Artist Professional Development Grant Program Guidelines

Background

Through the Artist Professional Development Grant, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) provides support to Iowa’s artists to undertake activities that advance their artistic practices and elevate the creative industry in Iowa. The program supports learning, mentorship, and business development opportunities to enable artists of all disciplines to catalyze momentum in their artistic practices and increase their professional skills and capacity.

The grant is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within IEDA. The program is funded through an appropriation by the Iowa Legislature to the IEDA and a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Applicants must comply with federal requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200.

The Iowa Screenwriters Grant is contained within this program, with funding made possible by a sponsorship from the Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance and the Iowa Motion Picture Association.

Operating and grant policies set out at 261 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 305 and rules pertaining to organization and operation of the Iowa Arts Council found at 261 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 304 apply to the program. Additional eligibility requirements and priorities are set out in these guidelines published by the IEDA.

Questions

Potential applicants, especially first-time applicants, are encouraged to review all published materials, including these guidelines, and contact Produce Iowa Program Manager EJ Philby Burton well in advance of application deadlines with any questions regarding the program.

Accessibility

IEDA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to eligible applicants. For technical support submitting the online application, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Elizabeth Ferreira at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline.

Timeline

May 2026 | Fiscal Year 2027 Application Open

The program will open for submission of online applications in May 2026 for the funding period July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2027 or until funds are expended.

Funding Notification

Typically, applicants are notified of funding decisions within eight to twelve weeks after submission.

July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | Eligible Funding Period

The eligible funding period is July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. All expenses must be incurred and project activities must be completed within the eligible funding period and after execution of the grant contract. Start of funding period may be adjusted based on when grant contract is executed.

August 2, 2027 | Final Report Deadline

Grant recipients are required to complete a final report by August 2, 2027.

Grant Amounts and Disbursement

Applicants may request funding for eligible one-time professional development expenses that are incurred and expended within the eligible funding period. No match is required.

• Minimum grant request: $500
• Maximum grant request: $5,000

Based on the review process and subject to available funding, the IEDA reserves the right to award only a portion of the requested grant amount.

Grant Payment

Grant recipients will receive the full grant amount award upon full execution of the grant agreement. Recipients will need to complete a final report at the end of the eligible funding period outlining how the grant funds were spent. Recipients will be required to provide documentation of expenditures and proof of purchase on forms provided by Authority as part of the Final Report. Any unspent grant funds will need to be returned to the IEDA within 30 days after the final report deadline.

Application Requirements

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Individual artist (168.88 KB) .pdf , including visual/performing artist, filmmaker, musician, or creative writer
• U.S. citizen or possessing a Permanent Resident Card (i.e. “Green Card”) or in the process of obtaining a Permanent Resident Card, who is a full-time Iowa resident domiciled in Iowa or maintaining a permanent place of abode in Iowa. For purposes of these Guidelines, the terms “domiciled” and “permanent place of abode” are defined in Iowa Administrative Code 701-300.17 (422).
• 18 years of age or older
• An application must support a project that is initiated, produced and/or managed by the individual artist, not another entity or organization.

Ineligible Applicatants

Ineligible applicants include the following:

• Artist groups, collaboratives and collectives
• Individuals that have received a fiscal year 2027 Iowa Artist Fellowship, fiscal year 2027 Artist Professional Development Grant, or have an active Greenlight Grant contract.
• Individuals that have received grants, loans or other incentives through the Iowa Arts Council or other program administered by the IEDA that are not in compliance with reporting or other requirements or that are listed on the IEDA’s funding moratorium list.
• Organizations, including for-profit corporation or business, political party or national service/professional organization.

Project Requirements

Eligible Projects

Grant funds must be used for professional development activities and expenses that advance an artist’s professional or artistic capacity, enhance their artistic practice, or allow them to learn new or more advanced techniques to support their artistic work. Eligible activities should enable the applicant to achieve a particular goal that advances their artistic practice or creative business in Iowa. Grant activities may represent a phase of a larger activity with a longer timeline. However, all grant activities must have a clear beginning and end date during the eligible funding period.

Types of eligible activities include:

• Participating in professional development opportunities as related to the applicant’s artistic practice (e.g. online or in-person conference or workshop registration fees, artist residencies, Iowa Artist Retreat).
• Learning new or advanced techniques related to the applicant’s artistic work (e.g. online or in-person classes, courses, apprenticeships).
• Receiving professional mentorship (e.g. one-on-one or group coaching, professional feedback, peer reviews).

Ineligible Projects

Activities that fall outside of the identified types of eligible activities will not receive funding through this program. Ineligible activities include, but are not limited to, the following types of activities:

• Activity that is initiated, managed by, or that benefits an entity or organization with which the individual applicant has a formal affiliation such as employment or volunteer service
• Activities that result in an applicant’s course credit, degree or certification
• Award shows, sweepstakes or contests
• Capital Infrastructure, construction, renovation or maintenance
• Fundraiser or benefit activities
• Grant activities that begin or end prior to or after the eligible funding period (grant activities may represent a phase of a larger activity with a longer timeline)
• International travel
• Lobbying activities
• Ongoing projects or programming
• Phases of a project if the applicant has received a grant from the Iowa Arts Council or IEDA for a prior phase of the project
• Projects-for-hire
• Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics and potlucks
• Costs for planning, staffing and supplying social activities as described above
• Religious activities

Accessibility - Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicant must demonstrate that the project is in compliance or actively working to be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. These laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. Both programmatic and structural accessibility must be addressed in the application.

Budget Requirements

Eligible Grant Request Expenses

Grant funds support expenses essential to the completion of the proposed activities. The grant request must be dedicated to eligible one-time, direct expenses, that are legitimate parts of the proposed activities, and must be incurred and expended within the Eligible Funding Period. Expenses identified in the grant request should be based on competitive, current market pricing. Applicants must demonstrate how the funding will enable them to achieve a particular goal related to their artistic career or practice.

Types of eligible expenses include:

• Access accommodations as needed to participate in professional development activities (e.g., audio description, sign-language interpretation)
• Childcare expenses, as necessary to allow the applicant to participate in grant activities
• Documenting work (e.g. professional photography, video, audio recording)
• Domestic travel in order to participate in the professional development (e.g. mileage, per diem, and accommodation)
• Educational fees (e.g. course, workshop, mentorship, instructor fees) excluding programs where academic credit is earned
• Educational resources (e.g. books, textbooks, peer reviews, course materials, software, subscriptions)

Ineligible Grant Request Expenses

Expenses that fall outside of the identified eligible expenses for the grant activities may not be included as part of the grant request.

Ineligible grant request expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Applicant’s own artist fees (e.g. creation, preparation, performance time)
• Capital expenditures, including the purchase of fixed assets or tangible personal property, including information technology systems, having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit cost that is equal to or greater than $10,000
• Contingency for major project scope changes, unforeseen risks, or extraordinary events
• Costs of goods for resale, including concessions or promotional merchandise such as clothing or items purchased for sale, and any staffing, technology, or facilities costs related to retail activities
• Costs for the creation of new organizations
• Donations or contributions to other organizations
• Expenses incurred prior to or after the eligible funding period
• Expenses supported by any other federal or state funding
• Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, or deficit reduction
• Food, beverage and alcohol. Food and beverage may be included if they have a clear programmatic purpose.
• Foreign travel
• Gifts and prizes
• Hospitality costs and costs related to social functions such as receptions, parties, and galas, as well as food/meals that conclude a program or event
• Home studio/office costs or expenses, including utilities and mortgage payments
• Lobbying activity
• Ongoing or operating expenses including utilities, rent/lease, office supplies
• Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs
• Religious activities
• Rental of any property owned by any individuals or entities affiliated with the recipient, including commercial or residential real estate, for purposes such as a home office is unallowable
• Tuition, fees or activity that results in an applicant's undergraduate or graduate course credit, degree or certification
• Unallowable expenses for federal awards as defined in 2 CFR 200 Subpart E - Cost

Review Process

Eligibility Review

Submitted applications are reviewed by staff for completion, eligibility and adherence to published guidelines. Applications are reviewed as submitted, provided that IEDA may contact applicants if any additional information is required. New application information or subsequent application clarification submitted after an application is submitted is not considered unless requested by an IEDA program manager. Staff will also review an applicant’s record of compliance and good standing with the Iowa Arts Council, IEDA, other state agencies, including but not limited to the Iowa Department of Revenue, and federal government agencies or departments. Applications or applicants determined by staff to be ineligible or incomplete will not move forward to panel review. A determination as to eligibility or completeness is final agency action.

Panel Review

Applications by eligible applicants that are complete and adhere to program requirements will be referred for a review by a panel of professionals with expertise related to the purpose of the grant program. Applications will be scored and ranked based on the published scoring rubric.

Funding Recommendations

Applications that meet minimum scoring requirements and are recommended for funding consideration and approval are submitted to the Director of the Iowa Arts Council and IEDA.

Decision Notification

Applicants are typically notified of funding decisions, including decisions to decline to fund applications, within eight to twelve weeks after application submission. Applicants are encouraged to refrain from contacting staff for application status updates during the funding decision process.

Application Submission

Applicants must submit applications via the Iowa Arts Council’s SlideRoom, an online application portal. Applications will not be accepted in any other format. Late, incomplete or ineligible applications will not be accepted. Applicants can access the current online application requirements at iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com. Applicants must create a login to view the full application requirements for the program. Applicants can visit help.liaisonedu.com for assistance related to the online submission.

Application

Application Questions and Scoring Rubric

The Artist Professional Development Grant scoring rubric will be used to evaluate applications. Each section has criteria and corresponding point values to ensure an unbiased review process. The rubric is on a scale of 20 points. The following application questions are provided for reference only. Applicants must review and complete application requirements in the SlideRoom portal.

Applicant Profile 

Describe applicant’s career as an Iowa artist, including:

• Type of artwork(s) created including concepts and medium(s) used.
• Notable achievements in artistic practice.
• How the artwork or practice is typically presented to the public.
• The public value of the applicant’s artwork over the length of the applicant’s career.

Applicant Artistic Practice Goal

Detail the career goal that the grant activities and funding will help the applicant to achieve, including:

• A brief description of the activities that will be undertaken with the grant funds.
• How the activities will advance the artist’s professional capacity or enhance their artistic practice as an Iowa artist.
• Why now is a pivotal time in applicant’s career.

Grant Activity Description

Describe the proposed grant activity, including:

• The professional development grant activities selected.
• Why the identified professional development activities were selected.
• How the identified professional development activities will help the applicant achieve their stated goal.
• If identified professional development opportunity is competitive:
  • Indicate whether applicant has been accepted into the program and/or when such information will be made available.
  • If participation in the opportunity is currently undetermined, provide details of a second-choice professional development opportunity that is non-competitive, to be used in the instance that applicant is not accepted into the competitive program.

Project Budget

Grant Request Expenses

Itemize $500 - $5,000 in eligible expenses that will be funded by the grant request in the table format below. Include a brief description of each expense and the numeric dollar amount for that expense. Round to the nearest dollar. Do not include dollar signs, decimals or commas.

Total Project Costs/Expenses

Enter the total grant request expenses outlined in the table above. Round to the nearest dollar. Do not include dollar signs, decimals or commas.

Grant Amount Requested

Enter the amount requested from the Iowa Arts Council. This should be equal to the total Project Costs/Expenses from the table above. Round to the nearest dollar. Do not include dollar signs, decimals or commas.

Budget Narrative

Describe the expenses that the grant funds will support within the eligible funding period, including:

• Credentials of any collaborators or service providers involved.
• If you intend to purchase any equipment, provide justification for this expenditure and how it relates to the grant activities.
• Provide information to clarify or justify any line item included in the grant request budget or provide further details on the scope of the grant request budget, if needed.

Artistic Work Samples

Submit 3-5 artistic work samples. Artistic work samples should be recent, high quality, and must represent an artistic work or performance. It can also include images or videos of past events or classes. Artistic work samples DO NOT include bios, testimonials, news articles or marketing material such as brochures, fliers or posters.

• Provide 3-5 items.
• Video and audio files should not exceed three minutes each.
• PDF files should not exceed five pages each.
• Each PDF should only represent one work sample (i.e. one poem would be considered one work sample).
• Panelists will not be required to view more than five pages of a document or more than three minutes of an audio or video file.

Include a description with each sample, including:

• Title of the sample
• Date of the work or activity
• If an audio or video sample is longer than three minutes, indicate the three-minute segment the panel should view.
• If a visual art sample, note the artistic medium being presented in the sample and the dimensions of the actual piece.

Overall Application

The following scoring criteria reference the quality of the proposal and application as a whole and not a particular question.

Glossary Terms and Definitions

Applicants should refer to the online glossary for clarification of program terms and definitions.