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2 <br /> disqualified. Eligible organizations were given a compliance score (1-10) based on prior <br /> year adherence to grant requirements such as logo usage and reporting. New applicants <br /> automatically receive a "10" Compliance Score. <br /> 3. Qualified applications are forwarded to members of each review panel for initial review and <br /> scoring. Grant panels in the visual, performing, and literary arts are composed of OCAC <br /> Board Members with relevant experience and guest artists from the community. Guest <br /> panelists are compensated for their time. <br /> 4. Non-governmental Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) applicants were also evaluated by a <br /> Financial Review Panel who examined submitted financial documents to determine <br /> financial solvency and stability. <br /> 5. Each panel met virtually to evaluate the assigned applications. Feedback, first strengths <br /> and then challenges, was offered by panelists and recorded by OCAC staff. After <br /> discussion, each panelist submitted a score through the online platform for each of the <br /> categories below. After all scores were submitted, the Arts Commission Director recorded <br /> 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 — 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 (APG) <br /> Artistic Merit — 40% <br /> Community Impact— 30% <br /> Program Management — 20% <br /> Compliance score — 10% <br /> 7. Funding decisions were made at the August 2025 Advisory Board meeting. For the GAP <br /> program, the Advisory Board prioritized high scoring program requests, programs hiring <br /> multicultural artists, and schools. For APG, the Advisory Board approved full funding for <br /> applicants with scores above 80 and 75% of funding request for applicants will scores 74- <br /> 79. <br /> 8. All applicants were notified of the panel's decisions. All declined GAP applicants received <br /> panel feedback (approved GAP and APG applicants could receive feedback upon request). <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: A total of$108,036 was awarded through twelve (12) artist grants, thirteen <br /> (13) organizational grants, and five (5) schools during the 2025-26 grants cycle. With this, $15,000 <br /> is allocated towards the Title 1 Artist-in-Residence Program, a partnership of the OCAC, the <br /> ArtsCenter, and Orange County Public Schools. <br /> Grassroots grants were funded by $49,525 in funding from the North Carolina Arts Council. An <br /> additional $29,711, or 2.7%, of the FY 2025-26 Outside Agencies budget was allocated to arts <br /> organizations through the Grassroots program to ensure arts agencies were applying for funding <br /> through a program specific to the arts following the best practices set forth by the North Carolina <br />