HISTORY OF RICHMOND’S NEIGHBORHOOD PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
The Neighborhood Public Art (NPA) Program in Richmond began in 1998 and has continued to the present except for one year when it was defunded due to budget cuts, and then during the pandemic as well. The initial funding came from a California Arts Grant, which was matched by the City of Richmond. Grants ranged from 16 to 10 grants per year. The purpose of NPA was to provide mini grants enabling artists to create projects such as murals, musical programs, poetry, theater, and other arts and cultural media. The focus was on emerging artists and was designed to provide them with support and training. It was also a way to contribute to the next generation of artists. The Richmond Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) provided two educational sessions outlining the specifics of the NPA program. These included application samples, budget summaries, tips on how to make a grant presentation, and examples of previous grants awarded. At these sessions, art commissioners worked directly with the applicants to answer questions and provide guidance. Once applications were submitted, applicants were assigned a date and time for their presentation. Each one was scored using a scoring rubric. After all presentations were made, the RACC voted. Applicants were listed numerically according to their score. The top scoring projects received grants. At a separate RACC meeting the annual NPA budget was divided between the highest scoring applicants. One art commissioner was assigned to each project, an arrangement that would continue throughout the duration of the grant cycle. They would meet regularly to go over budget, questions, logistical issues, and progress. The Arts & Culture Manager drafted contracts for each grantee. These were reviewed by the Legal Department, and then sent out to each recipient for signatures. NPA grant recipients were paid up front, which provided the necessary start-up funds for each project. This was essential, as artists typically do not have the funds available to make the initial outlay of funds for art supplies, and the amount of the grant was $9,000 or less. Art commissioners would report on the progress of the NPA grants at each RACC meeting so that everyone was kept current and any issues were addressed in a timely fashion. Once the grant cycle was over, each recipient would schedule a time to come and present their completed project. This was an exciting grand finale, and a source of pride and satisfaction for both the grantees and the art commissioners alike. Photographs of completed NPA projects were displayed in the City Hall lobby so that the greater Richmond community could enjoy the fruits of the NPA program.