Summary

The Arts Projects program financially supports a variety of arts projects throughout Tacoma. This funding can be used for artistic presentations, activities, workshops or projects that are accessible to the general public. Admission may be charged to these projects, as long as the application demonstrates public benefit. The arts activity may be a one-time event or a number of events that are closely related. It may also be an ongoing project or neighborhood public art project.

Application Workshop (optional)

Thursday, October 3, 2019, 5:30 - 7 PM, Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 2nd floor, Room 243). First time applicants are strongly encouraged to send a representative to the workshop. 

Preliminary Application Feedback Deadline (optional)

October 23, 2019

Application Deadline

November 4, 2019, 11:59 PM

Funding Application Guidelines

Download the 2020 Arts Projects application guidelines (PDF) for complete funding information, including eligibility.

About the Money

NEW for 2020: Applicants can apply for a flat amount of either $6,000 or $3,000 for their project. If the applicant applies for $6,000 of funding but is not selected for funding at that level, they have the option of being considered for funding at the $3,000 level. There is no advantage to applying for one level of funding over the other. Applicants are encouraged to apply for what they need to successfully complete their project, with the knowledge that funding at either level is not guaranteed.

Funding for Arts Projects is determined through a competitive application process. The number of contracts awarded will be based on the availability of funds and review of each application as measured against the evaluation criteria detailed in the guidelines. Funding from year to year is not guaranteed. No funding is guaranteed until official approval of the budget by Tacoma City Council.

The full Arts Project funding amount will not be available to recipients until after their project is completed. Recipients should be prepared to cover the costs of the project until that time, but the City will work with each awardee to stagger payment phases to lessen financial strain.

How to Apply

Please submit the following at www.tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit:

• Basic contact and project information including a brief (40 words or less) overview of your project and its intent
• Budget (form will be provided in the electronic application) 
• Narrative Responses (see the 2020 Arts Projects application guidelines for a list of narrative questions)
• Written permission (email or letter) from the property owner to indicate their willingness to host the proposed project. Or, a written explanation of the preferred location along with a clear plan to secure the necessary sites/partnerships should funding be awarded. A letter is not needed if applicant organization is hosting project at a location they own.
• Artistic Work Samples and descriptions 

Questions?

For assistance, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org.

Deadlines

Pre-Application survey by September 23, 2019, 11:59 PM

Planning & Capacity Building Application by September 30, 2019, 11:59 PM

About this Opportunity

Tacoma Creates is offering Planning and Capacity Building Funding to eligible arts, culture, heritage, and science non-profit organizations in Tacoma. 

2019 Tacoma Creates Planning and Capacity Building funding is designed to help organizations plan and prepare for the public programming that Tacoma Creates will support in 2020 and beyond. The funding amount will be $10,000 per organization. This Planning and Capacity Building funding will support required work to be completed October-December, 2019.

How to Apply

Organizations interested in obtaining planning and capacity building funding through Tacoma Creates this year must first establish eligibility by completing the Tacoma Creates pre-application survey. If your organization has not already completed the pre-application survey, you may do so now. The deadline to receive pre-application surveys for this funding opportunity is 11:59 PM on September 23, 2019.

If your organization has already completed the pre-application survey, you will hear from Tacoma Creates staff with an invitation to apply, or with information about missing eligibility criteria.

Organizations selected to receive this planning and capacity building funding will each receive $10,000 to support the work in several key areas:

• Participating in Tacoma Creates data gathering efforts, in order to build baseline information about organizational programs and demographics;
• Participating in various community engagement opportunities, such as focus groups or workshops;
• Building organizational capacity to align with Tacoma Creates goals surrounding equity and access;
• Building organizational capacity for doing business with the City of Tacoma, such as obtaining necessary levels of insurance;
• Planning and development of 2020 programming to align with Tacoma Creates funding priorities

The application form will ask for your organization’s commitment to these areas. The application form does not ask for any project proposal narrative or budget plans. If you have a fiscal sponsor, you will need to provide the contact information for their Authorizing Official.

The deadline to complete the Planning and Capacity Building application is 11:59 PM on September 30, 2019.

Participating in this Planning and Capacity Building funding program is not a requirement for your organization to be eligible for future Tacoma Creates funding. Receiving a contract for 2019 Planning and Capacity Building does not guarantee any future Tacoma Creates funding.

Tacoma Creates Eligibility

Eligibility for Tacoma Creates planning and capacity building funding extends to any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Tacoma, whose primary purpose is the advancement and preservation of arts, culture, heritage, or science. These organizations must also have at least a two-year track record of directly providing programming or experiences in Tacoma that are available to the general public. Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status, but meet other eligibility criteria, may be fiscally sponsored by eligible organizations. 

Excluded from eligibility is any agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions; any municipal corporation; any organization that raises funds for redistribution to multiple cultural organizations; and any radio or television broadcasting network or station, cable communications system, internet-based communications venture or service, newspaper, or magazine.

Questions?

Please contact Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager, at LJaret@cityoftacoma.org.

About this Survey

Tacoma-based arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations that provide public programming in Tacoma are invited to complete the Tacoma Creates Pre-Application Survey. This survey is intended to help the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality understand the field of organizations who may be eligible to apply for Tacoma Creates funding. It will also help us plan appropriate Tacoma Creates funding programs and capacity building opportunities. 

Only one person per organization should complete this survey. 

Please help spread the word about this survey and share the survey link with other Tacoma-based arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations!

Fill out the Survey

Visit https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit

All organizations that are interested in applying for Tacoma Creates funding are required to complete this survey as a first step.

What's Next?

All survey respondents will receive email communication about upcoming Tacoma Creates funding applications, workshops, and programming. 

The first round of Tacoma Creates funding will be focused on planning and sustainability and will include in-depth data gathering and participation in capacity building opportunities. 

Organizations that complete this Pre-Application Survey by September 23, 2019, and that meet current eligibility requirements, will receive an invitation to apply for the 2019 Planning and Capacity Building funding between September 9 and 30, 2019.

About Tacoma Creates

Tacoma Creates is a voter-approved initiative to increase access to arts, culture, heritage, and science experiences throughout Tacoma by reducing barriers to access and expanding offerings, particularly for underserved youth.

Find out more about Tacoma Creates.

Eligibility for Tacoma Crates funding extends to any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Tacoma, whose primary purpose is the advancement or preservation of arts, culture, heritage, or science. These organizations must also have at least a two-year track record of directly providing programming or experiences in Tacoma available to the general public. Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status, but meet other eligibility criteria, may be fiscally sponsored by eligible organizations. 

Excluded from eligibility is any agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions; any municipal corporation; any organization that raises funds for redistribution to multiple cultural organizations; and any radio or television broadcasting network or station, cable communications system, internet-based communications venture or service, newspaper, or magazine. 

Questions?

Please contact Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager, at LJaret@cityoftacoma.org.

Preferred deadline: August 5, 2019 – Late submissions accepted on a rolling basis
 
Opportunity

The Tacoma Arts Commission is seeking submissions of arts and culture activities happening during our 18th annual Tacoma Arts Month this October. We are looking for a variety of activities spanning all categories of art and culture including but not limited to music, visual art, literary art, dance, theater, and film.

If you will be hosting an exhibition, performance, class, workshop, reception, lecture, tour, artists’ market, celebration, meeting, presentation, or any other art programming in Tacoma, we will list your event on the Tacoma Arts Month online calendar. There is no cost to you. We will be promoting the many events going on throughout the month through newspaper and magazine advertisements and articles, e-newsletters, television ads, radio ads, and a variety of social media outlets.

This month would not be possible without the participation of local businesses, organizations, and community members. We encourage you to participate by hosting your own arts activity or event.

The deadline for the first round of submissions is August 5, 2019. We will accept activities on a rolling basis after that but submitting your information by August 5th will ensure that your activity is included in the first round of information that will go out.

To Qualify
Your arts activity must be located within the City of Tacoma limits and occur during the month of October. 

To Participate
Fill out the online submission form via Submittable: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit. Please note: If you are submitting multiple events, please fill out an individual form for each event.

Questions?

Contact Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or Chevi Chung at (253) 591-5171 or cchung1@cityoftacoma.org. 

Application Deadline

October 14, 2019

Stipend

$40,000

Call to Artists

Download the Call to Artists (PDF)

Opportunity

The Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) is seeking an artist or team to design and fabricate an exterior public artwork for The Rise at 19th, a new affordable housing development owned and operated by THA.

After the initial application review, three finalists will be selected and paid a $500 stipend each to develop a preliminary proposal. That proposal will include a written description, budget, and concept renderings to be presented during an in-person interview. Further details will be communicated to finalists upon selection. One artist or artist team will be selected from the three finalists to complete this project. This process is being managed by the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality for THA.  

Eligibility

• must live in Pierce County, WA
• can apply as a single artist or as an artist team
• must be 18 years or older
• cannot be an employee, board member, Council Member, or commissioner of THA or the City of Tacoma
• people who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups are encouraged to apply 

To Apply

Please submit the following at https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit:

Short Responses

Answers to the following questions. Limit each answer to no more than 300 words. 

• Tell us about yourself and your work.   
• Why are you interested in this project? 
• Anything else you’d like us to know? (optional) 

Artist Resume with References

A resume of three pages or less, including three professional references. Artist teams should submit a resume for each artist. Only finalists’ references will be contacted.

Work Samples with Descriptions

Up to 10 digital images of past work with concise descriptions. Artist teams are encouraged to submit work that was previously completed as a team. 

Questions?

Contact Rebecca Solverson at (253) 591-5564 or email rebecca.solverson@cityoftacoma.org.