The Central Appalachia Living Traditions (CALT) Experiences Grants program, administered by Mid Atlantic Arts, supports folk and traditional arts projects in designated Appalachian counties of Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. The program funds public-facing projects that bring communities together to celebrate and preserve traditional arts and cultural knowledge. Eligible projects must align with at least one of the CALT Experiences goals: increasing public awareness and appreciation of living traditions, expanding artistic skills and cultural knowledge, or diversifying and broadening folk arts activities in the region.

The grant provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for individual folk and traditional artists, nonprofit organizations, and local government units. No matching funds are required. Eligible projects may include hands-on learning experiences, workshops, public art projects, exhibitions, performance series, film and video productions, radio broadcasts, and archival initiatives with a public component. However, fundraisers and benefits are explicitly excluded from funding.

Applicants must be located in one of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)-designated counties in Ohio, Virginia, or West Virginia. Fiscal sponsorship is not allowed, and applicants must be in good standing with Mid Atlantic Arts, with no overdue reports or outstanding grant documents. Preference is given to projects engaging multi-generational participants and under-resourced or marginalized communities, particularly those in the most geographically remote counties.

Applications open on November 18, 2024, with a submission deadline of March 10, 2025. Decisions will be announced by June 20, 2025, and funded projects must take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. A diverse panel of folk and traditional arts specialists will evaluate applications based on criteria such as artistic and cultural relevance, community collaboration, diversity and accessibility considerations, project personnel qualifications, and evaluation plans.

Grant funds must be used for direct project expenses, including artist and staff salaries, technical personnel fees, marketing and promotional expenses, accessibility accommodations, and equipment rentals specific to the project. General operational expenses, indirect costs, and equipment purchases for broader organizational use are not covered. Grant recipients will receive funds 30-45 days before the project start date, with final reports due 30 days after project completion, no later than July 30, 2026.

To apply, applicants must submit an online application through the Mid Atlantic Arts portal, providing detailed project narratives, budget plans, and supporting materials such as work samples. Resources such as webinars and drop-in sessions are available to assist with the application process. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to program staff for guidance in preparing a competitive application.