Virginia Vieser Fund for Arts Education

• Amount: $4,000

• Source: Virginia P. Vieser Fund

• Eligibility: Erie County non-profit arts organizations

• Application Window: January 1 - March 15

• Grant activity period: June - May

• Notification date: May 30

The Virginia P. Vieser Fund awards one project-based grant. A project is defined as a limited, one-time effort intended to achieve a specific deliverable or output, whereas programs are recurring and central to an organization's operations.

Project Missions:

• Increase the capacity and impact of the creative and cultural sector in NWPA

• Fund opportunities for the arts in lifelong learning

• Preserve, enhance, and promote diverse cultures

• Facilitate placemaking initiatives

• Requests should support new initiatives.

• Projects with matching funds from other sources are prioritized.

• Projects not receiving state or federal education grants are prioritized.

• Projects must expose students of any age to the visual or performing arts.

• Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a primary focus on providing high-quality arts experiences, including arts engagement activities and/or arts education.

• Individuals, local municipalities, local education agencies, institutions of higher learning, community development corporations, and non-profit organizations with primary missions outside of the arts are ineligible.

• The applicant’s principal office/activities must be located in Erie County, PA.

• Applicants must not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, sexual orientation, marital status, gender, or gender identity.

• Applicants must be in good standing with Erie Arts and Culture and its program requirements.

• The Vieser Grant supports new and innovative arts in education projects in Erie County.

• Grant funds should not support recurring programs or capital improvement projects.

• Projects must provide an artistic or social benefit to Erie County stakeholders.

• Events or activities must be open to the public (not necessarily free).

• No activities may have a religious or political purpose.

• Grant funds cannot be used as reimbursements for expenses incurred outside of the grant activity period.

• Background:

  • Mission statement and organization history

• Project:

  • Describe the project, artistic disciplines involved, and needs or curriculum addressed

  • Outline project activities and timeline

  • Integrate Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) principles

  • Align with Erie Arts and Culture’s strategic priorities

  • Provide a project budget (form provided)

  • Provide three examples of past relevant work

• Impact:

  • Describe how the project fills a gap in Erie County

  • Indicate whether the project is one-time or recurring

  • Outline knowledge-based and/or social emotional objectives

  • Describe how success will be measured

• Stakeholders:

  • Identify internal stakeholders, partners, and collaborators

  • Detail the project leader's role and resources

  • Define the core group of participants and their relationship to the project

Virtual information sessions will be held to assist applicants. Specific dates for these sessions will be announced on our social media pages and via email.

• Project (50 points):

  • Planning and appropriateness for participants (15 points)

  • Informed by IDEA principles (15 points)

  • Appropriate budget for project scale (10 points)

  • Alignment with strategic priorities (10 points)

• Impact (25 points):

  • Fills a gap in Erie County’s artistic activities (5 points)

  • Advances knowledge-based and/or social emotional growth (10 points)

  • Effective evaluation methods (10 points)

• Stakeholders (25 points):

  • Builds or activates new relationships with external stakeholders (15 points)

  • Qualified internal stakeholders (10 points)

EAC staff review for eligibility, a panel of industry experts scores applications and makes a funding recommendation. The Programs Committee approves that recommendation and presents it to the Board of Directors for final approval. 

• Interim check-in calls with grantees to track progress and identify additional needs

• End-of-cycle round table, oral reports in small peer groups