CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Rural Youth Engagement through Public Art Grant from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA) is now open for application to all communities in West Virginia. Deadline for application is Oct. 1, 2021.
Originally available only to communities with less than 25,000 residents, Curator Randall Reid-Smith announced during the Governor’s Arts Caravan that this grant program will now extend eligibility to all communities in West Virginia. “We introduced this program in our FY2021 grant cycle and it has been a huge success. Public art adds immense value to the cultural and economic life of a community while simultaneously fostering a sense of belonging, identity, and pride with residents and visitors. To lift restrictions and open application to all communities in West Virginia only made sense,” said Reid-Smith.
Eligible projects are visual two- and three-dimensional public art projects taking place in West Virginia communities and will engage local youth. Examples of eligible projects may include both permanent and temporary murals, sculptures, and installations. Schools, not for profit youth groups, not for profit arts organizations, and local governments are eligible to apply. Organizations do not need to be located within the community where the project takes place. Funded projects must take place between Jan. 1 – June 30, 2022.
A complete grant application package, including eligible project expenses and evaluation criteria, is available by contacting Jenna Green, Cultural Facilities and Capital Resources coordinator, at (304) 558-0240) ext. 725 or at Jenna.R.Green@wv.gov. The application package is also available on the department’s website at https://bit.ly/WVStateArtsGrants.