Local nonprofits and government agencies use grant funds from all manner of sources to achieve assistance for the community.

Many representatives of such groups were at the Pahrump Valley Library Jan. 20 to update their knowledge about the different types of grants and the new challenges involved in acquiring them.

Hosted by the Pahrump Arts Council, the Nevada Arts Council provided speakers Robin Hodgkin of Carson City and Maryjane Dorofachuk of Las Vegas to detail current grant requirements.

The Nevada Arts Council is funded by the state legislature and makes grant funds available to improve community arts development, enhance the arts in education and to support folk-life endeavors.

These grants are given with strict requirements as far as funds available, who may apply, how often, when and how frequently.

Local artists of any type may apply for a grant through the Pahrump Arts Council to aid them with their artistic endeavors. Other types of individual grants are available that are not processed through the arts council. The Pahrump Library has information available on the different types of grants and how to apply.

There are two types of grants: non-competitive and competitive.

The selection process is performed by a board of out-of-state artists, arts administrators and educators and others who serve on panels and committees to review and score the competitive grant applications. There are several different types of grants that fall within the competitive category: Partners in Excellence, development, project, design arts, challenge and jackpot grants, to name a few.

Each has funds available, ranging from around $450 up. Each specifies what it may be used for, and in many cases requires the organization or individual to have matching funds available.

Partners in Excellence grants cover nonprofit arts and cultural organizations only and support their general operations. Development grants are the same, but have a different level of funds available. Project grants are for any nonprofit, organization or public entity and are currently used in Pahrump by the school district and others. The others are of the same nature with differences in funding, submission deadlines and use requirements.

Eligible artists can utilize the folklife, and jackpot grants to obtain assistance with their projects or to retrieve the loss of their investment due to theft, damage caused by outside events, and more. There are 17 grants available through this program, each with specific requirements.

Hodgkin advised the group that "grant programs have guidelines such as not using current income to get a challenge grant. Fundraisers or other outlets must be used to acquire matching funds, new money."

She also said that "nonprofit organizations such as the museum, library, arts council and others can apply for grants to further the careers of artists, or request speakers (such as renowned artists or writers) to come to the community."

Dorofachuk said, "Artists must submit a letter fully identifying their need, and why they need it, must be a Nevadan and demonstrate quality."

They can also apply to work as an apprentice to a master artist but must have the matching amount of funds toward the grant requested.

For the arts and education grants, groups and individuals may apply without the need for matching grant funds. These include schools, poetry groups, musical entities, and others.

Linda Kass of KPVM Channel 41, said, "It's a great workshop. Information and answers are given in a positive manner with much encouragement. I think it's wonderful and nicely done."

"The Power Point presentation makes it very easy to follow," said Janet Lewis. Ruth Koneck added, "It shows us how to find ways to search for what we need."

The Clark County Library offers indepth workshops and conferences to further explain and assist those wishing to obtain grant funds.

The Nevada Arts Council can be contacted at www.NevadaCulture.org, or in Las Vegas at 702-486-3700 for additional information. The Pahrump Arts Council can be contacted at 775-751-6776.