Title
Recommendation to Review and Approve the List of Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program Award Recipients
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Public Art Commission
BACKGROUND
At its April 15, 2019 meeting, the Public Art Commission (PAC) identified the creation of a Public Art Small Grants pilot program as a top priority for future public art funding. On May 29, 2019, the PAC gave direction to staff with the following program guidelines:
• The grants can be for cultural art or physical art.
• The applicant does not need non-profit status.
• Organizations outside Alameda may apply and Alameda residents/organizations will receive a preference.
• Events and artwork must be located in Alameda, free to the public and in an accessible location.
• Grant award categories are:
o Micro Grants: $250 - $500
o Small Grants: $501 - $2,000
• Smaller grants of $250 to $500 encouraged.
• The budget for this grant cycle is $20,000.
In January 2020, staff solicited applications by sending two emails to the PAC Public Art Interest Group email list. An announcement was also posted on the City’s Facebook page. The City held a Program Overview/Q&A Session on January 15, 2020, in City Council Chambers. Applications were accepted between January 2, 2020 and February 29, 2020 (see Exhibit 1, Program Description; and Exhibit 2, Grant Application).
At its March 10, 2020 meeting, the PAC appointed a Small Grants Subcommittee, comprised of two PAC members (Liz Rush and Kirstin Van Cleef) and a staff member (Amanda Gehrke) to review the grant applications and make recommendations of awards to submit to the PAC for approval.
Due to the COVID-19 Shelter in Place Order, the original date of awarding grants by April 30, 2020 was extended. Funds will be eligible for use for one year from the time of award.
DISCUSSION
The Small Grants Subcommittee met remotely on April 29, 2020. In attendance were Subcommittee members Liz Rush, Kirstin Van Cleef and Amanda Gehrke, as well as staff members Lois Butler and Yael Schy. The Subcommittee was tasked with reviewing the submitted applications and selecting a maximum of 20 grant recipients among whom to allocate the $20,000 budget, in accordance with the Small Grants Pilot Program Description. Of these, up to 10 awards could be Micro Grants ($250 - $500) and the remaining would be Small Grants ($501 - $2,000).
A total of 34 applications were submitted by 23 individuals or organizations (some applicants submitted multiple project applications). Of these, 14 applications were for Micro Grants, totaling $4,125 requested, and 20 were for Small Grants, totaling $35,765 requested (Exhibit 3). Criteria for evaluation of the grant applications, as stated in the Small Grants Pilot Program Description, for both cultural art events and physical installations were the following:
• Artistic merit
• Community access (how many people will have access to the event or art installation)
• Community engagement (event or art engages broader community in local arts and/or cultural activity)
• Cultural representation (event increases awareness of underserved communities)
• Local representation (Alameda resident or organization)
Based on the above criteria, the Subcommittee selected a total of 16 out of the 34 applications received to recommend for funding:
• Six Micro Grants to be funded for $1,300, and
• Ten Small Grants to be funded for $18,700.
The grants would be awarded to 11 individuals or organizations out of the 23 who applied. (Exhibit 4).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Public Art Small Grants program is a ministerial project and is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines section 15268 Ministerial Projects.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and approve the list of Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program award recipients.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lois Butler
Economic Development Manager
By,
Yael Schy
Management Specialist
Exhibits:
1. Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program Description
2. Public Art Small Grants Program Application
3. Public Art Small Grants Applicants-Recommendations Highlighted
4. Public Art Small Grants Subcommittee Recommendations