Creative Community Engagement Workshop and Grants
The City of Tacoma Arts Program and the Tacoma Arts Commission hosted a free community engagement workshop on July 30, 2016. Tacoma Council Member Marty Campbell opened the workshop and thanked the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department who generously donated their auditorium space. Rebecca Solverson gave an overview of the grant opportunities and the plan for the day. She was followed by brief introductions from Joey Furuto from Metro Parks, Peter Anderson and Marianne Seifert from the Health Department, Marissa Vining from the City’s Office of Equity, Allyson Griffith from the City’s Community Based Services, and Patrick Babbitt from the City’s Healthy Homes Healthy Neighborhoods program. These representatives all shared their interest in partnering with artists and excitement about the grant projects. Introductions were followed by presentations and networking activities led by artists Linda Wysong and Horatio Law. The workshop ended with a community walk and a question session.
Workshop Agenda
10:00 – Sign in
10:10 – Greeting (Tacoma Council Member Marty Campbell)
10:15 – Project Overview & Agency Introductions: Pierce Transit, Metro Parks, Health Dept., Office of Equity, Community Based Services, Healthy Homes Healthy Neighborhoods
10:40 – Horatio Law Introduction (38th Street Public Art)
10:45 – Examples of Community Art
11:00 – Small group exercise
12:00 – Lunch
12:30 – Community Walk with guests: Harvest PC, Lincoln HS, Lincoln Office, Lincoln Business
1:30 – Grant Process, Q&A, next steps
2:00 – Adjourn
Grant Application Information
Following the workshop, the Arts Commission will be awarding grants to fund imaginative community engagement projects in the Lincoln District. Think big or small and apply for the funding level that best suits your project - $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000. We are open to all kinds of creative and unusual collaborations. We welcome innovative and fun approaches that facilitate economic development, neighborhood identity, and community cohesion. Applicants are encouraged to also consider topics that illuminate and engage the Lincoln District’s diverse communities and address social justice, gentrification, and help create a sense of place. These temporary creative collaborations can last one day or for months, and must be open and accessible to all. Projects must be completed by December 31, 2018.
Who is Eligible?
We welcome applications from any Tacoma resident with a creative idea, including neighborhood activists, teachers, creative professionals in the arts (visual artists, filmmakers, designers, performers, musicians, etc.), do-it-yourself entrepreneurs, storytellers, practitioners of folk art, outsider art, healing arts, culinary arts, martial arts, and gardening arts. Applicants can apply individually or team up with a community partner, such as a school, local business, neighborhood group, community organization/group, municipal agency, etc. Priority will be given to proposals that include community participation or collaboration. People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups are encouraged to apply. Besides funding, we have a great space in the center of the business district to use as a home base and committed mentors to help support projects. Let us know if you have an interesting idea but haven’t found a collaborating artist, community partner, or venue; we will work to connect you.
Background
The Lincoln District is a diverse community rich with family owned businesses and a great spot to enjoy international cuisine, fresh produce, and specialty gifts. The district is centered at S. 38th and Yakima and bordered by beautiful Lincoln Park and historic Lincoln High School. Starting in fall 2016, the core of the business district will undergo street and sidewalk improvements, as part of the Lincoln Revitalization Project. The revitalization includes a large-scale permanent public artwork by Horatio Hung-Yan Law. For more information, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/LincolnProject.
To Apply
Fill out the online application or download the prospectus and fill out the paper application. Once completed, return paper applications to the Lincoln Office (750 S. 38th St.) or the City of Tacoma Customer Service Center (747 Market St., 2nd floor).
Applications must be submitted by 4 PM Monday, August 15, 2016.
Questions?
Contact Rebecca Solverson, rebecca.solverson@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5564
Câu hỏi?
Cuộc gọi My Nguyen, mnguyen@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5174
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any resources that can help me complete my application?
We have a Google Drive folder filled with maps of potential sites, contact lists, and data generated by the neighborhood residents about their hopes for Lincoln. To gain access to the folder, or to request additional resources, email atail@cityoftacoma.org.
What if I have more than one idea?
You may submit separate applications for multiple project ideas. Also check on the Google doc or with program staff to see if there may be other people interested in working on similar projects. It is best to have some specific deliverables stated on your grant application, rather than very large general ideas.
Can I still apply if I don’t live in Tacoma?
Yes, but you must team up or be in a group with a Tacoma resident.
Can the grant money be used to pay for my time spent working on the project?
Yes, please feel free to plan for an hourly wage for yourself and any collaborators in your grant budget, and make sure to account for this when you decide how much money to apply for.
I missed the workshop, can I still apply?
Yes. You can also come by the Lincoln Office (750 S. 38th St.) during Grant Office Hours from 10 AM - 4 PM on August 4, 2016, or schedule a private phone consultation with Rebecca Solverson at rebecca.solverson@cityoftacoma.org.