Arts and Culture Funding Program

The LCG Arts and Culture Operations Grant is part of the Lafayette Consolidated Government External Agencies Arts and Culture Funding Program and is administered in part by the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The program is designed to support arts and cultural organizations that significantly enhance the cultural life of the community and promote local artists in Lafayette Parish. Program objectives include fostering a vital and resourceful arts community, contributing to the sustainability of arts and cultural organizations in Lafayette, increasing opportunities for local artists, expanding community access to arts experiences, increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts, and encouraging initiatives and programming that build audiences for inclusive, accessible, diverse, and equitable arts experiences. The Operations Grant provides awards ranging from a minimum request of $2,500 to a maximum request of $7,500. Grant funds may support professional salaries, employee benefits, contractor fees, transportation, supplies and materials, telephone expenses, utilities, postage, travel and meetings, rent, equipment and maintenance, and insurance. The program does not fund scholarships, fellowships, tuition assistance, deficit reduction, costs incurred before the contract effective date or after project completion, competitions, pageants, fundraising events, hospitality costs, individuals, unrelated administrative costs, events not open to the public, organizations receiving direct support from Lafayette Consolidated Government, or short-term projects. Capital expenditures are generally excluded unless the request completely funds the expenditure or provides the last dollars required for it. Cash match is not required. In-kind support is not mandatory but can strengthen an application. Eligible applicants are nonprofit arts and culture organizations based in Lafayette Parish whose purpose is to develop, promote, encourage, and/or present arts and culture to the public, ensure community accessibility, and target diverse populations. Organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, have existed for at least one year, and be governed by a Board of Directors that meets at least quarterly. Individuals, for-profit businesses, organizations receiving line-item support from Lafayette Consolidated Government, noncompliant past grant recipients, organizations not in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State or Louisiana Legislative Auditor, and applicants without an active Federal Employer ID number at application submission are ineligible. Each eligible organization may submit one application. Applications opened July 27, 2026 and must be submitted through the online application form by 5:00pm on September 1, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Community Engagement Department before submission to discuss eligibility and their applications. Applicants may also use the optional draft review service by saving a draft and emailing a link to Community@AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org with the subject line Draft Review Request + Your Organization's Name no later than August 18, 2026. The applicant will then be contacted to schedule feedback. Required application materials include contact information for the Authorizing Official and Chief Fiscal Officer, an IRS tax exemption determination letter, Articles of Incorporation, a current Certificate of Good Standing, organizational bylaws, a Board of Directors list, authorization for application submission, an adopted annual budget, and, for organizations with an annual budget of $50,000 or more, an audit or IRS Form 990. Provider of Services forms are required for individuals receiving salary or service funds. Supplemental materials such as support letters, artist resumes or biographies, budget details, work samples, and brochures are optional. Applications undergo a competitive review process. The Lafayette Consolidated Government Community Development Department and Acadiana Center for the Arts designate a grants review panel to assess applications and make funding recommendations. Recommendations are presented first to the Acadiana Center for the Arts Board and then to the Lafayette City Council for final approval. Evaluation consists of Organization History and Programming at 50 percent, Need and Impact at 20 percent, and Administration and Budget at 30 percent. Reviewers consider organizational history, mission and artistic merit, current and projected programming, the community served and involved, community impact, efforts to increase arts access and participation, organizational planning and evaluation, staff qualifications, fiscal history, funding diversification, and community support. Acceptance of an application does not guarantee funding; decisions depend on the number of applicants, available funding, and application scores. Applicants are expected to be notified in mid to late October 2026, and the funding cycle runs from November 1, 2026 through October 5, 2027. Award funds are disbursed with 75 percent paid after submission of the agreement and payment request form and the final 25 percent reimbursed after receipt of the final report, payment request form, and applicable expense documentation, subject to the availability of Lafayette Consolidated Government funds. A Final Report is due within 30 days after completion of the funded activity. If it is not received within 60 days, the remaining 25 percent is forfeited, the organization becomes noncompliant, and future applications may be affected. Grant materials must be retained for three years after termination of the grant project, and Acadiana Center for the Arts and Lafayette Consolidated Government must be credited on printed materials. Application assistance is available through the Community Engagement Department at Community@AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org or 337-233-7060.

Read the guidelines thoroughly and write specifically in simple, clear language. Assume reviewers know nothing beyond what the application provides. Use facts, concrete plans, specific goals, and evidence of research and planning. Ensure the budget, narrative, and Provider of Services materials are consistent. Proofread and have another person review the draft against the evaluation criteria. Prioritize a strong response to Organization History and Programming because it carries 50 percent of the score, while clearly demonstrating community need and impact and sound administration and budgeting.