New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund Grant Information

The New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund (NOTCF), a City fund, announced on May 14th that they were opening a program of grants to support cultural practitioners in creating art, hosting events, and educating the community. We want to pass along and amplify this opportunity, and clarify some information to make this resource as accessible as possible. Here are some details:

WHEN: 

  • Applications open on a rolling basis through 2021. 

  • The timeline of when funding will be given out to successful applications should be clarified when you apply.

WHO: 

  • Any non-profit organizations or for-profit businesses can apply 

    • This includes bands/musicians with an LLC

  • For individuals wanting to apply, you need a “fiscal sponsor” which is a nonprofit organization that will accept the grant on your behalf and then disburse the money to you. See below for a list of organizations which are offering to act as a fiscal sponsor for this grant opportunity.

WHAT: 

  • From the NOTCF website: 

    • “Workshops, trainings and conferences that build cultural economy capacity in cultural non-profits, neighborhood organizations, and cultural businesses.”

    • “Events with creative and cultural components. Funds can be used for paying musicians or other performers, attracting tourists, or other activities that will directly impact either cultural workers or attract sales for art and cultural vendors”

  • If you are unsure about whether your project or program will fit the grant requirements, contact  info@notcf.com

  • Please note, funds from this grant are for events or programs with cultural components, rather than direct artist-relief aid (like Creative Response's Platform Fund or MaCCNO's Low Barrier Mini-Grants)

HOW MUCH: 

  • NOTCF indicated they have $600,000 total for this year, with some amount of that set aside for venues.

  • For individuals or other projects/organizations, there are 3 levels offered:

    • $1-$2,500 (“mini grant”) “For smaller projects and program support that are focused on smaller communities with limited scopes and periods, such as a single creative production or single community event.”

    • $2,501-$10,000 “For mid-level projects and programs that reach a larger audience, train a sub-section of cultural bearers/cultural workers for specific tasks over a limited period, support larger community events with a broader impact on the cultural economy.”

    • $10,001-$20,000 “For larger scale projects and programs that stretch over a larger time period, reach a wide audience, train a class of culture bearer/worker in multiple skills, larger multi-community/city-wide events.”

HOW TO APPLY:

  • Go to notcf.com, or contact info@notcf.com

  • You should receive an initial response from NOTCF about your application within 1-2 working days, and they will work with you to try to make sure you can meet the grant requirements

  • If you need some guidance or help with grant-writing, Tom Mayer is an arts grant-writer who will hold volunteer ‘office hours’ to assist with the process.

    • Weekdays 5:30pm-7:30pm and weekends 10am-3pm.

    • Contact him at mayer.tom2@gmail.com to set up a time to connect

  • If you are an individual, you need a “fiscal sponsor” organization to accept the grant money on your behalf and disburse the money to you. 

    • Fiscal Sponsorship is a standard arrangement that allows individuals or groups to access grants or resources that would not be available to them otherwise.

    • To apply, choose an organization, and contact them to confirm if they will act as the fiscal sponsor for your grant application. Organizations agree to fiscally sponsor projects case-by-case, so choose one with a mission that lines up with your project, if possible.

    • Guidelines: Fiscal Sponsorship for Nonprofits | National Council of Nonprofits 

    • The following local organizations have confirmed that they will serve as fiscal sponsors free of charge. (Traditionally, fiscal sponsors often charge between 3% and 10% of the grant award as a fee). You should contact the organization before applying to make sure they are a good fit for your project.

      • Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans 

      • Arts Council New Orleans 

      • A Studio In The Woods

      • National Performance Network (NPN) 

        • Cindy Landor, Fiscal Sponsorship Program Assistant, cindy@npnweb.org  

        • Social justice, all art and performance forms

      • Musicians’ Council on Fair Wages

        • Jonathan Olson, jolsonmusic504@gmail.com

        • Musicians’ education, business, music

      • The ELLA Project

      • Ashé Cultural Arts Center 

        • Val Rainey, Operations Manager, vrainey@ashenola.org

        • All forms of art, performance, and cultural expression; people, places, and philosophies of the African diaspora.

For any further information, please contact Hannah programs@maccno.com.