Arts Infrastructure Grants

Arts infrastructure projects encourage the development of local art by providing a strong framework of financial, material and/or organizational support to artists and arts organizations. The funding provided by these grants may be used to:

• Sustain ongoing arts infrastructure projects;
• Develop a new arts infrastructure project;
• Support audience development for local arts;
• Promote new forms of art;
• Promote art in non-traditional venues; and/or
• Encourage innovation and creative expression among the general public.
  

Windsor Endowment for the Arts awards one Arts Infrastructure Grant for each of the four following categories:

• Community Arts This grant is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the general development of community arts in Windsor and Essex County, especially through the following activities:
• Increasing community participation in the arts;
• Broadening local access to the arts;
• Using the arts as a means to promote social awareness; and/or
• Developing public projects that enhance the general quality of life of those in the community, or in specific under serviced, disadvantaged, at-risk or specialized groups within the community.
• Specific examples of community arts infrastructure projects might include youth arts education classes, an urban arts improvement initiative, or the restoration of a public landmark. Another example might include a program that facilitates public access to privately funded works of art.
• Literary Arts This grant is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the literary arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote the local development of any or all of the following disciplines: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, journalism, and book publishing.
• Specific examples of literary arts infrastructure projects might include the organization of creative writing workshops for veterans, a series of local poetry readings, public seminars designed to help emerging local authors find publication, and so forth.
• Performing Arts This grant is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the performing arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote local music, dance, and theatre, or any combination thereof.
• Specific examples of performing arts infrastructure projects might include the organization of public recitals or plays. Another example might include the maintenance or development of a local performance arts venue.
• Visual Arts (renamed The Carolye Rourke Visual Arts Infrastructure Grant) This grant is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of the visual arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote local fine art, fine craft, design art, and media art (including cinema), or any combination thereof.
• Specific examples of visual arts infrastructure projects might include the development of public gallery spaces, the screening of local independent film, or the hosting of craft shows. Another example might include the organization of a program that showcases the works of local designers.
  

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)