Community Arts Project Support (CAPS)

The Community Arts Project Support Grant is administered by the West Virginia Department of Tourism in partnership with the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. This program is designed to support public-facing arts initiatives across the state by providing financial assistance to organizations that offer meaningful arts experiences. The grant prioritizes projects that contribute to the cultural vitality of West Virginia communities and support a wide range of artistic disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, media arts, and traditional or folk practices. The program reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening the creative economy and ensuring public access to high-quality arts programming. Funding through this program provides awards of up to 50,000 dollars per project, with the additional limitation that no award may exceed 25 percent of the applicant organization’s operating budget from its most recently completed fiscal year. Applicants must also adhere to a cost-sharing requirement, contributing at least 50 percent of the total project cost through matching funds. In specific cases, such as organizations located in distressed counties as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission, a reduced match of 25 percent may be permitted, allowing the grant to cover up to 75 percent of project costs for a limited period. Matching funds must be cash-based, as in-kind contributions are not eligible. Eligible applicants include West Virginia-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and arts-focused missions, as well as local governments, county school boards, and institutions of higher education. Colleges and universities must demonstrate that their programming serves the broader community and is not restricted to campus populations. Additional eligibility requirements include being in operation for at least one year, maintaining good standing with the West Virginia Secretary of State, and possessing valid registrations such as a UEI from SAM.gov and a vendor number through the state’s financial system. Organizations must also not appear on any state or federal debarment lists and must have successfully completed reporting requirements for any prior grants from the same agencies. The application process requires submission through the GoApply portal and includes several required components. Applicants must complete a cover sheet, a detailed narrative describing the project, a project budget, and an organizational operating budget. Additional required materials include an accessibility inventory, a signed certification page, documentation supporting all expenses, the organization’s most recent IRS Form 990, a board-approved strategic plan, and lists of board members and key staff with descriptions of their roles. A letter of support from a community partner or beneficiary group is also required. The narrative portion of the application asks detailed questions about artistic goals, community impact, accessibility, organizational capacity, and evaluation methods. Projects must take place within West Virginia and be accessible to the general public. Eligible expenses include artist fees, technical services, venue rentals, travel costs, production expenses, marketing, and accessibility accommodations such as sign language interpretation and assistive devices. Ineligible expenses include hospitality costs, general operating expenses, fundraising activities, equipment purchases like instruments, and projects occurring outside the state or not open to the public. All grant-funded activities must occur within the designated grant year, which runs from July 1 through June 30, and expenses must be incurred within this timeframe. Applications are due by May 18, 2026, at 4:59 PM, with a panel review process occurring in May and June. Award notifications are issued in July, and funded projects must be completed within the grant year. Final reports are required within 90 days after project completion, with a firm deadline of September 30. Failure to submit required reports may result in penalties, including placement on a debarment list and repayment of funds. Applications are evaluated through a competitive scoring process across five categories: project design, artistic merit, organizational impact, management capacity, and budget quality, with a maximum of 100 points available. The program also includes an appeals process for denied applications, allowing applicants to submit a formal request for reconsideration within 60 days if they believe their proposal was misrepresented. Oversight is provided by the Director of Arts and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. This structured approach ensures transparency and accountability while supporting the development of impactful arts programming throughout the state.

Ensure complete and error free application provide detailed project description include strong budget documentation demonstrate community impact and artistic quality clearly align with evaluation criteria