Somerset County Accepting Grant Applications For Local Arts Program

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — The Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission is accepting grant applications for the 2025 Local Arts Program Grant (LAP).

The LAP grant supports the expansion and development of the arts within Somerset County and is available to local organizations, such as arts agencies, libraries, non-profits and municipalities that offer art-related services, programs, support and projects.

“The arts play an important role in the lives of many residents and in our economy, as well as add to the beauty that is Somerset,” said Commissioner Melonie Marano, liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Commission. “These grants help to support the organizations that provide local artists with different educational tools and creative spaces.”

Grant Guidelines

Grant funding is competitive. Applicants are required to demonstrate their managerial competency, fiscal stability, excellence in arts programming and organizational capacity to execute a proposed program or project.

Grant funding may be requested for art programs, series, or creative placemaking projects that are accessible to the public. If the applicant’s mission is solely arts-dedicated, then grant funding may be requested for general operating support in 2025.

The LAP grant is contingent on funds made available to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in 2025. Match requirements have been waived for 2025.

The grant opportunity is made possible by funds from the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Council on the Arts.

Application Deadline

LAP grant applications are due on Friday, September 13, 2024, by 4 p.m. Applicants must mail or hand-deliver the completed application package to the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, County Administration Building, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, New Jersey 08876. For more information and application guidelines visit http://bit.ly/LAPGrant.

LAP Grant Virtual Technical Assistance Workshops

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a virtual workshop to better understand the LAP grant process.

LAP Technical Assistance Zoom Workshops are set for:

• Aug. 15, 2024, at 10 a.m.
• Aug. 27, 2024, at 6 p.m.

To register for a workshop session, visit http://bit.ly/LAPGrant. A Zoom link will be sent to participants upon registration.

For more information, contact the Cultural & Heritage Commission office at 908-231-7021 or CulturalHeritage@co.somerset.nj.us.

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This press release was produced by the Somerset County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.