1 Richmond Arts and Culture Commission
Neighborhood Public Art Mini-Grants FY 2022 - 2023
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Application Deadline: July 1, 2022 @ 11:59 p.m. Awards Confirmed: October 2022 Background:
The Neighborhood Public Art (NPA) Mini-Grant Program is now seeking applications for the FY 2022-2023. The grants are designated to stimulate arts and culture in the Richmond community, help emerging artists of all ages and ethnicities, and fund local visual, literary, and performing arts projects. Since 2010, the NPA program has been coordinated by the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and has engaged hundreds of community members in art projects all over the City of Richmond. To apply, please fill out the attached application.
Purpose:
What an NPA Mini-Grant does:
• Provides local artists/non-profit arts organizations/community members with funding for their art projects.
• Assists applicants with meeting deadlines, making budgets, and contract compliance • Builds community and enables the artists to pass on their skills by participating in the grants.
• Helps emerging artists to pass on their skills to others: “each one, reach one, teach one”.
Eligible Art Forms:
• Visual Arts: paintings, graphics, ceramics, mosaic, crafts, sculpture, murals, etc. • Performing Arts: spoken word, music, dance, theater, etc. • Literary Arts: Written fiction, non-fiction, poetry, prose, short stories, etc.
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants:
Eligible: Richmond residents and Richmond-based arts organizations may apply as individuals, as a team with partners, or as a non-profit arts organization. Licensed "non-profit" organizations may serve as fiscal agents for mini grants. If you are already engaged in a creative project and need additional funding, you are eligible to apply for a NPA Mini-Grant.
2 Ineligible: "For-profit" (corporate entities) do not qualify for this NPA Mini-Grant. If you are an employee of the City of Richmond, and/or a relative of a commissioner or any appointed official, you may not apply for this grant, as this relationship represents a conflict of interest. If you have received a NPA Mini Grant for two cycles, please consider not applying or partnering with another resident to allow for new residents to apply.
Mini-Grant Award Amounts:
Small: $500 – $2,999 Medium: $3,000 - $4,999 Large: $5,000 - $8,000* * All grant awards above $5,000 require a City of Richmond business license.
Final awards will be disbursed in two parts. The first payment will be paid upon signing the contract for services and the 2nd payment will be paid upon successful completion of the funded project. All projects need to be completed no later than June 30, 2023.
Selection Process and Deadlines:
Selection Process:
All proposals received by the deadlines as established in the guidelines, will be reviewed for completeness and adherence to proposal submission guidelines. Proposals found to be eligible will be reviewed by RACC commissioner and ranked according to an established review process, using the established review criteria. Pre-qualified candidates will then be invited to make a virtual presentation via ZOOM to the RACC. From that group, the RACC will identify a smaller group of semi-finalists, and after a final review, a group of finalists, who will be offered mini grant awards. A total of $65,000 will be awarded to multiple artist projects based on proposal budget requests and the availability of funds. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
Written Proposal Review:
Each eligible proposal receives a total point score and is awarded points from each Commissioner based on the following criteria:
1. Clear Project Description
2. Artist experience with art projects.
3. Community outreach/engagement component
4. Fair and Reasonable Cost (Budget)
Proposals are awarded 1, 3, or 5 points for each criteria:
1 point = minimally qualified for that criteria
3 points = qualified for that criteria
5 points = exceptionally qualified for that criteria
3 Oral Proposal Review:
After the proposals have been evaluated by the Commissioners, and scored based on their written submissions, and total points, semi-finalists may be invited to present their proposals using a virtual presentation via ZOOM unless COVID protocols change per state mandates.
The RACC reserves the right to select proposal candidates to participate in the presentations at its sole discretion, prior to the final grant awards.
Application Deadlines:
June 25, 2022 Information Session via ZOOM at 11:00a.m.
Respond to [email protected] for ZOOM invitation details July 1, 2022 Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m.
July 14, 2022 Richmond Art Commission application review via ZOOM, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
July 28, 2022 Richmond Art Commission interviews via ZOOM, 6:00 – 8:00 pm September 22, 2022 RACC meeting to finalize selection of mini grant awardees September 30, 2022 Announce NPA Mini Grant Award Winners November 2022 All NPA Mini Grant Winners under contract
Grant Duration:
Once grantees have been selected, contracts will be prepared and awarded. The grant projects can begin as early as November 2022 and conclude the project no later than June 30, 2023.
Upon completion of each project, and for your final payment, you will be required to report back to RACC with a written summary and provide photos of the project completion and results of your creativity. Each awarded project will be assigned a Liaison from RACC to assist and support the awardee through each step that will lead to a successful project.
Application Instructions:
To apply, please download and complete the application form as directed.
Submission of Proposals
The proposal must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., local time, on Friday, July 1, 2022.
To download the application and for more information about Richmond Arts and Culture, please visit: www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2064/Arts-Culture
Questions
For questions, please email [email protected].
4 Things to consider:
Please note that if your proposal is selected for a grant award, you will be required to comply with additional requests for required information and/or documents prior to receiving grant funding, including but not limited to:
1. Completed W9, Vendor Supplemental Questionnaire, LLC disclosure, Sanctuary City Compliance form
2. City of Richmond Business License
3. Proof of insurance, as requested
4. Signed contract with a Purchase Order and Contract number
5. Invoice from artist to the City of Richmond requesting payment
6. All awarded candidates will be assigned a Richmond Arts and Culture Commissioner liaison, who will be available to assist and support you through the duration of a successful public art project
7. Any artist who receives awarded funds but is unable to provide evidence of completion of milestones (50% complete and 100% complete) will be asked to return the funds
8. Any artist who receives awarded grant funds, shall credit the City of Richmond, and the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission as a sponsor for their public art project (i.e., mural, social media, etc.)
a. A high-resolution City of Richmond logo and the Richmond Arts and Culture Commission logo will be provided to each awardee to be used on all written and other published media associated with their project
9. Any project installed on City-owned or private property will require a permission letter at the time of application
10. A COVID 19 Plan to meet requirements for in person meetings and activities, including but not limited to social distancing (6 feet between participants), wearing masks and gloves, limited team/volunteer in person meetings, and disinfecting materials and spaces as needed, etc.