Nevada Arts Council

The Nevada Arts Council invites members of the community to serve as panelists for our grant panels. Serving on a peer-review panel is a powerful learning experience and a valuable contribution to the arts in Nevada. By providing your support to the arts and culture community throughout the state, you are participating in cultural policy in action and gaining insight about the grant making process. Peer review panels include artists, cultural practitioners, arts educators, and arts field professionals who represent diversity in all forms including age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, and heritage. 

HOW IT WORKS: Participating as a grant review panelist is a 2-4 week commitment (depending on the number of applications submitted in the grant category). During this time, panelists will review and score all assigned applications independently using our online grant management system. Then, panelists will participate in an open public meeting to discuss each application and provide final scores (meetings may be held virtually or in-person). After panel meetings are completed, the Nevada Arts Council Board convenes to discuss the grant panel review and to vote on final grant allocations.

Panelists receive an honorarium of $100-$250 per panel day (panel meetings run 1-2 days depending on the number of applications).

Panelists must meet the following criteria:

• Must be over 18
• Must be able to independently assess the strengths and weaknesses grant applications based on a grant program’s published review criteria (the number of grant applications varies in each grant category)
• Must have access to a computer to review applications and all work samples (photos, videos, etc.) through our online system prior to the virtual panel meeting(s)
• Must be able to take part in up to three (3) mandatory group meetings (one virtual orientation meeting and up to two panel review meetings)
• Must disclose any conflicts of interest (Panelists are asked to disclose any relationships they have with an applicant or applicant organizations. Having a conflict of interest does not make you ineligible to serve as a panelist; however, during the public panel meeting panelists are asked to abstain from discussion of and voting on any application with which they have a potential conflict of interest.)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligible panelists from the approved panel pool will be contacted by Nevada Arts Council staff to serve on specific grant panels based on programmatic needs. Not all nominees will be selected to serve on the current year’s panels, but the Nevada Arts Council will retain all submissions for consideration for future panels.

Operating Support Grants from the Nevada Arts Council strengthen Nevada’s arts infrastructure by supporting general operations of non-profit arts organizations throughout the state. The most competitive applicants offer ongoing, sustained, high-quality outreach programs and arts services or artistic programming in their communities. OSG funds support general operating expenses including administrative salaries and benefits, payroll expenses, insurance, facility space rental, utilities, and contracted and professional services.
OPEN TO: NV incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organizations
Before applying, please read the FY24 OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT Guidelines. 

*Guidelines for each of the current grant offerings are available for review on the Nevada Arts Council website:  https://www.nvartscouncil.org/

The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Project Grant for Organizations supports the arts and cultural activities of organizations and public institutions. Funds may be used to support the execution of one arts and culture project or a series of related activities. Examples of eligible projects include art exhibitions, performances, readings, and festivals. This grant does not support projects whose primary focus is arts learning/education (including workshops, classes, etc.). *All arts learning projects must be submitted to the FY24 Arts Learning Project Grant.

OPEN TO: Public institutions and NV incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations (If your organization received a FY24/FY25 Operating Support Grant you are NOT eligible for this grant)

Before applying, you must read the FY24 PROJECT GRANT FOR ORGANIZATIONS Guidelines.

Guidelines for each of the current grant offerings are available for review on the Nevada Arts Council website:  https://www.nvartscouncil.org/grants/grant-offerings/

The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Arts Learning Project Grant is a grant designed to support arts learning activities, teaching artists residencies, and teacher/teaching artists training. These arts learning activities provide unique opportunities for students and people of all ages to work with practicing artists. Funds must be used for conducting lessons/workshops (in-person or online/virtual) and/or educational performances at schools or community facilities. Funds may be used to support the execution of one activity/project or a series of related activities.
OPEN TO: Public institutions and NV incorporated 501(c)(3) organizations
Before applying, please read the FY24 ARTS LEARNING PROJECT GRANT Guidelines.

Guidelines for each of the current grant offerings are available for review on the Nevada Arts Council website:  https://www.nvartscouncil.org/grants/grant-offerings/

The Nevada Basin to Range Exchange (BRX) supports, promotes and celebrates rural-metropolitan collaboration through arts, culture and community placemaking. The program includes an in-person gathering, inter-community exchange activities, peer to peer collaboration and unique networking opportunities. BRX aims to:  

• Foster statewide relationships 
• Eliminate common stereotypes between Nevada’s rural and metropolitan communities
• Amplify resources, assets, traditions, and histories
• Identify new funding streams and cross-cultural partnerships towards community arts development and engagement
• Promote inter-community cultural planning and arts-based initiatives to enrich the lives of all residents
• Enhance the quality of local cultural programming
• Strengthen local economies while honoring Nevada’s community cultivators

The in-person gathering for the 2023 Nevada Basin to Range Exchange program will take place on April 17th through the 19th in Ely, Nevada. Check-in for the BRX gathering is between 12pm-4pm at the Postal Palace Room in the Hotel Nevada and Bristlecone Convention Center. The Opening Reception and Dinner will also take place inside the Bristlecone Convention Center from 5:00pm to 7:00pm on April 17th. 

All attendees are required to participate in the entirety of the designated BRX gathering activities that begin at 5:00pm on Monday, April 17th through 3:00pm on Wednesday, April 19th. Optional tours are available for participants before and after the gathering on either Monday, April 17th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and/or Wednesday April 19th, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

The Nevada Arts Council has secured complimentary lodging for 60 participants at the Hotel Nevada from April 17th to April 20th should you choose not to travel on the afternoon of April 19th. 

You do NOT need to call the hotel to reserve your room, but you MUST be registered and paid in FULL no later than March 22nd to guarantee your lodging and attendance. All participants will be required to provide their own transportation to and from the event, meals (with the exception of the opening night dinner) and other travel costs. Each participant must apply individually to the BRX program. 

Applications accepted on first come basis. Priority application period ends February 20, 2023. Registration closes March 15, 2023.

Upon admission to the Nevada Basin to Range Exchange program, attendees must pay the $50 registration fee to the Nevada Arts Council administrative staff (Rhonda Pena) via debit or credit card before March 22nd, 2023 by calling 775-687-7117 or forfeit their place in the program. Cancellations must be made directly with the Nevada Arts Council administrative staff (Rhonda) at 775-687-7117.