Eligible organizations for the Creative Sector Flex Fund will:

• Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation, or a unit of local government.  Schools of any type are NOT eligible.
  • Be located in Pennsylvania, except for nonprofit, tax-exempt corporations acting as a fiscal sponsor on behalf of an unincorporated group or not-for-profit limited liability company (LLC) that is located in Pennsylvania.
  • Have a history of at least TWO years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania.
  • Have an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to $200,000.
  • “Arts Revenue” can be either the full annual revenue of an arts-focused non-profit OR the revenue of an arts program housed within a non-profit or unit of government.

Grant funds cannot be used for any of the following:

• Activities outside the activity period of the grant.
• Activities that have a religious purpose.
• Payments to lobbyists.
• Cash prizes and awards.
• Benefit activities.
• Hospitality expenses (i.e., receptions, parties, gallery openings).
• Capital expenditures, including equipment costing $500 or more.
• Competitions.
• Performances and exhibitions not available to the public.

PPA Partner advisory panels will evaluate applications based on:

Community Value
• Artistic offerings that strengthen its community culturally, educationally, and/or economically.
• Artists and artistic offerings and services involve and are meaningful to the community being served.
• Relevant arts learning opportunities and creative endeavors for community members.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Value
• Apart from being audience members or beneficiaries, community members are central to the design of the applicant’s work.
• Plans and action-oriented practices toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in ways that are relevant to the community, including efforts to reach new audiences.

Stewardship Value
• Planning processes appropriate to its organization, mission, and goals.
• Capacity to carry out programs and projects as planned.
• Appropriate financial planning and oversight practices.

Matching Requirements

• All grants must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis in cash.
• Match can be raised after a Flex Fund grant is awarded.
• In-kind goods and services may not be used to match PCA funds.
• Creative Sector Flex Funding grant funds cannot be used to match other PCA grants.

Award Acknowledgment Guidelines

-Tagging the Cultural Alliance of York County and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in social media posts about the opportunity for which funds were granted
-Usage of the Cultural Alliance and PCA logo on printed promotional materials
-Usage of the Cultural Alliance logo on digital platforms including websites
-Announcement of the grant receipt before or after performances relevant to the opportunity
-Any creative way the artist may be able to include a brief message about the Cultural Alliance

Find the PA Council on the Arts Acknowledgement Guidelines here.

Additional Questions?

Email Rita at rita@culturalyork.org