Cultural Spaces Capital Support Fund
The City of Baltimore provides limited support to cultural organizations each year through the capital budget. Every two years, organizations can apply for General Obligation (GO) bonds for eligible capital improvements to their facilities.
Purpose
The goal is to provide capital support to organizations that promote arts and culture in Baltimore City and contribute to the City’s unique identity, ensuring opportunities to experience arts and culture for residents and tourists alike.
Eligible Organizations
The process is open to not for profit museums, galleries, and theaters throughout the City. Other types of arts or cultural venues located within designated arts and entertainment districts may also apply (click here for a map of these districts or visit the Maryland State Arts Council website to search by address). Any organization that wishes to apply must be a registered non-profit in good standing with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation. Organizations must have a physical location in Baltimore City, and must either own the facility or have a long-term lease and primary responsibility for capital improvements. The facility must be open to the general public.
Eligible Projects
Eligible capital projects, as defined by Board of Estimates policy, are any physical betterment or improvement and any preliminary studies and surveys relative thereto, including, but not limited to, any property of a permanent nature, and equipment needed in connection with such improvement, when first erected or acquired. This does NOT include projects or improvements costing less than $50,000; vehicular equipment; items of a repair or maintenance nature costing less than $100,000 or which are of an emergency nature; or salaries other than those which are properly capitalized as part of the project cost. Projects should have a minimum 15-year service life.
Examples of projects funded in the past include upgrades to a plaza or entrance to accommodate customers with limited mobility, roof replacements, building envelope upgrades, elevator replacements, or museum/exhibit expansions.
Funds Available
The City generally budgets $1 million per year, subject to budget approval, to support capital improvements at cultural institutions in Baltimore. Individual awards will not exceed $200,000 over two years. Typical awards will be between $50,000-$100,000 over a two year period.
Application
The prior year application is available here:
Cultural Spaces Capital Support Fund Application (MS Word)
Submit it and other relevant documents via email to Kristen.Ahearn@baltimorecity.gov and Sara.Paranilam@baltimorecity.gov. If your files are too large to send via email, you can request a Dropbox link.
More Information
For more information, please contact Kristen Ahearn at Kristen.Ahearn@baltimorecity.gov or (410) 396-8357.