The primary goal of the Public Art in Community program is to support Mississippi communities in creating vibrant destinations through community-engaged design, installation, and activation—through a multi-year concert series—of accessible public art.

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• the capacity to successfully manage and execute the project
• the inclusion of a wide array of community voices in the creation of the project
• a track record of collaboration with community partners
• a commitment to representing Mississippi’s legacy of artistic excellence

Community-driven design is a key component of the Public Art in Community Grant. Applicants must demonstrate how community input and engagement informed the design process for the public art installation. Competitive applicants will have already begun engaging stakeholders in their community.

MAC encourages communities to take inspiration from creative and community-driven public art installations from neighbors and communities across the country.

• Memphis’s “Bicycle Gateway,” a structure created by artist Tylur French using more than 300 painted bicycles, tricycles, and wheelchairs, connects East Overton Park to Hampline Trail.
• In the Mississippi Delta, the Mathews-Sanders Sculpture Garden represents a peaceful oasis where viewers can explore a collection of permanent and rotating sculptures on a publicly accessible portion of Delta State University’s campus.
• Public art installations may even include the use of cutting-edge technology, such as Denver, Colorado’s “Resonance,” a large-scale, interactive wall-relief illumination artwork that can be activated with a public microphone.
• Situated on the Atlanta Beltline, Adana Tillman and Marryam Moma’s “Quilts in the Sky” represents an interdisciplinary collaboration that seeks to uplift and unify the community.
• Toledo, Ohio’s Field of Histories, represents a deep collaboration between artist and community that brings their collective history to life. Artist Bryony Roberts crafted 200 laser-engraved glass orbs that feature objects with historical significance, which were identified by community members.
• And finally, in Raleigh, North Carolina, art and design studio Daily tous les jours created Musical Swings, an interactive art piece that explores human cooperation in public spaces.   

Publicly accessible and centrally located, the public art installations will serve as the backdrop for grantees who are selected for the multi-year Levitt AMP concert series, but the location could also be activated for farmers and art markets, festivals, community celebrations, and more.  

Eligible applicants include:

• Community-focused*, Mississippi-based 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that conduct regular public programming.
  • *MAC considers an organization to be community-focused if it has a mission and ongoing activities that relate to community development through arts, culture, education, tourism, or other public programming aimed at increasing the economic vitality and quality of life in its communities. 
• Either the owners of the building/land where the publicly accessible art installation will be located, or a partner organization that has the owner’s documented support.
  • The art installation can be located on privately-owned space or property as long as the location meets the public accessibility criteria, with documented consent of the property owner. 

Public Art Installation

Organizations must request the full $15,000 MAC grant and demonstrate a minimum $15,000 cash match toward the public art installation.

Sources of matching funds may include:

• Revenue from the project activities
• Contributions from foundations or corporations
• Government support from federal or local sources
• Cash from the organization’s own accounts.

Grantees cannot match MAC funding with other state funds. 

Successful applicants will receive a $15,000 award from the Maddox Foundation, and a $5,000 award from Main Street Mississippi (as long as the grantee organization is located in a Designated Main Street community). These additional funds do not count towards the organization’s cash match.

In-kind contributions cannot be counted as part of a cash match for the art installation. In-kind contributions are the dollar value of materials and services that are provided to a project at no cash cost from sources other than the applicant, i.e., volunteer hours or donated space. However, it is important to document and include information on in-kind contributions as part of the application budget. In-kind donations help to demonstrate a community’s support of a project. 

Levitt Concert Series (Alternating Years)

In alternating years (FY26, FY28, and FY30), awardees for those fiscal years will also receive a three-year matching Levitt Foundation AMP grant of up to $40K per year, for a total grant award of up to $120K, to present 10 outdoor concerts each year* at the site of the public art installation.  (Other Levitt AMP grantees have the option to present between 7-10 outdoor concerts. Public Art in Community grantees must present 10 concerts.)

The funding for this portion of the grant is made up of the following:

1. $25,000/year for 3 years – Levitt Foundation
2. $10,000 – Maddox Foundation (committed to the first year of funding, with the opportunity to renew each year for three years)
3. $5,000/year for 3 years – MS Arts Commission

Starting July 1, Mississippi-based, community-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are interested in applying for the Public Art in Community Grant should submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through E-Grant. The LOI submission deadline is July 15. 

Upon login, click “Apply” in the top left corner, then select “Public Art in Community” from the list of available applications. These proposals will be reviewed by MAC staff, and eligible organizations will be invited to submit a full application in August. To be considered for funding, applications must be submitted and authorized by the grant deadline. A panel made up of representatives from MAC partner organizations will virtually convene in early October. 

All forms (Letter of Intent, Application, and Final Report) must be submitted through MAC’s E-Grant system.

Levitt AMP is a multi-year matching grant opportunity bringing the joy of free, live music to small to mid-sized towns and cities.  

Geared to towns and cities with populations under 250,000, Levitt AMP grantees reflect the three goals of the Levitt AMP program: Amplify community pride and a city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; and illustrate the importance of inclusive and vibrant public Places. From rural Alaska to Appalachian Main Streets and Midwestern locales, the Levitt AMP Music Series is a catalytic opportunity engaging a wide range of towns and cities across America to realize a shared mission—building community through music to create a healthy and thriving future for all. 

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities. 

Launched in 2015, the Levitt Foundation has provided funding to more than 50 communities coast to coast through the Levitt AMP program, activating underused public spaces, ensuring access to the arts, and strengthening the social fabric of communities through creative placemaking, bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds through free, outdoor concert series. 

Disbursements & Matching Funds 

• Two Mississippi-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits will each receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K per year ($4,000/concert), for a total grant award of up to $120K, to present 10 free outdoor concerts each year at the site of a new public art installation. 
• Grantees receive the annual funding in three installments: 25% will be disbursed 10 weeks prior to the launch of the Levitt AMP Music Series; 50% will be disbursed six weeks before the launch of the concert series; and the final 25% will be disbursed upon completion of the concert series and submission of a final report. 
• The Levitt Music Series Grants is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program, so the minimum amount an organization must raise in matching funds is the amount equal to the Levitt Music Series Grant award, of which half must be cash, and the remaining amount of the matching funds requirement may be in-kind. For example, the total grant award is $40K ($4,000/concert), so the matching funds requirement is $40K, of which a minimum of half must be raised in cash with the remainder in-kind. Each grantee submits a report to Levitt prior to the first funds disbursement listing their matching funds, including the amounts and funding sources. 

Programming 

• The frequency of Levitt Music Series concerts may be weekly, split into two seasons (for example, spring season/fall season), or every other week. 
• Each Levitt Music Series features a musically diverse lineup of high-caliber talent, including local, regional, and national artists. 
• All concerts are family-friendly, attracting audiences of all ages and backgrounds. 

Resources & Support 

• To ensure each grantee is positioned for success, grantees receive a Levitt Music Series Toolkit containing valuable resources, such as a sample artist contract, sample press release, hosted page on levitt.org, eblast, social media templates, sponsorship package examples, list of talent managers, access to the Levitt Artist Booking Consultant, consultation with staff at the national Levitt Foundation, and more. 
• Grantees attend a Levitt Convening in Los Angeles (expenses covered by the Levitt Foundation) to learn best practices, exchange ideas, and develop peer-to-peer connections. 

Apply online using  E-Grant. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications are not accepted for this grant program.

Please be prepared to submit the following information through the E-Grant system: 

• A copy of your official IRS 501(c)3 determination letter.

• A SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI).  It is 100% free for an organization to request a UEI. Register at SAM.gov to obtain this required Federal ID.
• Information about your organization, including board members, and bios of key personnel.
• Board Letter of Support
• A list of your last year’s community-focused activities.
• A description of the site where the public art will be installed.
• A letter granting permission for your organization to install the work of public art (and, if applicable, host the concert series).
• Images of the site with captions.
• A description of the public art project, including any renderings, plus a narrative section to address each of the grant’s review criteria.
• A budget for the project expenses and sources of income.
• Budget Itemization that explains in greater detail each expense and source of income included in the Budget section of the application.  
• A copy of letters of agreement or signed contracts between your organization and the artists or consultants participating in the project that have been finalized as of the application deadline. If arrangements with the artist(s) have not yet been finalized, please submit a plan for securing these agreements. This should include a list of the artists you are considering and/or the Request for Proposal, details on the selection process, and a timeline for completing this work. 
• A current brochure, resume, or portfolio link for the artist(s) whose work will be supported through the grant.  

In Alternating Years Only

• Levitt Series Partner Information and Partner Letter of Commitment (optional).
• Levit Music Series Site Accessibility and Existing Concert Series Information.
• Proposed timeframe for Levitt Music Series.
• Levitt Music Series Budget.

For guidance on grant writing, please see Tips for Writing Grant Applications. 

Public Art in Community Grant applications are reviewed using the following criteria: 

1. Organization Capacity (20 points) 

• The applicant demonstrates the ability to successfully manage and execute all project phases within the grant period 
• Proper financial controls are in place
• The proposed budget is balanced
• The applicant shows evidence of strategic partnerships to support all phases of the project

2. Artistic Excellence (30 points) 

• The application lists the artists and artistic staff involved in the project and their qualifications 
• The applicant demonstrates a strong commitment to representing Mississippi’s legacy of artistic excellence throughout all phases of the project

3. Public Participation and Access (30 points) 

• The applicant demonstrates the ability to facilitate inclusive and meaningful community conversations that drive the project
• The applicant describes everyone involved in planning and participating in the project 
• The project planners and participants reflect the make-up of the community 

4. Impact of the Project (20 points) 

• The applicant demonstrates how the art installation will add vibrancy to the public space and surrounding areas.
• The applicant includes a compelling plan for activating the art installation site to ensure that it is a welcoming space for the community.
• The applicant has a thorough plan for the maintenance of the public art installation and the site.

The eligible period for the public art installation is November 1 – June 30, the following year.

In alternating years, the Levitt Foundation will support the grantee in activating their public art site through hosting an annual series of outdoor concerts in the three subsequent years. MAC announces Public Art in Community grant awards in November.

Jul. 15 – Letter of Intent deadline (11:59 PM)

September 1 – Full Application Deadline (11:59 PM)

Sept. – Application Review by MAC

Oct. – Panel Review & Board Announcement of Grants