To: Honorable Chair and
Members of the Public Art Commission
From: Lois Butler
Economic Development Manager
Date: December 10, 2018
RE: Award of 2018 Cultural Art and Arts Programming Grants. The Public Art Commission will hold a public meeting to review Cultural Arts and Arts Programming proposals and award grant funding. The evaluation of proposals is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
BACKGROUND
In August 2017, the Public Art Commission (“PAC”) approved a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to provide $87,500 of Public Art Fund (“Fund”) monies for cultural arts and arts programming in Alameda. The following grants were awarded in the first round of funding:
• One $35,000 award to Rhythmix Cultural Works for Island City Waterways, a multidisciplinary public art event that combines theatre, dance and music.
• One $25,000 award to West Alameda Arts and Entertainment District for the Animate Dance Festival, a celebration of dance bringing together free performances by professional dance companies and local youth groups, and trial classes in a variety of dance/circus and martial art techniques.
• One $7,500 award to Sacred and Profane for the American Landscape, a multidisciplinary choral event bringing together both visual and performing arts on the theme of the American Landscape.
No proposals were awarded in the $15,000 and $5,000 categories, resulting in $20,000 in unused funds. In the spring and summer of 2018, at PAC’s direction, staff conducted a survey on the best way to re-release the $20,000 in remaining funding. In June of 2018, the PAC approved a new RFP, which incorporated the following changes based on the survey results:
• Proposers were allowed to identify their preferred grant amount (up to $5,000), with a maximum of eight grants to be awarded in total.
• The evaluation process was expanded to allow for written questions and responses between the selection panel and applicants.
The 2018 RFP for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming (Exhibit 1) was released on August 9, 2018, with applications due on September 13, 2018. The City received eight proposals in response to the RFP. The evaluation process for these proposals, as described in the RFP, includes four steps:
1. Staff pre-screening: All applications were pre-screened by City staff to ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications
2. Selection Panel Review 1: The Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Selection Panel (“Panel”) reviewed applications meeting the minimum requirements, and developed clarifying questions for each application (if any). Applicants were then given one week to submit written responses to the questions.
3. Selection Panel Review 2: The Selection Panel then ranked each application (including responses to questions) according to the selection criteria established in the RFP. Applications scoring 65 or above are recommended to the PAC as finalists.
4. The PAC will review the recommended finalists, and award funding. Funding for these grants has already been allocated.
On October 15, 2018, the PAC appointed five cultural arts and arts programming selection panelists, which included two PAC members and three outside panel members. The outside members were selected through a public Call for Selection Panelists.
On October 24, 2018, staff conducting the pre-screening of proposals. Seven proposals (Exhibit 2) were qualified to move on to the next round of evaluation and one was disqualified because the proposer was not a non-profit organization or public agency.
On November 7, 2018, the Panel met to review the qualified proposals, and formulate follow-up questions. Applicants were then given one week to submit written responses to the questions (Exhibit 3).
One November 21, 2018, the Panel met to review and rank the proposals (including the responses to questions). The Panel’s scores and comments are summarized below, and in Exhibit 4. There is a total of $18,795 in recommended grant funding. Any unused funding will be returned to the Fund to be used for future cultural arts and arts programming in Alameda.
Finalist Proposals
Plein Air Paintout, Frank Bette Center
Average Score: 97
Proposed grant amount: $3,795
Program Description: The Plein Air Paintout is an annual show featuring artists who paint outside in Alameda during the first week of August. The proposal seeks grant funding to expand the event to include an outdoor festival featuring free art demonstrations, instruction, portrait models for drawing, kid’s activities and live music. The event would be held on August 3, 2019.
Panel Comments
• The Panel liked the addition of the community "bingo" competition to the program.
• Panelists would have liked to see a more robust youth program as part of the event.
Opera in the Park, Island City Opera
Average Score: 93
Proposed grant amount: $5,000
Program Description: The proposed Opera in the Park would include a program of famous opera arias, duets, and choral pieces, to be performed in Franklin Park in August 2019.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel liked the addition of the singing lesson for children, and the live stream of the event for seniors.
• Panelists would have liked to see the event leverage additional funds from outside of the community.
• The Panel suggested that the organization consider doing a pared0down version of the opera, or a rehearsal, at Mastick Senior Center.
Lunar New Year Celebration, West Alameda Business Association
Average Score: 85
Proposed grant amount: $4,850
Program Description: The proposed Lunar New Year Celebration would feature cultural performances, a variety of styles of dance, martial arts demonstration, food, music and a traditional Lion Dance blessing. The 2019 event will take place on Saturday, February 9. If funding is not allocated before then, the grant will be used for the 2020 event.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel thinks this is a great event, but would like to see more money going to performers.
• Panelists were happy to see that WABA is expanding the entertainment options from last year.
• The grant cannot be used for food, drink or gifts, so those line items were removed from the grant amount.
Second Friday Art Walk, Island Alliance for the Arts
Average Score: 68
Proposed grant amount: $5,000
Program Description: The Second Friday Art Walk is a monthly art walk highlighting Alameda galleries, artists and businesses. The proposal seeks funding to expand marketing and administer the event, including print advertising, graphic design, website maintenance, and other associated costs.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel would like to see the IAA leverage participating galleries for marketing, organization, volunteers, sponsorship, and assistance growing the event. They would like the IAA to capitalize on other organizations in the community to grow the event.
• Panelists would like to see a more innovative, less print-dependent marketing plan.
• The Panel would like to see the IAA add music to the art walk.
Proposals Not Recommended as Finalists
Live Stage at the Alameda Art Fair and Maker Market, Island Alliance for the Arts
Average Score: 61
Proposed grant amount: $1,200
Program Description: The Alameda Art Fair and Maker Market brings together Alameda and Bay Area artists with the greater community. The proposal seeks funding to program the stage at this event with paid performers, including musicians, DJs and poets.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel noted that the event seemed to be more craft-oriented than cultural.
• Panelists would have liked the proposal to include a professional stage, and more money for the performing artists.
Spanning the Decades, NewGround Theatre Dance Company
Average Score: 50
Proposed grant amount: $5,000
Program Description: The NewGround Theatre Dance Company proposed to bring the “Spanning the Decades” dance program to Alameda. This concert of contemporary modern/jazz dance would be set to music throughout the decades (1940s through 1970s), including selections such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Respect and Imagine.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel was excited about the NewGround Theatre Dance Company's approach as described in the proposal, and the use of empathic dance in particular, but didn't see it reflected in the program concept.
• Panelists would have liked to see a more inclusive program concept.
• Panelists also would have liked the Alameda dancers be compensated.
String Music Program, Really Terrible String Orchestra of SF Bay
Average Score: 32
Proposed grant amount: $4,758
Program Description: The Really Terrible String Orchestra of SF Bay is dedicated to providing rehearsal and informal performance opportunities to Bay Area amateur string musicians. They seek grant funding to hold a series of 12 rehearsals, one workshop, and three or more public concerts in Alameda.
Panel Comments:
• The Panel did not think the proposed program would have a wide enough impact on the Alameda community.
• Panelists noted that the concerts seemed to be of value, but that they didn't seem to be the goal of the proposal. The goal seemed to be more about the professional development of the group, rather than providing a cultural experience for the community.
• The Panel would have liked to see a more professional organizational structure.
DISCUSSION
The PAC is asked to review the proposals and the Panel’s scores and comments, and decide if it would like to:
1) Award funding to the Panel’s recommended finalists, or
2) Evaluate and score the proposals again during the PAC meeting, and then award funding to the PAC’s finalists.
The PAC is not obligated to award the full $20,000 of available grant funding. Any funding not awarded would return to the Fund for redistribution for cultural arts and arts programming at a future date.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The review and evaluation of cultural arts and arts programming proposals is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the PAC review the proposals and the Panel’s scores and comments, and decide if it would like to:
3) Award funding to the Panel’s recommended finalists, or
4) Evaluate and score the proposals again during the PAC meeting, and then award funding to the PAC’s finalists.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lois Butler
Economic Development Manager
By,
Amanda Gehrke
Management Analyst
Exhibits:
1. 2018 Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Request for Proposals
2. Qualified 2018 Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Proposals
3. 2019 Cultural Arts Proposals Clarifying Questions and Responses
4. Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Selection Panel Scores and Comments