Cultural Treasure Accelerator
Which organizations can apply?
Applicants must meet all of these eligibility criteria to be considered for support:
- BIPOC History and Leadership – Founded, led by, and serving Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, and/or other communities of color
- BIPOC Focus – A strategic focus on stewarding and sustaining artistic and/or cultural traditions rooted in a specific/defined community of color and elevating awareness of that community’s contribution to regional culture
- History of Community Impact – A demonstrated history of supporting and engaging with their specified or defined community of color
- BIPOC Cultural Legacies – A recognized source of inspiration, support, and/or contribution to the history, culture, vibrancy, and identity of BIPOC artists and residents of Greater Houston
- Arts & Culture and/or Arts Education Focus
- A history of and a focus on the creation, presentation, and/or production of arts and culture; and/or
- A history of arts education programming that advocates for and has demonstrated BIPOC Student Success;
- 501c3 Entities and Tribal Communities, or
- Fiscally Sponsored projects actively pursuing 501c3 status within the next three (3) years.
- Organizational Capacity – Dedicated leadership (paid or unpaid) and a support team to build long-term resiliency and success
- Organization must be located and serve the 9-County Region of Greater Houston
9-county region: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties.
Please see the Grant Guidelines for further details regarding these eligibility requirements.
Awardees will share these characteristics and experiences:
History of transformative support to the BIPOC arts ecosystem in Houston, including its artists, arts organizations, and the communities of color in the 9-county region of Greater Houston
- A demonstrable track record of:
Presenting, producing, and/or creating arts programming that celebrates, uplifts, explores, and/or gives authentic voice to BIPOC communities, and/or - Youth/ school-age arts education programming (whether in a school setting or not) that contributes to BIPOC student success.
- Have a diverse funding history that enables the acceptance and management of a one-time infusion of $25,000 that increases capacities for sustainability.
- Demonstration and articulation of alignment with CTA Initiative values:
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- Openness to transformational opportunities and strategic risk-taking
- Willingness to engage in adaptive learning, reflective change, and process-based planning
- Commitment to and a history of mutually beneficial collaboration and community relationship-building
- History of cultivating community advocates and active supporters
- Commitment to shared learning and building across communities and silos
- History of sustained community leadership with the capacity to advance community thriving
Applicant Support
The BANF Team provides application support via information sessions, written guidance, and FAQs, and by phone and email. Start at the BANF Support Desk to find answers to most questions. Scheduled live and recorded information sessions will cover a range of topics that will also be archived on our YouTube Channel. See below for the dates and registration links. Limited one-on-one Support Desk Sessions will be made available May 6-18. Registration begins May 1.
Recorded Workshops and Information Sessions
June 4. 12:30 p.m.
Storytelling for Support: Crafting Compelling One-Page Funding Proposals
Presented by marketing and communications strategist Jessika Davidson, hosted by Mid-America Arts Alliance and BANF
In the highly competitive grant landscape, the ability to capture the essence of your organization and its needs in a clear, concise, compelling, and consistent way is invaluable. This workshop is designed to empower Houston’s art ecosystem by providing resources to organizations to craft effective one-pagers for grant applications. By focusing on practical skills, streamlined content, and impactful design, participants will learn how to make their submissions stand out, increasing their chances of securing funding.
May 14
Presented by social impact architect Erin McClarty PLLC, hosted by Fresh Arts, this workshop walks through tips and practices for developing strategy and goals for your organization that can inform the BANF Cultural Treasure Accelerator application. It should be useful for organizations drafting a three-year vision and proposing ways to leverage CTA funding and the Peer Network to manifest that vision.
May 7
Presented by BANF Steering Committee member Dr. Kheli Willets of Dira Professional Development, this workshop outlines the steps for organizations to form a 501c3 in the state of Texas, posing serious questions to consider before setting out on this path, and offers tips, a checklist of required organizational assets, and a discussion of the administrative realities needed to maintain 501c3 status and comply with state and federal standards.
April 29
Information Session
April 23
Information Session
Timeline
April 23, 2024, 6. p.m
Applications open
May 29, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
Applications due.
NEW DEADLINE DUE TO POWER OUTAGES.
June - August 2024
Review period
August 2024
August 2024 Conversations with selected organizations
September 2024
Notification and announcement