For this application in other languages please contact the Office of Arts + Culture Arts Program Manager Lauren Click at clickl@bouldercolorado.gov.
Purpose
To respond to industry-specific, COVID-related workforce impacts through targeted grants to Boulder-based organizations. This grant is a hiring incentive for nonprofits to employ Boulder-area visual, performing, and literary artists to perform, or create new work. This grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The creative industries represent approximately 10% of the workforce in Boulder (WESTAF Creative Vitality Snapshot for the City of Boulder, 2017). This sector was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic; one study by Colorado State University and Colorado Creative Industries estimates that, state-wide, the industry retracted by about one decade of growth in workforce and revenue (2020 Colorado Creative Economy Report, 15-17).
How to Apply
- Review the below information in full.
- Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.
- The application consists of:
- Online application form
- Project summary
- Project budget, including artist fee
- Anti-discrimination statement
- Venue confirmation letter
- Other supporting documents
- Look for an automated email message confirming receipt of your application.
- Artist Hiring Incentive Grants are awarded by the Office of Arts and Culture staff in a lottery-style selection. Staff uses Picker Wheel website to select 6 awardees randomly from the applicants. This is recorded for transparency.
- Grantees are alerted and are announced at the next meeting of the Boulder Arts Commission following the deadline.
- When a grant is awarded, staff from the Office of Arts and Culture will contact the successful applicant to complete any necessary paperwork.
Details
Total Funds: $36,000
Awards: 12 grants at $3,000 each. The costs of hiring a Boulder-based artist for exhibition or performance.
Cycle: Two rounds awarding 6 grants each cycle.
Decision timelines
Round one
Friday, July 1 – Grant opens
Monday, August 1 at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline for applications
August 1 to August 8 – Staff reviews applications for eligibility
Monday, August 8 – Staff uses Picker Wheel website to select 6 awardees randomly from the applicants. This is recorded for transparency. Grantees are alerted and are announced at the next meeting of the Boulder Arts Commission following the deadline.
Round two
Monday, October 3 – Grant opens
Tuesday, November 1 at 11:59 p.m. – Deadline for applications
November 1 to 8 – Staff reviews applications for eligibility
Tuesday, November 8 – Staff uses Picker Wheel website to select 6 awardees randomly from the applicants. This is recorded for transparency. Grantees are alerted and are announced at the next meeting of the Boulder Arts Commission following the deadline.
Watch Round Two selection here.
Eligibility Requirements
- General eligibility. Meets all general eligibility requirements.
- Open to all. Any organization may apply if the General Eligibility Requirements are met, including non-profit organizations, organizations with pending non-profit status, fiscally sponsored organizations, and for-profit organizations with a community focus. These for-profit organizations must be able to demonstrate the following:
- The organization has community-oriented mission and goals, services, and programming.
- The organization is currently active and has conducted programming consistently for at least two years.
- The organization has oversight from a board, advisory committee, or other stewardship group. That group must include community representation.
- Service area and programming. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that a majority of the organization’s programming takes place in the City of Boulder and that the programming meets the criteria described in the Chapter 14-1-2 of the City of Boulder Revised Code. The organization must also demonstrate that they are headquartered in Boulder. For the determination of programming or organizational headquarters location, the term “Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. For additional information on the planning area and Comprehensive Plan visit this link. As a short hand, office staff use addresses with the zip code starting with 803— to determine if it is in the acceptable area.
- Boulder-based artists. The artist hired must have their primary address in Boulder (this can not be a P.O. Box). The term “Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. For additional information on the planning area and Comprehensive Plan visit this link. As a short hand, office staff use addresses with the zip code starting with 803— to determine if the artists’ address is in the acceptable area.
- Award Limitations. One grant per organization or business will be awarded.
- Projects must take place after the grant funding decision and be completed by June 30, 2023.
Review Process
Deliberation and evaluation of applications. Artist Hiring Incentive Grants are selected lottery-style to those who have met all the requirements of application. Staff may take applications to the Arts Commission for review should they have questions. Awards are announced at the next meeting of the Boulder Arts Commission following the deadline.
Apply
Log onto the Boulder Arts Commission online grant portal to preview and apply. If you have not logged on before, make a profile. Applications must be submitted using our online grant applications.
Appeals Process
Written Appeals Process. The deadline for a written appeal is 14 days after funding decisions has been made by the Boulder Arts Commission. The appeals process can be found here.
Reporting
Grant report forms are on the Boulder Arts Commission grants software. Log in with the same user name and password utilized to submit the application. After logging in, go to the ‘Dashboard’, then you’ll see a ‘Follow Up’ section for the grant. On the far right is the ‘Edit’ button. That will take you to complete the final report.
After you submit the report you’ll receive email confirmation and copy of the report via the email that you have included in the report. Contact Lauren Click at clickl@bouldercolorado.gov or 720-564-2355 if you do not receive email confirmation.
More Information
General Eligibility Requirements
General Grant Guidelines & Process
Grant FAQs