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HomeMy Public PortalAbout7J AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FOR VISUAL ARTS AND CREATIVE SPACES INNOVATIONAGENDA ITEM 7.J. MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM DATE: March 1, 2011 TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager a By: Veronica Aguas, Avant Garde SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS FOR VISUAL ARTS AND CREATIVE SPACES INNOVATION TO COMPLEMENT THE ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorize the City Manager to submit a Statement of Interest and possibly a grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts through www.grants.gov. BACKGROUND: 1. At the September 17, 2010 Ad Hoc Committee Meeting for the Rosemead Blvd. Safety Enhancements and Beautification Project, staff was directed to seek additional funding opportunities to maximize the improvements that could be made possible as part of the project or subsequent improvement phases. 2. In January, 2011, the National Endowment for the Arts released Grant Program Descriptions for grant programs soliciting applications. The Statement of Interest is the first step in the application process, and is due no later than March 1, 2011. 3. If the City submits a Statement of Interest and it is accepted, by March 25, 2011, the National Endowment for the Arts will invite Temple City to submit an application to compete for an NEA grant. ANALYSIS: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the City Council March 1,2011 Page 2 benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. Art works to improve the lives of America's citizens in many ways. The NEA defines these efforts as Creative Placemaking: "In creative placemaking, partners from public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city, or region around arts and cultural activities. Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired." Through the Our Town program (CFDA No. 45.024), based on the availability of funding, the NEA will provide a limited number of grants, ranging from $25,000 to $250,000, for creative placemaking projects that contribute toward the livability of communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core. Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, are looking to increase their livability, and specifically are seeking to: • Improve their quality of life. • Encourage creative activity. • Create community identity and a sense of place. • Revitalize local economies. A key to the success of creative placemaking involves the arts in partnership with a committed governmental leadership and the philanthropic sector. All Our Town applications must reflect a partnership that will provide leadership for the project. These partnerships must involve at least two organizations: one government entity as the lead applicant, and a nonprofit design or cultural organization. Additional partners are encouraged and may include an appropriate variety of entities such as foundations, arts organizations and artists, nonprofit organizations, design professionals and design centers, educational institutions, developers, business leaders, and community organizations, as well as public and governmental entities. For the purpose of this application, the City of Temple City will be the lead applicant. The application begins with a three -page Statement of Interest submitted by the City through grants.gov no later than March 1, 2011. Following review of these statements, selected organizations will invited by March 25, 2011 to submit formal applications. The City is in the process of registration. The Project proposed for funding will include a project budget of total costs, grant funds requested and nonfederal matching funds at a ratio of at least 1:1; brief detail of major project activities such as artistic elements included in the Rosemead Boulevard Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project to help create a community identity and sense of place; other commissions of art works by local or regional artists in the form of City Council March 1,2011 Page 3 sculptures, art contests, cultural identity visual arts, etc.; and possible operating costs for the partnering organization. The newly -formed Temple City Arts Advisory Committee (comprised of members of the community) have taken the lead on developing criteria for partnership opportunities and collaborative efforts to embrace the NEA's placemaking definition and form worthwhile and meaningful partnerships that will contribute to developing an arts program inclusive and representative of local stakeholders, local arts community, and the Temple City community at large. CONCLUSION: Preparation of the Statement of Interest and collaboration with local organizations for the National Endowment for the Arts grant program will contribute greatly to achieving the Rosemead Boulevard Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project goals of creating community identity, a sense of place, and improvement of the quality of life for the Temple City community, as well as continue to leverage project funds with additional grant fund opportunities. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact at this time. ATTACHMENT(S) A. Grant Program Summary Attachment A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS Grants for Visual Art Work, Public Art or possibly contribute towards artistic elements included as part of the proposed improvements Under Our Town the City will be eligible for funding Art work on gateway monuments or the pedestrian bridge. Landscaping can be funded as long as it relates to the artwork. On Gruen's pre -design master plan, a landscape and community art installation was identified on the corner of Rosemead Boulevard and Las Tunas Dr; this would be a great opportunity to install a sculpture or innovative art piece that could be supplemented with landscaping or creative lighting techniques. This could also be the case for the Southern and Northern Gateways, For the pedestrian bridge, the artistic mesh around the elevator would be eligible. Artistic gating along the pedestrian bridge or facility could also be funded. These projects would be funded for implementation. "Our Town" Program: Grant amount: from $25,000 to $250,000. Project must be complete within one year from the grant award (Dec. 31, 2012) Statement of Interest Deadline: March 1, 2011 Invitation to Apply Issued: March 25, 2011 Formal Application Deadline: April 25, 2011 Applicants are required to submit a Statement of Interest before the March ft Deadline. On March 25th applicants will be notified if they are invited to submit a full application. Applicant Eligibility: Two organizations minimum. These partnerships must involve at least two organizations: one a nonprofit design or cultural organization, and one a government entity. Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities. (Predevelopment, design fees, and community planning are eligible; however, no Arts Endowment or matching funds may be directed to the costs of physical construction or renovation or toward the purchase costs of facilities or land.) Eligible projects: Creative place making projects that contribute toward the livability of communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core. Our Town will invest in creative and innovative projects in which communities, together with their arts and design organizations and artists, are looking to increase their livability, and specifically are seeking to: • Improve their quality of life. • Create community identity and a sense of place. Under the Our Town funding the City would be able to apply under Arts Engagement. This Includes: • The commissioning and/or installation of new art to improve public spaces. This includes the commissioning of permanent and/or temporary site -specific public art such as murals and sculptures, sculpture gardens, and waterfront art.