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
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March 1,2011
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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
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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.