What is a Panel?

A panel is a group of individuals pulled together by staff to review applications or nominations for Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality managed programs or opportunities. Panel members use published review criteria to evaluate applications and make recommendations about who gets grant funding, public art projects, roster appointments, etc.

Panelists are selected for a variety of reasons which can include: their connection to community, knowledge of relevant subject matter, and the diversity of perspectives and experiences they bring to the group overall. For each opportunity, we assemble a unique panel of three to nine people to make collective recommendations about which applicants should receive funding or commissions through our office. Those recommendations generally go to the Tacoma Arts Commission or the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board for final approval.

Why be a Panelist?

The Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality (OACV) is deeply appreciative of the time and expertise community members invest in serving on panels. Serving on a panel is a proactive way to impact how public funds are spent in Tacoma, and panelists receive valuable professional development as well as insight into how the application review process works from the inside.

OACV provides panelists with free parking and food during meetings, in addition to offering a monetary stipend.

The length and number of meetings needed for a selection process vary based on the project. Depending on the application, some panels will require a small amount of prep work in advance, one to two hours, and some panels may require extensive reading and evaluation work in advance of the in-person panel meeting, anywhere from 10-50 hours. Community members will be offered a stipend for their service as follows:

• $50 – quarter day meeting (1 – 2 hours)
• $100 – half day meeting (3 ‐ 4 hours)
• $200 – full day meeting (6 – 9 hours)
• $100 – pre‐meeting work to digitally read and score applications (only when requested)

Members of a City‐appointed commission or board are volunteers and are not eligible to receive a stipend for their service on a panel. City of Tacoma employees and project staff are not eligible to receive a stipend for their service on a panel.

Submit a Panel Interest Form

Please complete the online form to be considered for a position on an upcoming OACV panel: www.surveymonkey.com/r/tacomapanels 

Staff will take into account many factors when putting together panels, and may not be able to use the services of all qualified individuals who submit. If an individual is offered a position on a panel but is unable to participate because of scheduling or conflict of interest, OACV will continue to consider them for future panels. Panel Interest Forms will be saved and reviewed periodically for up to three years from the submission date.

Questions

Free Professional Development Workshops Now Available 

New in 2021, the Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality will be collaborating with local organizations to provide free professional development workshops for Tacoma creatives, artists, creative workers, cultural workers, and arts advocates.

Workshop: Building Better Business Foundations Part I on July 22, 2021

If you have a business idea but are not sure where to start, this workshop will walk you through some of those first steps that are at the core of your business. In this two-hour foundations workshop, we will explore your ‘why’, vision, mission, and values statements. Do you know the difference between knowing your ‘why’ and having a passion? It is very important for you to know the difference when we are talking about business. The vision, mission, and values statements form the foundation for all activities in an organization. These statements guide the behaviors of people in the organization. At the end of this workshop, you will have a clear understanding of these foundations…this is an interactive workshop, so bring your pencils!

The Building Better Business Foundations Part I workshop is FREE on Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 6-8 PM. Register for this free virtual Building Better Business Foundations Part I workshop by clicking on this link, https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpdu-rqj0iH9GQV37f9J8sYTQkHD2OHEyU and then you'll receive a confirmation message with a Zoom link to attend the workshop.

Workshop: Building Better Business Foundations Part II on July 29, 2021
In this one-hour workshop, we will talk about the importance of market research for your product or service and how to collect that data. The purpose of Market Research is to verify market need. A business must understand who needs a product or service and why they need it. Learn about testing your product or service in the market and different ways you can conduct research.
 
The Building Better Business Foundations Part II workshop is FREE on Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 6-7 PM. Register for this free virtual Building Better Business Foundations Part I workshop by clicking on this link, https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkde6qqT0tH9OWC50JRR2ZkjMN9omwYckU and then you'll receive a confirmation message with a Zoom link to attend the workshop.

Questions

The Spaceworks Incubator program provides relevant and meaningful small business training, coaching, technical assistance, and networking support to entrepreneurs creating or growing Tacoma-based businesses. Spaceworks works with a growing roster of innovative, creative businesses that are strengthening our creative economy and making Tacoma a destination city. 

Building Better Business Foundations Part I and II workshops are hosted by Spaceworks Tacoma and City of Tacoma Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality.