The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is excited to introduce a new grant program, the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF), for the 2023-2024 grant year. The CSFF is designed to address the changing needs of dynamic PA arts organizations with average annual revenue between $10,000 – $200,000. 

This grant program incorporates the current needs of the field by offering grantees the flexibility to use $5,000 grants in ways that ensure the most significant impact for their organizations and communities. Eligible uses of funds are flexible, including the support of applicants’ administrative, programmatic, and project-related expenses.

Please note: The PCA has retired Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts’ (PPA) Entry to Program Stream, and Program Stream grant programs. The decision to retire these programs resulted from the PCA’s consideration of conversations, feedback, observations, insights, research, and data review with state and industry leaders, panelists, grantees, and community members. The goal of this retirement is to enable the PCA to provide a funding avenue that better aligns with industry trends and the goals of their strategic plan.

Eligibility Criteria

Arts organizations and programs in Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, and Huntingdon counties interested in applying for the Creative Sector Flex Fund must meet the following criteria:

• Be a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation, or a unit of local government (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, and municipal authorities). Pre-K – 12 public, private and parochial schools including all charter schools are NOT eligible. 

• Be located in Pennsylvania, except for nonprofit, tax-exempt corporations acting as a fiscal sponsor on behalf of an unincorporated group or not-for-profit limited liability company (LLC) that is located in Pennsylvania.

• Be registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Corporations, except for local governments and fiscal sponsors.

• Have a history of at least two years of consistent arts programming in Pennsylvania.

• Have an annual average arts revenue of $10,000 to $200,000. 

Please note: PCA determines revenue size by a two-year average of Total Revenue of an organization’s Form 990-Department of the Treasury-Internal Revenue Service. Non-arts organizations and/or arts organizations whose 990 is postcard, must attach a board/committee approved arts-specific program financial statement for their most recently completed two fiscal years. The program financial statement must include program revenue, including contributed and earned income and income realized from investments, as applicable, and expenses. In-kind is not included.

How to Apply

Step One – Download and review the 2023-24 Creative Sector Flex Fund Guidelines and Creative Sector Flex Fund Sample Application for program eligibility and required documentation.

Step Two – Log into our Online Grant Portal to apply. For more information on creating a grant portal account, please view the Grant Portal Account Tutorial.

This application closed on July 27, 2023. 

Step Three – Announcements regarding funding decisions will be made in Fall 2023, pending a panel review process and state budget approval. Awardees will be granted $5,000 for the grant activity period of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024.

If your organization is not eligible for the Creative Sector Flex Fund, please visit the PCA’s Apply for a Grant page for additional information on opportunities that may suit the needs of your organization. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rachael Hartman, Community Impact Director, at (814) 237-6229 or rachael@centre-foundation.org.