The Lydia McCain Fund was established in 1995 as the first unrestricted contribution to the Erie Arts Endowment. Lydia McBrier McCain was an active member of the Erie community and staunchly served and supported arts and civic organizations and practicing artists in Erie County. A painter and jewelry maker herself, Lydia’s commitment to the arts ensured that both artists and arts organizations with a strong vision had the chance to reach their full potential.
An organization’s history is often measured by milestones. A milestone can be defined as an action or event marking a significant change or stage in an organization’s development. As an organization achieves one strategic goal, it should be thinking about its next action steps and the outcomes being pursued.
To continue the legacy of Lydia McCain, Erie Arts & Culture provides financial support to arts organizations that are prepared to take a next step as it relates to its mission, operations, or programs. The Lydia McCain Next Steps Grant for Arts Organizations is designed to support arts organizations pursue strategies that help ensure their future success and impact in Erie County.
Eligible next steps include, but are not necessarily limited to:
This grant provides awards in the amount of $5,000. This cycle, funds are available to support four Lydia McCain Next Steps Grants for Arts Organizations.
Grant funding may cover eligible operational or programmatic costs incurred during the grant activity period.
If you are an arts organization, please use the Submittable link below. If you are an artist, please refer to the Lydia McCain Grant to Advance Artist Opportunities.
Organizational Awareness and Present Positioning
Next Steps
Organizational Awareness and Present Positioning (50 points)
A mock application will be available on the EAC website
Hybrid virtual and in-person information session will be held at Blasco Library’s Admiral Room at 6pm on March 2, 2023
“You speak, I write” approach will be available for applicants who request assistance.
All applications will be reviewed by Erie Arts & Culture staff for eligibility. Staff will conduct a preliminary review using an objective checklist to ensure eligibility, and eligible applicants will be forwarded to Erie Arts & Culture’s Programming Committee for review. The Programs Committee will present final grantee recommendations to the Board of Directors for approval.
In lieu of written reports, Erie Arts & Culture staff will host a brief interim check-in call with grantees. In addition to tracking progress towards grant goals, these calls will help Erie Arts & Culture identify grantees’ needs outside of funding, and determine what approach, if any, Erie Arts & Culture can take to help see these needs met. At the end of the 12 month grant cycle, small peer groups (assembled based on common feedback from interim calls) will meet and discuss their projects in a round table, oral report.
Please join us for a hybrid info session in Blasco Library’s Admiral Room (hybrid in-person and virtual) This Grant Info Session is for Arts Organizations (McCain, Vieser, and Beyers).
Please contact Casey Corritore, Program Officer of Capacity Building: [email protected].