Summary
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. Eligible non-profit arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations may apply for funding that helps them expand equitable access to public programs, increase opportunities in neighborhoods throughout Tacoma, expand educational options for youth, and build sustainability for continued services. Contracts for funding will go to organizations that demonstrate specific support and benefits for people and communities in Tacoma.

Comprehensive Organizational Support is open to organizations that meet all eligibility requirements, described on the Tacoma Creates website. Organizations that apply in this category may request up to 15 percent of their total annual budget, based on the average of their actual income over their last three completed fiscal years, up to a maximum of $400,000 per 12-month funding cycle. Applicants in this category must demonstrate organizational commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as strong programming work in all three of these Public Benefit areas: Neighborhood Programming, Increasing Public Access, and Educational Programming for Youth. Applicants in this category must offer programs for the general public (adults/all ages), as well as youth education programs. Applicants in this category are expected to offer a variety of public programming opportunities throughout the year.

Application Deadline
March 15, 2021, 11:59pm

Application Guidelines
Download the 2021-22 Tacoma Creates Comprehensive Organizational Support guidelines (PDF) for complete funding information, including eligibility and application review criteria.

How to Apply
Eligible organizations interested in this opportunity must submit a variety of application information via Submittable, including:
1. Organizational Information and Eligibility
2. Background Data, Financial Information, and Funding Request
3. Narrative Question Responses
4. Contract Deliverables
5. Additional Support Materials

Applications must be submitted through our online application form. Go to tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit and select the 2021-2022 Comprehensive Organizational Support form.

Application Support
Visit the How to Apply page of the Tacoma Creates website for a list of Application Workshops and other helpful information. 

Questions?
Contact Tacoma Creates staff:
Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager: ljaret@cityoftacoma.org  or 253-591-5161
Clarissa Gines, Tacoma Creates Coordinator: cgines@cityoftacoma.org or 253-591-5174

Summary
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. Eligible non-profit arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations may apply for funding that helps them expand equitable access to public programs, increase opportunities in neighborhoods throughout Tacoma, expand educational options for youth, and build sustainability for continued services. Contracts for funding will go to organizations that demonstrate specific support and benefits for people and communities in Tacoma.

Impact Funding is open to organizations that meet the eligibility requirements described on the Tacoma Creates website. The eligibility requirements for Impact Funding are not as high as they are for Comprehensive Organizational Support; newer organizations and those that do not have 501(c)(3) status may be eligible in this category Organizations that apply in this category may request a minimum of $3,000, and up to $50,000 per year. Applicants in this category may propose a single program or multiple programs throughout the year. Applicants may propose general public programs (open to adults or all ages), or youth education programs, or both, and must demonstrate a commitment to Tacoma Creates’ vision for vibrant, equitable, and inclusive cultural programs. The funding request may be up to 50 percent of the total cost of the proposed programming; applicants must demonstrate at least a 1:1 match of other resources to support the work, which may include volunteer time, and donated materials and space. 

Application Deadline
March 29, 2021, 11:59pm

Application Guidelines
Download the 2021-22 Tacoma Creates Impact Funding guidelines (PDF) for complete funding information, including eligibility and application review criteria.

How to Apply
Eligible organizations interested in this opportunity must submit a variety of application information via Submittable, including:
1. Organizational Information and Eligibility
2. Background Data and Funding Request
3. Narrative Question Responses
4. Budget and Financial Information
5. Contract Deliverables
6. Additional Support Materials

Applications must be submitted through our online application form. Go to tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit and select the 2021-2022 Impact Funding form.

Application Support
Visit the How to Apply page of the Tacoma Creates website for a list of Application Workshops and other helpful information. 

Questions?
Contact Tacoma Creates staff:
Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager: ljaret@cityoftacoma.org  or 253-591-5161
Clarissa Gines, Tacoma Creates Coordinator: cgines@cityoftacoma.org or 253-591-5174

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.