St. Louis Regional Arts Commission

As part of our mission to promote, encourage, and foster the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis City and County, the Regional Arts Commission provides grants to non-profit organizations doing arts programming in St. Louis City and County.

In 2012, RAC awarded more than $2.86 million to support nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, consortiums, and programs in the St. Louis area in the 2012 annual grants round. The Commission awarded 114 Program Support I and II grants, which combined with 25 Operating Support I and II, and 47 Program Support III grants (on a two-year cycle beginning in 2011), total more than $2.86 million in 186 grant awards. Since it was created in 1985, RAC has awarded more than 5,800 grants totaling more than $76 million. (more info).

One of the first arts agencies in the nation to develop and implement an online grants system (the eGRANT), RAC's call for applications for the Annual Grants Round begins in early December.

Each grant request is carefully reviewed and discussed in an open, public forum by citizen panels, staff members and the Commissioners. Grant applications are evaluated on the basis of several criteria including: quality of programs, innovative ideas, fiscal health, cultural diversity, community/national impact, community outreach, management capability, and need in the community.

As part of our mission to promote, encourage, and foster the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis City and County, the Regional Arts Commission provides grants to non-profit organizations doing arts programming in St. Louis City and County.