Along with annual artist grants, the Cambridge Arts Council helps put on the annual River Festival. (Photo: Erik Fuller)

The deadline for Cambridge Arts Council grant applications is noon Oct. 14, the agency said Thursday, with applications becoming available Sept. 1.

“This is not a postmark deadline,” a council representative said. “Applications received after 12 Noon on Oct. 14 will not be reviewed.”

The council gets from 75 to 100 applications each year and funds about 30 of them with grants ranging from $300 to $2,000, according to the council. Decisions are made by a panel of judges.

The judges look for creative and innovative programs that “demonstrate outstanding artistic quality, show strong support from the intended audience and collaborators, demonstrate comprehensive planning, show strong evidence of a marketing or public relations plan, are publicly accessible and promote a meaningful interaction between the artist population and other members of the Cambridge community,” the council says — warning also that artists with even the most worthy projects should brace for getting less money than they hoped and explain in advance how they’ll handle that.

All projects must be based in Cambridge, of course, and the rules say applicants should be as well, either as a resident, employee or in partnership with a Cambridge organization.

“If you are not based in Cambridge, and would like to apply, a letter of collaboration and support from a Cambridge sponsor is required,” the council says.

Some dates for applicants to keep in mind: a grant-writing question-and-answer and feedback period, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 23; and grant-writing workshop at which council members will look over drafts of proposals, set for 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 15 with a slot-reservation date two days earlier that can be met by e-mailing or calling Julie Madden, director of community arts, at (617) 349-4381. The meetings are planned for the council offices, on the second floor of City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway.

Information and forms are available online.