Applications to participate in Free Fall Baltimore 2020 are now open. The annual citywide celebration offers arts & cultural events at participating venues throughout Baltimore City. Free Fall Baltimore is held each October in conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month, and showcases the importance of the arts with free concerts, dance and theater performances, festivals, lectures, workshops, art exhibitions, and special events. The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts provides grants, ranging from $250 to $1,500, to cultural organizations with operating budgets under $300,000 to provide free events during the month of October. Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Free Fall Baltimore 2020 will occur as a hybrid of virtual and small in-person events.
Applications for cultural organizations to participate in Free Fall Baltimore 2020 are available here and due by Sunday, September 6, 2020.
Out of concern for health and public safety, applicants are encouraged to submit applications with robust virtual programming elements. If applicants are planning to produce small in-person events, they must adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for public engagement and have an explicit public safety plan thoroughly outlined in the application.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Free Fall Baltimore grant, the program must:
- Provide outreach and access to young adults, families and/or underserved audiences
- Be free of charge and open to general public without contingencies.
- Occur in Baltimore City between October 1 and October 31, 2020
Reminder: Cultural organizations with operating budgets over $300,000 are not eligible to receive grants. However, cultural organizations with budgets in excess of $300,000 are encouraged to participate in Free Fall Baltimore.
Timeline
Applications Due: Sunday, September 6, 2020
Awardees Notified: Friday, September 11, 2020
Contracts Due: Friday, September 18, 2020; 80% of grant paid upon receipt
Programs Occur: Thursday, October 1 – Saturday, October 31, 2020
Final Reports Due: Friday, December 4, 2020; 20% balance paid upon receipt
The application to participate in Free Fall Baltimore 2020 is available here and due by Sunday, September 6, 2020.