Mini-Grant Program

Applications will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis, according to the following timeline, until all funds have been disbursed. 

• Rolling Application Opens May 1st 

• First Selections Announced: May 28th 

• Second Round Announced: July 30th 

• Third Round Announced: October 1st  

The stipend will be distributed when the minimum number of posts have been made. 

Mini-Grant Pathway One: Community Advocate 

1. Which of these social & communication platforms do you or your organization currently use to reach your audience? 

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok , LinkedIn, Email & Digital Newsletters, Website, Print Materials & Mailers, Other (please specify) 

2. Which of these social & communication platforms would you or your organization use to promote the Arts and Culture Plan? 

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok , LinkedIn, Email & Digital Newsletters, Website, Print Materials & Mailers, Other (please specify) 

3. Please share the audience size and reach of each of these platforms. (followers, subscribers, email list size, etc.) 

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok , LinkedIn, Email & Digital Newsletters, Website, Print Materials & Mailers

4. Please share with us the handle or account information for each of these platforms: 

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, LinkedIn, Website 

5. Please describe your general audience, who they are, why they follow you and what information you feel they tend to look towards you or your organization to receive? 

6. Please describe why you think your organization would be a good fit for promoting the arts and culture plan and how in partnering with you, the Arts Council can expand and diversify its reach. 

7. Please provide us with the contact information of the individual responsible for the mini-grant application. 

8. Email 

9. Phone 

10. (OPTIONAL) Would you be willing to provide us with any documentation on your audience? (Eg. Instagram and Facebook analytics, website traffic, etc.) 

Applications will be accepted and grants awarded on a rolling basis, according to the following timeline, until all funds have been disbursed. 

• Rolling Application Opens: June 5th

• Awardees will be granted on a rolling basis

• January 15th last day to submit report

To ensure that the Arts and Culture Master Plan process is inclusive and provides individuals with an opportunity to engage on their own terms, grantees are being asked to host guided discussions in the form of community conversations that will serve to shape plan recommendations and outcomes. As a key member of the community, your connection to individuals in the Howard County area is invaluable in getting people to the table to create a vision for arts and culture rooted in a participatory process and community vision.

Selected grantees will be provided with a kit which will include a document with best practices for community conversation facilitation. Should grantees feel more comfortable with a provided facilitator but would like to act as a host inviting members to the discussion, we can arrange that. The document will provide guidance on who to invite, a general agenda for each discussion, and clarity on how we will use the notes provided from each meeting.

Provided in the grantee kit you will find a template for sign-ins, a checklist for questions, and a space to include your notes. You are welcome to handwrite your notes if that is your preference and attach an image rather than a typed document. Below are the general items we would ask are included in the report out. As an alternative to the notes provided you can attach a recorded meeting session or a transcript of the conversation that we can pull themes from. 

Attendance

• How many people and who were in attendance. You do not need to directly quote anyone in the notes, just indicate who was at the table for the conversation. A sign-in sheet will be provided for you to log your session.

Questions Asked 

• List the questions that were asked, in the order they were asked. You may not get to every question, and that’s ok. 

Responses

• A bulleted list of notes under each prompt that summarizes sentiments put forward by the group. 
• These can be quick notes, taken in the moment. You do not need to capture every word, just the big thoughts. 
• Alternatively, we could arrange for a recording or transcript to be made of your discussion with advance notice. You may also provide your own recording should you wish.