General Operating Support provides financial assistance to arts organizations for on-going artistic and administrative expenses. The program is designed to continue, strengthen, and expand the programs of organizations of artistic merit. Applicants request a portion of their total cash income in their most recently completed fiscal year. Eligible applicants include Virginia organizations whose primary purpose is the arts and which have been incorporated in Virginia for at least a year. Applications are reviewed by a statewide advisory panel composed of arts administrators, artists, educators, board members and others.
Panels have the option of recommending full, partial, or no funding, or funding for one year only.
First-time applicants should contact the Commission to verify eligibility before applying. New and emerging arts organizations may also apply for operating expenses through this category. Applications will be reviewed by the Commission's area advisory panels and approved by the full Commission. The Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Virginia Commission for the Arts have created a special initiative to help Virginia arts organizations with direct expenses for tourism promotion efforts through the Tourism and the Arts Initiative . A minimum of three organizations must partner together to apply for funding and the lead applicant must be a General Operating Support grantee.