Community Arts projects involve many different people across age, ability, gender, race, and cultural heritage.

An idea for a community arts project can come from a child, an artist, or any other community member or community group. It can be a simple idea or a "big" idea. It can take place over a short period of time or over many months. It can be visual art, dance, music, performance, media art (video, photography, sound, radio, film), textile - any art form.

Community Arts projects are a way for people to tell their stories, express their culture, share their experiences, and create art works together that reflect their interests, issues and concerns.

1. Good community arts projects take time to develop and to carry out. Give yourselves lots of time to plan your project and to apply for funding, before the date you want to get started.

2.Contact the 4Cs office with your idea or interest. A staff person can meet with you and your group to talk about good community arts projects and to connect you with artists, resources and sources of materials, equipment and supplies. Call or email 422-4805 or info@4csfoundation.com

3. You will be asked to write a short letter briefly describing what you want to do and how you plan to bring your community together. In the letter, briefly describe how art activities will be used to create experiences for children and other community members to work side-by-side in ways that strengthens a sense of connection and being a part of a community. Give a timeline and an approximate budget figure.

4. These letters are reviewed three times a year: October 15, January 15 and May 15. Apply early. If we are excited by your idea and feel it has the potential to create community connections, you will be invited to submit a full proposal and to meet with Trustees and Director.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Community Arts funding, you must be:

1. a registered non-profit or incorporated community organization or arts organization that has been established for at least two years; or

2. an individual or non-registered group with written endorsement from an eligible organization that has agreed to partner with you on this project.

For a project to be eligible, it must:

1. Clearly outline art-based opportunities that will bring children, other members of their community, and an artist or artists together to work side-by-side in activities that result in an community artwork.

2. Must be carried out with at least one professional artist or artist organization.

3. Must take place in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

4. Must have as the goal of building or strengthening community connections, as the framework for its vision.

5. Must adhere to community development principles of: accessibility, equity, empowerment, community ownership, capacity building; and address any barriers to these principles in an open, positive, and inclusive way.

It is strongly recommended that either the Project Coordinator and the artist (if different) have experience in community development, community arts or working with diverse community members, and be passionate, energizing, organized, and highly committed for the duration of the project.