Title
Recommendation to Discuss Evaluation Criteria for Cultural Arts And Arts Programming RFP
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
The City of Alameda’s (City’s) Public Art Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-98) created the Alameda Public Art Fund to be used for cultural arts and arts programming. The City’s Public Art Master Plan (2023) calls for the Public Art Program to provide inclusive programming to historically underserved communities. The past few years, while scoring and evaluating proposals, Commissioners have commented that the evaluation criteria could be looked at, additionally, Commissioner Platzgummer raised concern that the same organizations are awarded grant funding year after year. At the April 27, 2026 Public Art Commission (PAC) meeting, the PAC evaluated proposals submitted for the 2026 Cultural Arts and Arts Programming grant call. Commissioner Platzgummer commented on the importance of supporting proposals from and for historically underserved communities, as the Master Plan has recommended. Currently, the evaluation criteria for the Cultural Arts and Arts Programming RFP do not consider proposals for or from historically underserved communities. Staff are requesting the PAC discuss the evaluation criteria for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming RFP.
DISCUSSION
Staff have provided the current evaluation criteria, shown below, which have been used to evaluate and score proposals for several years. Of note, in 2024, Equity and Accessibility were a single criteria weighed at 10%. After public comment about the importance of accessibility for people of all abilities, the criteria were separated into two categories. In 2025, the evaluation criteria were updated to reflect this change, with equity equaling 5% and accessibility equaling 5%.
Evaluation Criteria
Once qualified for review, the Public Arts Commission will review proposals based on the following criteria:
Should the PAC propose a change to the evaluation criteria, staff requests the PAC recommend criteria language and associated weight (10%, etc.). Additionally, the PAC may consider updating the Cultural Arts and Arts Programming application so applicants can clearly indicate if their proposal programming is from or serving historically underserved communities.
Staff are recommending the PAC discuss the evaluation criteria for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming. Should changes to the evaluation criteria be proposed, the changes will be incorporated into the 2027 Cultural Art and Arts Programming grant cycle which launches January 21, 2027.
ALTERNATIVES
• Do not discuss the evaluation criteria for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation to Discuss Evaluation Criteria for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming RFP
Respectfully submitted,
Dwayne Dalman, Economic Development Manager
By,
Jackie Keliiaa, Development Manager, Secretary