In order to apply for an LCC grant, applicants must meet all eligibility and criteria requirements of the LCC Program.
For more detailed information, refer to the full LCC Program Guidelines (PDF).
Amount Available for Granting in FY
2021
(Information not yet available)
The priority of the Deerfield Cultural Council is to bring new and varied programs to all ages of our population. We award the funds to the applicant in each category that will reach the most residents.
1. We try to allocate across three demographics: students, seniors and our general population.
2. We give preference to events that take place in town or have free or reduced ticket prices for our residents. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ways in which it is affecting our ability to convene large, indoor events, we will also give preference to events that can be offered online (ex. Via Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) and/or to outdoor events that lend themselves to social distancing.
3. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that persons with disabilities have access to public programs or services on an equal basis with the rest of the general public. Furthermore, federal law mandates that any programs or service that receives federal or state funding must be accessible to persons with disabilities and reasonable accommodation be made to provide an accessible environment. Therefore, all events and programs funded by the LCCs must consider access for persons with disabilities, including the facility or event location as well as the content of the program. To ensure equitable access, an applicant’s first step is a candid assessment and identification of barriers (physical, virtual, cultural, communication) followed by a bold and innovative plan for improvement. If an applicant puts forward a proposal for a project with strong potential for public benefit, but the Local Cultural Council has concerns about access for persons with disabilities, the council may choose to award a conditional approval. This would allow the applicant the opportunity address the concerns and improve access as a condition of receiving the grant.
4. Generally smaller grants are more likely to be funded. (We are splitting up a very small pie.)
We cannot stress enough the need for the applicant to have an approved plan with a venue and a budget in place before applying. This confirms that our community is invested in the event and will work towards its success.
Important to note.
1. You must provide a venue. This means YOU need to find a town institution that will agree to host you by the time of the application and supply a letter of support. This is important because we need to get a concrete sense of which part of the Deerfield community you will serve when we sit down to allocate grants. Almost without exception we reject applications submitted without a venue.
2. The application must be filled in correctly - the most common error that applicants make is in the financial details (the total expenses should not be the same as the amount that you request).
3. We cannot fund the same artist or programs every year as we try to bring variety. Groups should be careful to show that they are bringing something NEW for people to view, hear or be involved in. We will also give priority to projects that increase awareness of cultural diversity and/or elevate the voices of historically marginalized groups. Projects should create opportunities for artists and community members who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, LGBTQX, refugee, immigrant, or persons living with a disability. Projects may include coalition building, research, leadership, and youth development.