upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

upcoming grant deadline: 05/15/2024

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Support the Arts – Become a Grant Panelist

Volunteer for one the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts grant panels for a unique look at the grantmaking process, and to learn about the many creative ways artists and arts organizations are making a difference locally. Support the Arts – Become a Grant Panelist

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance administers two grant programs:

Project Stream - a program that makes competitive grants to individual artists and organizations that conduct arts projects.
Program Stream - a program that provides general operating support to arts organizations that have a history of funding from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  This application is available by invitation only.

Currently, the Cultural Alliance is seeking volunteer panelists to help evaluate Program Stream grant applications on the following dates:

Wednesday, May 11
Thursday, May 12
Friday, May 13

Serving on a panel can be an exciting and rewarding volunteer experience! You'll have a chance to meet new people from a variety of backgrounds while supporting the communities in which you live and/or work. Panelists also get a unique look at the grantmaking process and learn about the many creative ways artists and arts organizations are making a difference locally! You may nominate yourself or another person to serve on a Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Advisory Panel.

Please fill out a panelist application here by Friday, February 19th, if you are interested in serving as a panelist.  You can also contact Erin De Rosa, Grants & Program Specialist at the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, if you have any questions about this opportunity: erind@philaculture.org or 215.399.3520.

For more information on panelist qualifications and responsibilities and to submit a nomination, please visit https://www.philaculture.org/programs/grantmaking/panelists

Panelist Qualifications

  • Panelists must reside or work in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia Counties and must be an adult 18 years of age or older.
  • Panelists do not need a specific arts education or affiliation, just an appreciation. This process is about making sure that residents of each community have access to the arts.
  • You do not need to work in arts and culture to be a panelist. Consultants, attorneys, community leaders, legislative staffers, educators, and philanthropists have all been panelists in the past. 
  • Some financial or organizational management experience is a plus, but is not required.

Panelist Responsibilities

  • Participate in an online panel orientation. Panel orientations are conducted online through a free webinar. Orientation is mandatory for each panelist. During the panel orientation you will learn about how to review and score the applications. The orientation is approximately 30 minutes and is offered multiple times for your convenience. You will receive the dates and more information about the orientation after we accept your application. 
  • Read and rate each grant application. All panelists are required to read and rate each application according to criteria established by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Reading the grant applications must be done in advance of the panel session and on your own time. You will have about three weeks to read and rate approximately 20 applications. You should plan to spend between 5-10 hours preparing for the panel.
  • Attend the Panel Session.  The panel session is a one day commitment where you will discuss the applications and come to consensus on the scores with your fellow panelists. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be included. Panelists are not compensated for their service.
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