5th Annual Everett G. Powers for Creativity
Ends on
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Submission Opening Date: September 9th, 2026
Submission Closing Date: 11:59 PM Central on October 29th, 2026
Award: $5,000 annually to one recipient
Submit online at artsbr.org. No printed, emailed or faxed applications will be accepted.
Awarded Project must take place between January 1 - December 31, 2027.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The purpose of the Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity is to inspire innovation through the creative process. One award will be offered annually to an individual or organization and will support new projects that focus on creativity/innovative or artistic excellence. Applicants do not have to be an artist or an arts organization. This award is given in recognition of the difficulty of finding funds for innovative work which may, at times, not be popular work, with primary consideration given to creativity, excellence and artistic or innovative quality. In no way will this award censor or limit artistic or innovative freedom.
The most successful proposals will clearly articulate:
- How the proposed project aligns with the grant’s funding priority
- What methods will be used to achieve the project’s objectives
ELIGIBILITY
- Individuals must be a resident of one of the 10-parishes served by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
- Organizations possessing a 501(c)3 designation by the Internal Revenue Service, that are domiciled in one of the 10-parishes served by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge 10-parish region: East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Ascension, Livingston, and Tangipahoa. WHAT WE FUND
- Professional fees
- Production costs
- Supplies
- Equipment rental
- Consultant fees
- Other direct costs associated with the effort
WHAT WE DO NOT FUND
- Capital Improvements
- Deficit reduction
- Mortgage payments
- Fundraising events or expenses (though admission-paid events are eligible)
- Purchase of permanent equipment or real property
- Scholarships, fellowships, or tuition assistance
- Activities intended to primarily serve only an organization’s own membership
- Refreshments and event decor
- General operational support
- Administrative costs not associated with the project
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
Grants are reviewed based on the following criteria:
Creative Innovation and Artistic Excellence – Overall 70%
- 35%: Alignment with goals of EPCF program to create new order, new insights, revelations, or techniques that perhaps have not been seen before
- 10%: Description of proposed project
- 5%: Support Material demonstrating creative innovation and/or artistic merit o Expertise/professional experience of individuals and/or organizations involved (demonstrated in narrative, bios and/or supplemental attachments of work samples)
- 10%: Expertise/professional experience of individuals and/or organizations involved (demonstrated in narrative, bios and/or supplemental attachments of work samples and/or for projects containing an educational component, qualifications of instructors/materials
- 10%: Contribution to the art form/discipline
Viability and Impact – Overall 30%
- 10%: Relevance of proposed project to the community and/or artistic profession, the uniqueness and non-duplicative nature, clarity of project goals and objectives and alignment with applicant’s mission
- 5%: Plan for engaging targeted populations, if applicable, marketing/promotional plan, if appropriate
- 10%: Feasibility of timeline for implementing the project, plans for evaluating the project, plans for continuation of the project beyond the funding period, if appropriate, clarity and completeness of project budget
- 5%: History of project management, overall fiscal health of organization (if application is submitted by an organization)
FUNDING AVAILABILITY
- One $5,000 award annually
- 60% of the grant will be awarded upon receipt of the signed grant agreement and invoice for first payment; the remaining 40% will be reimbursed after acceptance of the Final Report showing compliance with all grant requirements.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
- Applications due October 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm. No applications submitted after the deadline will be accepted.
- Submit applications online at artsbr.org. No emailed, faxed, or hand delivered applications will be accepted.
- Contact the Arts Council’s Director of Grants & Community Programs for technical assistance or other questions regarding grant application procedures. The Arts Council typically receives a high volume of calls and emails immediately before grant deadlines. We recommend starting your application early to ensure that you can submit on time, especially first-time applicants. Call 225-344-8558 ext. 225 or email Joelle Castille at jcastille@artsbr.org for assistance.
GRANT REVIEW PROCESS
- The Arts Council appoints a panel of community advisors from various professional sectors to review grant applications and make funding recommendations.
- The Arts Council will review all applications for completion and eligibility prior to panel review. Applicants cannot make changes to submitted applications after the deadline has passed or interact with panelists during the review process.
- The Arts Council Board reviews the panel’s recommendations and makes the final decisions on funding and awards.
- Arts Council staff will notify applicants of funding status within 6-8 weeks of the grant application deadline.
OBLIGATIONS Organizations and individuals receiving Arts Council grants must agree to the following:
- The recipient will notify the Arts Council staff of any funded events so they may attend. For ticketed events, the recipient also agrees to provide the Arts Council with four complimentary tickets to funded events upon request.
- The recipient agrees to acknowledge the grant by using the Arts Council logo and the following credit statement using exact wording provided by the Arts Council on all printed and online promotional materials and advertisements. Supported by the Everett G. Powers Fund for Creativity and administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
- The recipient agrees to assume full liability and responsibility for the conduct of the funded project and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless agencies and corporations funding the program and the Arts Council, its Board of Directors, and its employees and volunteers. The sole responsibility for projects rests with the recipient.
- The recipient must submit the Final Report to the Arts Council within 45 days after project completion. This report includes an evaluation of all activities, with a full accounting of each expense category, and copies of invoices and cancelled checks reflecting proper expenditure of 100% of the Arts Council grant. The final report must be complete, submitted, and approved before the Arts Council can distribute the final 40% of grant funds.
- The recipient must retain all accounting records and supporting documentation for three years following project completion.
- Recipients must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY
- Failure to credit the award as required, submit an acceptable Final Report within 45 days of program completion, or violation of award contract terms may result in penalties including forfeiture and/or return of funds, ineligibility to apply for future Arts Council grants and awards, or other penalties deemed appropriate by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.