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.

 

Tacoma Creates Eligibility

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.

 

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

If you have questions, please contact Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5191.

Budget

$500 participation-based stipend, $1,000 project stipend, and opportunity to compete for a minimum of five permanent public art projects averaging $30,000 each.

 

Optional Information Session

There will be an optional information session on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, from 5:30-6:30 PM at Metro Parks Tacoma Board Room, 4702 S 19th St., Tacoma, WA 98405.

 

Submission Deadline

February 10, 2020, 11:59 PM

 

Call to Artists

Download the Call to Artists for more details.

 

Summary

Metro Parks Tacoma is seeking Pierce County artists with an active studio practice, who wish to learn how to develop artwork for the public realm, to participate in a ‘hands-on’ public art education program. Artists may work in a variety of disciplines and may or may not have previous public art experience.

The training, which is free of charge to selected artists, is valued at approximately $4,300 per participant. Participating artists will create temporary projects and have the opportunity to apply and compete for one or more of at least five permanent public art projects averaging $30,000 each, funded by Metro Parks and the City of Tacoma.

 

Eligibility

• Applicants must live in Pierce County, WA
• Applicants must be 18 years or older
• Applicants must apply as an individual
• Applicants must have an active art practice, in any medium, producing artwork on a regular basis
• Applicants must be interested in creating permanent public artworks
• Applicants must commit to attending all 5 training sessions, which will take place Saturdays late March-May 2020 (we will work with selected artists to schedule sessions, please contact staff prior to applying if you have any concerns)
• Applicants cannot be an employee, board member, council member, or commissioner of Metro Parks or the City of Tacoma

Commitments

Selected artists are expected to attend all sessions. Artists will participate in five day-long workshops, in preparation for a cycle of public art commission applications and interviews. Training sessions will be Saturdays late March-May 2020. Additional sessions and experiences will be scheduled, to include temporary projects and presentations, interviews for projects, field trips, peer discussion groups, and one-on-one mentorship as needed.

Submission Process

Eligible artists interested in this opportunity must submit the following via Submittable: 

1. Basic Information
2. Narrative Questions
3. Up to ten Work Samples with Descriptions
4. Resume

Questions

Contact Rebecca Solverson, Public Art Specialist, (253) 591-5564, rebecca.solverson@cityoftacoma.org.