The City of Boise’s Arts & History Annual Grant program funds quality arts, history, and cultural projects that benefit Boise residents. Grant criteria provide applicants with guidance in preparing a strong application that meets program goals. Reviewers evaluate applications based on these criteria. Read the criteria descriptions closely and refer to them as you answer the application questions. 

Quality (20%)

For purposes of this grant, reviewers will look for the following information when evaluating your application for quality.

• A clear description of the project, including its artistic, historic, and/or cultural components and details on how funding will be used.
• Biographies that describe the background, experience, and training of people included in your application who will be relied upon for artistic, historical, and/or cultural expertise. Such expertise may be acquired in various ways, such as:  
  • Formal educational settings (school, college, certification programs, etc.);
  • Passed down within a community or cultural group;
  • Jobs, apprenticeships, and internships;
  • Non-traditional settings; and/or
  • A combination of any of the above.

Community Benefit (20%)

Describe how your proposal will benefit Boise residents and contribute to our cultural community. Be sure to clearly explain the following:

• Why your Project is Meaningful– Capture what drives the project and why it is important for Boise residents.
• Intended Audience(s) – Clearly describe the types of audiences you plan to attract and/or be involved with your project, and describe how you plan to promote/ market your project to the intended audience(s). Note: A project can have a small audience and still have a community benefit.

Alignment with the City of Boise and the Department's Mission (20%)

The priority of this grant program is to fund projects and programs that:

• Bring people together and build positive relationships that ultimately help createA City for Everyone.
• Clearly aligns with the Department of Arts & History’s mission to cultivate a distinct sense of place that reflects Boise’s rich past, diverse communities, and unique natural setting.

Accessibility (20%)

The priority of this grant program is to fund projects and programs that are:

• Affordable – Free or low-cost experiences ($20 or less per person) are most appropriate for this grant program or where scholarships/financial aid is offered.
• Inclusive – The project offers accommodations or services such as related to hearing or vision, physical accessibility, language translation, scholarship, financial aid, etc.

Management (20%)

Be sure to clearly explain the following:

• List the person or people responsible for the project and their related management skills.
• Planning and logistics, such as licenses or approvals needed, venue reservations, timeline, and project evaluation measures.
• A complete, balanced budget. You must use the Excel sheet provided in the application to fill out your budget. Read the instructions carefully, and be sure to note the following:
  • The budget must balance (total project expenses = total project income)
  • Provide an explanation for each line you fill out (Column E, “Description”)

Questions?

Contact Makenzi Dunstan, Grants & Outreach Manager

We encourage persons with disabilities and those who require language assistance to apply. If you anticipate needing accommodation, please contact artsandhistory@cityofboise.org as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours before the application is due. To request assistance, you may also dial TTY 1-800-377-3529.