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2 <br /> The OCAC grant review and awards process is as follows: <br /> 1. The grant application process is open for two months. Two virtual training sessions <br /> occurred and the OCAC director was available for one-on-one meetings. <br /> 2. After the due date, OCAC staff conducts an initial compliance and eligibility review. <br /> Applications found noncompliant or outside of the grant requirements are considered <br /> disqualified. Eligible organizations are given a compliance score based on prior year <br /> adherence to grant requirements such as logo usage and reporting. <br /> 3. Qualified applications are forwarded to members of each review panel for initial review and <br /> scoring. This year's grant panels included the following: <br /> a. Visual Arts: Composed of OCAC Board Members with visual arts expertise, as well <br /> as one visual arts professional from the community. <br /> b. Performing Arts: Composed of OCAC Board Members with performing arts <br /> expertise, as well as one performing arts professional from the community. <br /> c. Literary Arts: Composed of OCAC Board Members with literary arts expertise. <br /> 4. Non-governmental Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) applicants are also evaluated by a <br /> Financial Review Panel who examine submitted financial documents to determine financial <br /> solvency and stability. <br /> 5. Each panel met virtually to evaluate assigned applications. Feedback, first strengths and <br /> then challenges, was offered by panelists and recorded by OCAC staff. After discussion, <br /> each panelist submitted a score through the online platform for each of the categories <br /> below. After all scores were submitted, the Director recorded the final score per applicant. <br /> 6. The scoring rubric for this year's grant program was as follows: <br /> GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM - ORGANIZATIONS <br /> Artistic Merit — 30% <br /> Community Impact — 25% <br /> Program Management — 15% <br /> Financial Review— 10% <br /> NC Arts Council Priority of Funding — 10% <br /> Compliance score (prior grantees only) — 10% <br /> GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM - SCHOOLS <br /> Artistic Merit — 40% <br /> Integration in curriculum/enrichment— 40% <br /> Free and Reduced Lunch Percentage — 20% <br /> ARTIST PROJECT GRANTS <br /> Artistic Merit — 40% <br /> Community Impact— 30% <br /> Program Management — 20% <br /> Compliance score (prior grantees only) — 10% <br /> 7. Funding decisions were made at the September 2023 OCAC meeting. For the GAP <br /> program, the board prioritized high scoring program requests, programs hiring multicultural <br /> artists, and schools. For APG, the board approved funding applicants with scores above <br /> 60 at their full request amount. <br /> 8. All applicants were notified of the panel's decisions. All declined GAP applicants received <br /> panel feedback; and approved GAP and APG applicants could receive feedback upon <br /> request. <br />