Activities and/or expenses incurred outside of the State of Utah must be approved in writing (including online purchases);
5. Expenses related to travel;
6. Activities and/or expenses which are sub granted in any way. Subcontracting is a permissible use which must be approved through the grant application process;
7. Artists who have a studio or residence outside of the city limits of Salt Lake City, Utah. Please verify the address of your studio or residence using this tool. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Additional eligibility and/or limitations may be added at any time with written notice to funded projects. 

GENERAL FUNDING GUIDANCE

The Salt Lake City Arts Council envisions that these funds are utilized by artists and creative entrepreneurs to further their individual interests and emerging or professional careers. Potential fund usage can be, but is not limited to, the following projects and programs; 

1. Participation in an exhibit, festival, vendor showcase, craft fair, market, and other events which require funds to participate;
2. Presenting at conferences, symposiums, artist residencies, or events related to the amplification of your creative process or product; 
3. Facilities and Equipment expenses directly related to the advancement, enhancement, or stabilization of your creative or artistic process or product;
4. Software and subscriptions to stay current on industry trends and interfaces; 
5. Development and promotion of marketing and communications materials related to your work;
6. Enrollment in professional development workshops and/or engagement with coaches or consultants to build technical, administrative, or adaptive skills;
7. Projects which present a minimum of one public performance of the following artforms: Dance, visual art, music, theater, performance, new media (film/video/digital/web based/archives etc), social practice art; or transdisciplinary artistic media.

APPLICATION KEY DATES

• Guidelines* Released: Monday, Feb 27, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
  *Guidelines are subject to change until application is open for submissions.  
• Application Opens: Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.  
• Virtual Grant Program Orientation*:
  Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023 at 5:30pm
  Thursday, Mar 2, 2023 at 7:30am
  Monday, Mar 6, 2023 at 12:00pm
  Friday, Mar 10, 2023 at 10:00am

Thursday, Mar 16, 2023 at 4:30pm

Tuesday, Mar 21, 2023 5:30pm
*Your attendance is encouraged at at least one of the orientation meetings. Advanced registration registration is required, please click here to register. 

• Application Closes*: Friday, Mar 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. 
  *No application submitted after this date will be accepted. Absolutely no exceptions will be made. 
• Salt Lake City Arts Council Committee Review Process: Apr 3, 2023 through Apr 28, 2023
• Salt Lake City Arts Council Board Meeting*: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
  *This meeting is a public meeting where committee recommendations will be submitted to the Board of directors for approval. Attendance is not required. 
• Written Grant Notification*: Friday, May 19, 2023 before 5:00 p.m.
  *Any and all communications will be through email. It is your responsibility to ensure that all emails from our staff and grants software are successfully delivered to an inbox you control and check daily. Failure to do so may result in termination of your grant. 
• Grant Agreement Form Acceptance*: Friday, May 26, 2023 before 5:00 p.m. 

*If granted, you must review and agree to all Grant Terms and Conditions. Failure to accept before this due date will result in termination of grant.

• Grant Distribution of Funds: on or before Wednesday, Jun 16, 2023
• Final Report Due*: 30 days after expenditure of the funds or no later than September 30, 2023.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

All applications will be scored in accordance with our scoring rubric, found here. 

There will be a total of 105 points available for this grant program, however, all final point considerations will be weighted based on a total of only 100 points. 

The breakdown of available points is as follows; 

Core Criteria: 20 Points Available

Budget:   5 Points Available

Total Weighted Points: 25 Points Available

Additional Funding Priority Criteria:   4 Points Available*

*Supplementary Criteria represents available points for applications who are considerate of our Funding Priorities as outlined above. These points should be viewed as “extra credit” and are intended to provide supplementary points for applicants who choose to align their project proposals with our Funding Priorities. Applicants should consider how our Funding Priorities and the goals and objectives identified within their project align and clearly demonstrate accordingly within their submission. There is not an expectation that applicants attempt to receive all supplemental points. 

Total Weighted Points:   25 Points Available

Total Funding Priority Points:     4 Points Available

Grand Total Points Available:   29 Points

FINANCE AND BUDGET INFORMATION 

All applicants must submit a detailed description of the items or expenses related to their grant application.  

Application will have a space for the following information:

1. Description of item or expense
2. Total Cost
3. Additional Details

Eligible expenses include the following:

• Supplies
• Artist stipend, including payment for yourself for work related to the grant proposal
• Facility or studio rental
• Equipment
• Class Fee

If there is an expense not listed above please reach out to verify that expense is eligible.

If your expenses exceed the total requested grant amount please provide details regarding the additional income needed. All applicants are encouraged to submit budgets which thoughtfully consider and adhere to all Funding Limitations, Additional Requirements, and Funding Priorities outlined above. 

FUNDING PRIORITIES 

The following represents priorities as identified by the Salt Lake City Arts Council which align with several strategic initiatives of Salt Lake City, including the Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Strategic plan, the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Work Plan. We acknowledge that it is highly unlikely that any single application will adhere to every priority listed below. However, we encourage the applicant to carefully consider how our Funding Priorities and the goals and objectives of your prospective project might align, and clearly demonstrate that alignment accordingly. The following Funding Priorities apply to this Grant Program:

• All individual artists are encouraged to apply, however a portion of funds will be prioritized for and subsequently granted to individual artists who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or other Persons of Color (BIPOC);
• Applicants who aim to strengthen their individual and entrepreneurial health and development;
• Applicants who demonstrate a public project or practice which is considerate of our environment and sustainable;
• Applicants whose public project that address issues important to the Thrive in Place initiative;
• Applicants whose residency, studio space, or public project is within Council Districts 1 and 2. Please verify the Council District of your proposed project using this tool;
• Applicants whose artistic practice includes innovative art-based or creative technology or represents a substantial effort to advance arts and culture industries as a creative entrepreneur.

Click Here to Access the online Application Portal

All questions or concerns regarding this grant program should be submitted in writing. Once submitted, please allow 2 business days for a response. Additionally, all questions and answers will be released for any applicant to see, unless such release includes sensitive personal information.

All questions and answers will be updated here as necessary.

Can you apply for both Tier 1 or Tier 2?

• No, you cannot apply in both Tiers.

I do not live in Salt Lake City, am I still able to apply for the Tier 2 Artists Career Empowerment Grant?

• Both residents of Salt Lake City and artists who rent or own studio space in Salt Lake City are able to apply for the Tier 2 Artist Career Empowerment Grant.  Please check your home or studio address using this link to verify that it is located in Salt Lake City.

From March 1, 2023 to March 28, 2023, three (3) days before the deadline, applicants are encouraged to schedule one (1) thirty (30) minute appointment. The purpose of this meeting is to ask questions which are not answered in the Program Guidelines or Frequently Asked Questions. We are happy to help you with any additional technical or adaptive questions or concerns you may have, as well as answer specific questions you might have regarding your materials or application. We are administrators of the Program and, as such, we have to maintain a level of fairness to all applicants. 

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR 30 MINUTE APPOINTMENT.

SUPPORTIVE LINKS

• Registration for Grant Orientation
• FY2023 Tier 2 Artists Career Empowerment Scoring Rubric
• To Schedule Office Hours
• 2023-2024 Tier 2 Artists Career Empowerment Frequently Asked Questions
• Online Application Portal
• Salt Lake City District Map
• Marketing Guide for Artists and Grantees

Glossary of Terms
Our staff are here to provide as much help and assistance for easing your application process as we can offer. If you have any additional questions about the language or terms on our guidelines, please contact Salt Lake City Arts Council Community Investment and Development Manager, Susan Campbell or Salt Lake City Arts Council Grant Projects Coordinator, Cyan Larson at .

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
• Artistic Excellence is evaluated based on the program description; a clear and concise
description of the project, the goals, and the relevance to the audience or communities being
served.

ARTISTIC MERIT
•Importance and appropriateness of the project to the artist, audience, community and/or
constituency.
• Ability to carry out the project based on such factors as the appropriateness of the budget, the
quality and clarity of the project goals and design, and the resources involved, and the
qualifications of the project’s personnel.
• Potential to serve and/or reach individuals whose opportunities to experience the arts are
limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability, as applicable.
• Evidence of direct compensation to artists, and/or art workers.

ARTIST RESUME: A document outlining your artistic career. It may include your
achievements, scholarships, shows, performances, completed body of works, education, history.
Click here for a guide.

ARTISTIC INQUIRY: Researching or investigating through or on behalf of furthering an
artistic practice.

CURRENT FISCAL YEAR (FY23 OR 2023-2024): the organization’s present, active fiscal
year at the time of application. Current year financial figures are estimated amounts based on
active budgets.

DIVERSITY: (Who’s at the table?) Recognition and representation of individual or group
differences encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability,
socioeconomic status, age, religion, and other areas of identity.

DISCIPLINE: the primary focus of an arts activity as defined among the following eight fields:
dance; design arts; folklife; literature; media; music; theater; visual arts and crafts. See also
Multi-disciplinary and Inter-disciplinary.

EMERGING ARTIST: an individual with a career commitment to an art form, but lacking an
extensive resume or body of work.

EQUITY: The fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the
same time identifying and eliminating barriers that have prevented the full participation of some
groups. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the protocols,
processes, practices and policies of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of
resources. Confronting and tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes
of disparities within our society. Equity is closely tied to actions and results to address historical
disparities.

EXPENSES (EXPENDITURES): costs required to implement a project or programming.
FISCAL YEAR: any 12-month period used for financial record-keeping and reporting suited to
the organization’s operating cycle or programming season.

INCLUSION: Embracing differences by creating environments in which any individual or
group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. While an
inclusive group is diverse, a diverse group isn’t always inclusive. To achieve inclusiveness,
recognition of implicit or unconscious bias is necessary.

INCOME: present or anticipated funds and resources required to accomplish the proposed
activities (for example, revenues which are earned income, support which is unearned income,
such as cash contributions and grants).

INDIRECT COST (REI): A term used by the National Endowment for the Arts. This is a cost
rate that has been negotiated with a Federal Agency.

LIVABLE WAGE: The wage for a standard workweek by a worker in a particular place
sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for the worker and/or their family. Elements of a
decent standard of living include food, water, housing, education, health care, transportation,
clothing, and other essential needs including provision for unexpected events.

PERSONNEL – ADMINISTRATIVE – employees receiving payments for salaries, wages,
fees and benefits specifically identified with the project. Examples include executive and
supervisory administrative staff, program directors, managing directors, business managers,
clerical staff, bookkeepers, etc.

PERSONNEL – ARTISTIC – employees receiving payments for salaries, wages, fees and
benefits specifically identified with the project. Examples include, artistic directors, curators,
dance masters, composers, choreographers, designers, video artists, sculptors, film makers,
painters, poets, authors, graphic artists, actors, dancers, singers, musicians, teachers,
puppeteers, etc.

PERSONNEL – FULL-TIME – employees or volunteers who work at least 35 hours per week
for at least 48 weeks per year.

PERSONNEL – PART-TIME – employees or volunteers who work fewer than 35 hours per
week.

PERSONNEL – TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION – employees receiving payments for salaries,
wages, fees or benefits specifically identified with the project for technical management and staff
services. Examples include, technical directors, wardrobe, lighting and sound crew, stage
managers, exhibit preparers, video and film technicians, etc.

SUBCONTRACTING: employing a business or person outside one’s organization to do (work)
as part of the project. Under the provisions of Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA),
contractors or their subcontractors must pay workers who qualify under DBRA no less than the
locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits paid on projects of a similar character.

TANGIBLE OUTCOMES: Regarding the outcome of the project, including definite evidence
for completion of the project. Tangible outcomes for projects might include, but are not limited
to: a presentation of artworks or a performance, a certificate/letter of completion, creation of artworks/recording/etc.