HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-09 CAC Regular Meeting Agenda Packet
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
MEETING AGENDA
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Administrative Conference Room, City Hall
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 2449, this meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting and there will be
in-person access to this location.
To participate via Zoom, use the following link: https://palmdesert.zoom.us/j/83338542730 or
call (213) 338-8477, Zoom Meeting ID: 833 3854 2730
•
Written public comment may also be submitted to cityclerk@palmdesert.gov. E-mails
received by 5:00 p.m. one day prior to the meeting will be distributed to the Committee. Any
correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Committee as
soon as practicable and retained for the official record. Emails will not be read aloud except
as an ADA accommodation.
•
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.ROLL CALL
3.NONAGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
This time has been set aside for the public to address the Cultural Arts
Committee on issues that are not on the agenda for up to three minutes.
Speakers may utilize one of the three options listed on the first page of the
agenda. Because the Brown Act does not allow the Cultural Arts Committee to
act on items not listed on the agenda, members may briefly respond or refer the
matter to staff for a report and recommendation at a future meeting.
4.CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and may be
approved by one motion. The public may comment on any items on the Consent
Agenda within the three-minute time limit. Individual items may be removed by
the Cultural Arts Committee for a separate discussion.
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve the consent calendar as presented.
4.a APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Minutes of September 11, 2024.
4.b PROJECT STATUS REPORT FOR THE OCTOBER 9, 2024, CULTURAL
ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING
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RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file Project Status Report for the October 9, 2024, Cultural Arts
Committee meeting.
5.CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
6.ACTION CALENDAR
The public may comment on individual Action Items within the three-minute time
limit. Speakers may utilize one of the three options listed on the first page of the
agenda.
6.a CONSIDER PURCHASE OF RISING INVERSION SCULPTURE 11
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend City Council approve expenditure in the amount of $100,000
for the purchase of Rising Inversion by artist Cristopher Cichocki (cha-
house-key) in anticipation of National Endowment for the Arts Our Town
Grant award.
6.b ARTIST PROPOSAL SELECTION FOR PARK BENCH VINYL ART WRAP 81
RECOMMENDATION:
Select artist proposal for one vinyl art wrap onto a park bench to be placed
at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park
6.c RELOCATE DESERT GATEWAY ROCK SCULPTURE BY HEATH SATOW 161
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve relocation of Desert Gateway Rock Sculpture by Heath Satow and
deaccession of the monument sign.
6.d RELOCATE ROADRUNNER SCULPTURE BY ALLEN ROOT 169
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve relocation of Roadrunner sculpture, by Allen Root, to Desert Willow
Golf Resort.
7.INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
7.a PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON
7.b ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION LIAISON
Cultural Arts Committee Meeting
October 9, 2024
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7.c CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
7.d CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
7.e CITY STAFF
7.f ATTENDANCE REPORT 191
8.ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Meeting will be held on November 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
9.PUBLIC NOTICES
Agenda Related Materials: Pursuant to Government Code §54957.5(b)(2) the
designated office for inspection of records in connection with this meeting is the
Office of the City Clerk, Palm Desert Civic Center, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive,
Palm Desert. Staff reports for all agenda items considered in open session, and
documents provided to a majority of the legislative bodies are available for
public inspection at City Hall and on the City’s website at www.palmdesert.gov.
Americans with Disabilities Act: It is the intention of the City of Palm Desert to
comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an
attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you
will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will
attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the
Office of the City Clerk, (760) 346-0611, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to
inform us of your needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California
that the foregoing agenda for the Cultural Arts Committee was posted on the
City Hall bulletin board and City website not less than 72 hours prior to the
meeting.
/S/ Michelle Nance
Deputy Clerk II
Cultural Arts Committee Meeting
October 9, 2024
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CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
September 11, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Present:
Absent:
Vice Chair Carol Adney, Committee Member Maureen Boren,
Committee Member Lori Flint, Committee Member Thomas Mitze,
Committee Member Pia Rose, Committee Member Ann Simley, Chair
Elizabeth Hauer
Committee Member Kristen Olson-Stone (Alternate)
Staff Present: Management Analyst Erica Powell, Deputy Director of Economic
Development Amy Lawrence, Recording Secretary Yuri Chavez
Liaisons Present: City Council Liaison, Mayor Karina Quintanilla
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Cultural Arts Committee was called to order by Chair Hauer on
September 11, 2024, at 9:02 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall,
located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, California.
2. ROLL CALL
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
4. PRESENTATIONS
4.a CITY OF PALM DESERT POET LAUREATE PRESENTATION
Poet Laureate Lori Davis gave a presentation outlining the role of a poet
laureate, her involvement in various events, and her upcoming engagements.
She also recited poems from previous events and responded to member
inquiries.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
Seconded by: Committee Member Boren
To approve the consent calendar as presented.
Motion Carried (7 to 0)
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Cultural Arts Committee Minutes
September 11, 2024
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5.a APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by: Vice Chair Adney
Seconded by: Committee Member Boren
Approve the Minutes of July 10, 2024.
Motion Carried
6. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER
5.b PROJECT STATUS REPORT FOR THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2024, CULTURAL
ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING
In response to inquiry, Management Analyst Powell advised that additional
details regarding DSRT Surf and Palm Desert Library public art projects would be
provided at a future meeting.
Motion by: Committee Member Rose
Seconded by: Committee Member Flint
Receive and File Project Status Report for the September 11, 2024, Cultural Arts
Committee (CAC) Meeting.
Motion Carried (7 to 0)
7. ACTION CALENDAR
7.a REQUEST FOR DIRECTION ON FREE LITTLE ART GALLERY PROGRAM
Management Analyst Powell provided a staff report and responded to member
inquiries.
Motion by: Committee Member Rose
Seconded by: Committee Member Simley
Direct staff not to move forward with converting Palm Desert’s Little Free
Libraries (LFL) into Free Little Art Galleries (FLAG).
NOES (1): Committee Member Flint
Motion Carried (6 to 1)
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Cultural Arts Committee Minutes
September 11, 2024
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7.b REQUEST TO DISCONTINUE PALM DESERT’S PUBLIC ART
DOCUMENTARY FILM SERIES
Management Analyst Powell and Deputy Director of Economic Development
Lawrence provided a staff report and responded to member inquiries.
Motion by: Committee Member Rose
Seconded by: Committee Member Mitze
Approve the discontinuation of Palm Desert’s Public Art Documentary Film
Series.
NOES (1): Vice Chair Adney
Motion Carried (6 to 1)
7.c CALIFORNIA DESERT PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP
Management Analyst Powell, California Desert Plein Air representative Diane
Moore, and Palm Springs Life representative Frank Jones narrated a PowerPoint
presentation and responded in member inquiries.
Motion by: Committee Member Boren
Seconded by: Committee Member Rose
Recommend City Council approve sponsorship for inaugural California Desert
Plein Air Festival.
Motion Carried (7 to 0)
8. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
8.a PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON
Planning Commissioner Holt provided an update on the Living Desert Zoo and
Gardens’ proposed new event center and lion habitat care center.
8.b ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION LIAISON
None.
8.c CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Committee Member Simley expressed gratitude to staff for work being done.
Committee Member Boren thanked the Committee and staff for their support
during her absence and informed the Committee that The Historical Society of
Idyllwild is hosting a home tour fundraiser on Saturday.
The following request was made for a future agenda item with support of the
committee:
• Planning of Public Art programs and potential need for a subcommittee.
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Cultural Arts Committee Minutes
September 11, 2024
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8.d CITY COUNCIL LIAISON
Mayor Quintanilla acknowledged the Committee members and staff for their
work, expressed happiness at seeing Committee Member Boren again, and
requested personal support for Architectural Review Commission Liaison
Colvard.
8.e CITY STAFF
Management Analyst Powell reminded everyone of the meeting agenda
procedures, emphasizing the importance of public comments, the Consent
Calendar, and Committee Member comments and requests for action.
8.f ATTENDANCE REPORT
Report provided; no action taken on this item.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The Cultural Arts Committee adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Yuri Chavez
Recording Secretary
_________________________
Erica Powell, Management Analyst
Secretary
_________________________
DATE APPROVED BY CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
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Page 1 of 1
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2024
PREPARED BY: Erica Powell, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: PROJECT STATUS REPORT FOR THE OCTOBER 9, 2024, CULTURAL
ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File Project Status Report for the October 9, 2024, Cultural Arts Committee (CAC)
Meeting.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
1. Deinstallation/Installation of Recycle – John Branstetter’s community public art
sculpture is scheduled for removal and re-installation at Burrtec’s Recycle Center on
October 16, 2024.
2. Deinstallation/Installation of The Seeker – Delos Van Earl’s sculpture is scheduled for
removal and re-installation at the west end of El Paseo on October 25, 2024.
3. Deinstallation/Installation of SWIRLY GIRL (Female Superhero) – Karen & Tony
Barone’s sculpture is scheduled for removal and re-installation in the Portola median on
October 29, 2024.
4. Deinstallation of 2023/2024 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition – Sculptures will be
removed on the following dates: October 17, 22, 24, 29, and 31 .
5. Installation of the 2025/2026 El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition – Sculptures will be
installed on the following dates: November 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 18, and 20. New signposts
will be installed during this installation period.
6. Dueling Palms by Kyle Absolom – Contract executed and in final design phase.
7. Desert X 2025 – Requesting information regarding sponsorship and locations.
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Page 1 of 2
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2024
PREPARED BY: Erica Powell, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: CONSIDER PURCHASE OF RISING INVERSION SCULPTURE
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommend City Council approve expenditure in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of
Rising Inversion by artist Cristopher Cichocki (cha-house-key) in anticipation of National
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town Grant award.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
In July 2024, Staff met with artist Cristopher Cichocki to discuss information on his sculpture
Rising Inversion. Staff had planned to present the concept of acquiring the sculpture for inclusion
in the City’s public art program to the Cultural Arts Committee (CAC) at a future meeting when
we were made aware of a matching grant opportunity through the NEA. The Our Town grant
supports community-strengthening projects that integrate arts, culture, and design into local
efforts.
Due to an impending grant deadline, staff worked closely with the artist and the City’s grant
consultant to develop a project proposal and submitted the application before the Augus t 15,
2024, deadline. If awarded, the grant would provide essential funding for the acquisition and
installation of Rising Inversion, a public art sculpture, by Cristopher Cichocki at Ironwood Park,
located at 47800 Chia Dr. in Palm Desert, where there is currently no public art displayed.
Rising Inversion was originally commissioned for the Laguna Art Museum’s 11 th annual Art &
Nature program. The sculpture weighs 3,000-pounds and measures 12 feet tall by 40 feet long.
Its depth ranges from five feet in the center to one foot at its edges, giving it a visually striking,
spherical shape. The artwork is coated with a phosphorescent pigment that absorbs sunlight
during the day, allowing it to glow at dusk, gradually dimming as the evening progresses.
The NEA Our Town grant offers project-based funding that supports initiatives aiming to enhance
the cultural and artistic fabric of communities. To be eligible, projects must involve a cost
share/match of at least 1 to 1, with the grant covering no more than 50% of the total project cost.
Staff is seeking support for the CAC to recommend City Council approval of matching funds to
secure substantial external funding from the NEA, if awarded, to enable the installation of a
unique and engaging public artwork at Ironwood Park.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
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Cultural Arts Committee
City of Palm Desert
Consider Purchase of Rising Inversion
Page 2 of 2
The estimated total cost of the Rising Inversion project, including acquisition and installation, is
$200,000. Should the City be awarded the NEA Our Town grant, staff recommends approval in
the amount of $100,000 from the Public Art budget to meet the required matching funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation of Rising Inversion by Cristopher Cichocki
2. NEA Our Town Guidelines
3. Rising Inversion, Our Town Budget
4. Rising Inversion Proposed Location
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FY2025
Our Town
GRANT PROGRAM DETAILS
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National Endowment for the Arts 1 | Page
Table of Contents
Click a heading below to jump directly to that section
Our Town ................................................................................................................................ 4
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
Our Town Program Description ........................................................................................... 4
Required Partnerships ............................................................................................................ 5
Projects ................................................................................................................................... 5
Competitive Projects ........................................................................................................... 6
Learning Community and Technical Assistance ...................................................................... 8
Compliance Reminders ........................................................................................................... 8
Application Calendar ........................................................................................................... 9
Award Information ............................................................................................................ 11
Grant Amounts ...................................................................................................................... 11
Cost Share and Matching Funds ........................................................................................... 11
Period of Performance .......................................................................................................... 11
Unallowable Activities/Costs ............................................................................................. 12
Eligibility ............................................................................................................................ 15
Eligible Applicant ................................................................................................................... 15
Required Partner ................................................................................................................... 16
Additional Partnerships ........................................................................................................ 17
Application Restrictions ........................................................................................................ 17
Other NEA Funding Opportunities ........................................................................................ 18
Other Eligibility Considerations ............................................................................................ 18
Parent and Related Organizations (Independent Components) ...................................... 18
Fiscal Sponsorship ............................................................................................................. 19
How to Apply ..................................................................................................................... 21
Grant Opportunity Package .................................................................................................. 21
Application Questions and Instructions ................................................................................ 22
Application Review ............................................................................................................ 23
Review Criteria ...................................................................................................................... 23
What Happens to Your Application ...................................................................................... 24
Award Administration ....................................................................................................... 25
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National Endowment for the Arts 2 | Page
Award Notices ....................................................................................................................... 25
Final Reports for Previous NEA Awards ................................................................................ 25
Project Reporting and Evaluation ......................................................................................... 25
Administrative Requirements ............................................................................................... 25
National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act Review 26
Accessibility ........................................................................................................................... 27
Civil Rights ............................................................................................................................. 28
Changes in Projects ............................................................................................................... 28
Crediting Requirement .......................................................................................................... 29
Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards ...................................................... 29
Freedom of Information Act Notice ...................................................................................... 29
General Terms & Conditions ................................................................................................. 29
Legal Requirements .............................................................................................................. 29
Assurance of Compliance ...................................................................................................... 31
Regulations Relating to Lobbying ......................................................................................... 32
Standards for Service ............................................................................................................ 33
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement ................................................................................... 33
Frequently Asked Questions .............................................................................................. 34
Basics ..................................................................................................................................... 34
Review Process ..................................................................................................................... 35
Other NEA Grants .................................................................................................................. 36
Budget and Cost Share/Matching Funds .............................................................................. 36
Required Partnership ............................................................................................................ 37
Local Government Entity ...................................................................................................... 38
Letter of Commitment .......................................................................................................... 39
Other ..................................................................................................................................... 40
Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research ................................................ 42
Contacts ............................................................................................................................ 44
Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help ................................................................................... 44
CFDA No. 45.024
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires 10/31/25
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National Endowment for the Arts 3 | Page
Access for individuals with disabilities:
Individuals who need assistance accessing this document may contact the Office of
Accessibility at accessibility@arts.gov or call 202-682-5532, or the Office of Civil Rights at
civilrights@arts.gov or 202-682-5454.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Program Description
National Endowment for the Arts 4 | Page
Our Town
Introduction
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is proud to support the nation’s arts sector with
grant opportunities so that together we can help everyone live more artful lives.
“Artful lives” is an inclusive concept encompassing everything from the creation, presentation,
and consumption of art, to active arts engagement by all people through making, teaching, and
learning in our everyday lives. The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of
our communities, and to our local economies. The arts are crucial to helping us make sense of
our circumstances from different perspectives.
Arts and cultural activities are supported by a vast ecosystem that includes artists, arts workers,
audiences, learners, communities, foundations, and organizations at the local, state-wide,
regional, and national level. As a federal agency, the NEA holds a unique place within this
ecosystem: we are the only arts funder in the United States—public or private—that provides
access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. Each year, we
award thousands of grants nationwide for catalytic work in the arts, including grants to first-
time applicants.
Our Town Program Description
Arts, culture, and design are essential to building strong communities where all people can
thrive. Through Our Town, the NEA is proud to support creative placemaking projects that
integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long
term. The program demonstrates the ways in which artists, culture bearers, and designers can
help to:
• Elevate or bring new attention to key community assets and issues, voices of residents,
local history, or civic infrastructure;
• Inject new or additional energy, resources, activity, people, or enthusiasm into a place,
community issue, or local economy;
• Envision new possibilities for a community or place—a new future, a way of
approaching a new opportunity, overcoming a challenge, or problem-solving;
• Connect communities, people, places, and economic opportunity through physical
spaces or new partnerships and relationships; or
• Honor traditions shaped by the lived experience of a community’s residents, such as
music, dance, design, crafts, fashion, cuisine, and oral expression.
Our Town projects engage a wide range of local stakeholders in efforts to advance local
economic, physical, and/or social outcomes in communities. Competitive projects are
responsive to unique local conditions, develop meaningful and substantive engagement in
communities, advance artful lives, may disrupt “business as usual”, and lay the groundwork for
long-term systems change. Key indicators of systems changes can include, for example:
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Program Description
National Endowment for the Arts 5 | Page
establishment of new and sustained cross-sector partnerships; shifts in institutional structure,
practices, or policies; replication or scaling of innovative project models; or establishment of
civic practices or professional development training programs for artists, designers, or culture
workers.
The program requires applicants to demonstrate committed leadership from the local level and
evidence of a diverse group of local stakeholders engaged in the proposed project. To be
eligible for funding, applicants must demonstrate a required partnership between a nonprofit
organization and a local governmental or quasi-governmental entity, and the arts, culture, or
design experience necessary to carry out the project. Applications that do not include this
required partnership or experience will be ineligible and will not be reviewed.
We welcome applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time
applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural, urban, and tribal
communities; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets. The Our
Town program funds projects that aim to strengthen communities, and activities may engage
any artistic discipline(s).
Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a minimum nonfederal cost share/match equal to
the grant amount.
Required Partnerships
Our Town requires committed, collaborative partners to ensure expertise can be brought to
bear on the project, community engagement with stakeholders is strong, and local policy
barriers are minimized to sustain the integration of arts, culture, and design into approaches to
strengthen community over the long-term.
All applications are submitted by one organization and require at least one partner
organization. The applicant/partner pair must include 1) a nonprofit organization and 2) a local
governmental or quasi-governmental entity. If neither of those is an arts, design, or cultural
entity, then an additional arts, design, or cultural partner is also required. See the “Eligibility”
section of these guidelines for more details.
Projects
Our Town proposals must demonstrate a specific role for arts, culture, and design as part of
strategies for strengthening local communities, ultimately centering equity and laying the
groundwork for long-term systems change tailored to community needs and opportunities.
Projects should be place specific and rooted within the community’s unique identity.
Our Town projects are intended to be catalytic. Our Town projects are art and design-centric,
community projects intended to benefit that specific community. Projects may support new
activities, or new phases of a previously funded or ongoing project, as well as establish new or
deepen existing cross-sector partnerships. Projects may work to advance a specific local
economic, physical, or social change. Or, a project may aim to address systems change directly
at an emerging or more advanced stage of development. Our Town projects are as much about
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Program Description
National Endowment for the Arts 6 | Page
the community-engagement process as they are about any artistic product (work of art,
performance, design plan, series of workshops, report, etc.). Artistic products should appear as
collaborative strategies in projects to accomplish a wider community goal; in other words, they
should serve as a means to achieve a broader community-identified end.
Projects should focus on community-identified or supported goals and may include
collaborative strategies such as the following:
• Planning activities such as artist/designer-facilitated community planning, cultural
planning, cultural district planning, creative asset mapping, or public art planning, that
incorporate artists and culture bearers as key project leads.
• Design processes including, design of artist spaces, design of cultural facilities, or public
space design.
• Supporting the creative economy through creative business development or
professional artist/designer development.
• Creating opportunities for community building and arts engagement through artist
residencies, arts festivals, community co-creation of art, performances, and public art.
These activities may honor traditions and customs shaped by the lived experiences of a
community’s residents. Proposals should emphasize how these activities will advance
community goals beyond the completion of the artistic product.
For more information, review the list of recently funded Our Town grants on the Applicant
Resources page.
Competitive Projects
Competitive proposals will address elements as stated in the review criteria, through activities
that:
• Clearly identify local characteristics of a community and aim to understand, address,
and/or develop a response to a facet of life in that community;
• Demonstrate a specific role for the arts, culture, and design to strengthen the local
community;
• Pilot new arts, culture, and design activities that are led by a diverse range of local
partners;
• Establish new or deepen existing authentic, cross-sector partnerships that engage area
residents, local governmental or quasi-governmental entities, and community-based
nonprofit partners;
• Advance inclusive community engagement and community-desired outcomes for a
place;
• Lay the groundwork for long-term systems change that sustains the integration of arts,
culture, and design into strategies for strengthening communities over the long term;
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Program Description
National Endowment for the Arts 7 | Page
• Demonstrate alignment with the NEA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility.
For Fiscal Year 2025, we are particularly interested in arts, culture, or design projects that
address health/well-being, transportation/infrastructure, or climate-related challenges within a
community. View past Our Town projects that address these fields on the Our Town Applicant
Resources page.
Proposals requesting support for a stand-alone effort or work (i.e., a piece of public art, a
mural, a festival (recurring or new), a performance (single or series), or an arts-focused youth
camp or class), are not competitive in the Our Town portfolio. Competitive projects may include
any of these arts activities, but also will articulate a process that engages partners across
different sectors and demonstrates how any specific arts, design, or cultural activities aim to
support changes at the local level.
• An Our Town project may seek to make space for diverse community voices. Strategies
might include coordinated efforts with city leadership and nonprofit partners for an arts
festival that brings attention to community narratives or cultural heritage; artist-led
workshops where themes of place and home are explored; or creative asset mapping
that engages a range of area residents and builds understanding of a community’s arts
and cultural infrastructure.
• An Our Town project could focus on examining and addressing a community’s history.
Strategies might include an artist working with community leaders to use arts-based
activities to imagine solutions to community issues; intentional outreach efforts with
local officials, healers, teachers, parents, elders, and culture bearers to inform
community stories and messages about a place; or community-engaged redesign of
public space to support greater cross-cultural activities and spur cultural tourism.
• An Our Town project might offer opportunities for a community to understand a
universal challenge such as mental health, climate change, or transportation access.
Strategies could involve community leaders and members working together to develop,
select, and execute a work of public art that brings awareness to how a challenge shows
up in the specific community; an artist-in-residence program where artists are paired
with scholars and local organizations entities to create arts-based solutions to a
challenge that can be carried out by community members; or a series of artist-led pop-
up activities in unconventional spaces that raise awareness of a challenge across
physically and socially isolated neighborhoods.
• An Our Town project could develop a model for the integration of arts and culture into
other areas of community life. Strategies might include creative business development
that provides greater visibility to a local craft tradition; investments in creative business
and/or professional artist development that bolster a local economy; community, local
business, and area public servants engaged in cultural district planning; artist
mentorship programs that culminate with festivals or performances to bring together
community residents and shore up local arts ecosystems.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Program Description
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Learning Community and Technical Assistance
To ensure Our Town funded projects are as successful as possible in all communities, we offer
additional assistance beyond grant funds. The Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance (CPTA)
program supports grantees in a variety of ways including learning communities, one-on-one
coaching, peer-based learning, webinars, training sessions, toolkit resources, and many other
offerings. As part of the Our Town program, grantees may be required to participate in the
technical assistance program at no cost to the grantee while executing their projects at the
local level.
Compliance Reminders
The NEA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and fostering mutual
respect for the diverse beliefs and values of all individuals and groups. Please note the
following:
• Civil Rights Laws and Policies: As a reminder, in the federal funding context, a focus on
a particular group or demographic may be permissible, but exclusion is not. This extends
to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience engagement. Your
application should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary. Please
review the Assurance of Compliance, as well as NEA Civil Rights guidance on our
website, including this archived webinar: Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil
Rights and Your Grants Application.
• Accessibility: Federal laws and regulations require that all NEA-funded projects be
accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities may be audiences,
visitors, artists, performers, teaching artists, students, staff, and volunteers. Funded
activities should be held in a physically accessible venue, and program access and
effective communication should be provided for participants and audience members
with disabilities. If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to
provide detailed information describing how you will make your project physically and
programmatically accessible to people with disabilities.
• National Historic Preservation Act and/or National Environmental Policy Act Review:
Recommended projects are subject to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
and/or the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance review. See more
information about NHPA/NEPA review in the Award Administration section of these
guidelines.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Application Calendar
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Application Calendar
Important Dates
Guidelines Posted Late April
Part 1: Grants.gov August 1, 2024 by 11:59 pm ET
Part 2: NEA Applicant
Portal Opens August 8, 2024 at 9:00 am ET
Part 2: NEA Applicant
Portal Closes August 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET
Panel Review Fall/Winter 2024
National Council on the
Arts Meeting Late March 2025
Notifications April 2025
Earliest project start date July 1, 2025
Before applying, your organization must create and maintain up-to-date registrations with
Login.gov, the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov, and Grants.gov. Registering
and maintaining accounts with Login.gov, SAM.gov, and Grants.gov is always FREE. See the
“How to Apply” section of these guidelines for more information.
Registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov can take several weeks. Give yourself plenty of time to
get registered. Similarly, submit your application to Grants.gov well in advance of the deadline
in case you encounter any difficulties.
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Exceptions to the deadline will be considered only for registration or renewal issues or technical
malfunctions that are the result of failures on the part of SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or NEA systems,
as determined by the NEA. To be considered for this exception, you must provide
documentation of a SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or NEA systems failure that prevented your
submission by the deadline.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Application Calendar
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In the event of a major emergency (e.g., a hurricane or a SAM, Grants.gov, or NEA technological
failure), the NEA Chair may adjust application deadlines for affected applicants. If a deadline is
extended for any reason, an announcement will be posted on our website.
Please do not seek information on the status of your application before the notifications date
that is listed above.
If you have questions, contact us at OT@arts.gov.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Award Information
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Award Information
All funded projects must adhere to federal rules and regulations. Before applying, be sure to
familiarize yourself with the requirements of managing a federal grant by reviewing the Award
Administration section, as well as the General Terms and Conditions and reporting
requirements found in Manage Your Award.
Grant Amounts
Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000.
We will award very few grants at or above the $100,000 level; these will be only for projects of
significant scale and impact. Requests below the minimum award amount of $25,000 will be
deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.
Cost Share and Matching Funds
Our grants cannot exceed 50% of the total cost of the project. All grants require a nonfederal
cost share/match of at least 1 to 1. For example, if you are requesting the lowest grant amount
of $25,000, you must show a minimum of $25,000 in cost share/matching funds, and your total
project expenses must be at least $50,000. These cost share/matching funds may be all cash or
a combination of cash and in-kind contributions. You may include in your Project Budget cost
share/matching funds that are proposed but not yet committed at the time of the application
deadline.
We reserve the right to limit our support of a project to a particular phase(s) or cost(s). All costs
included in your Project Budget must be incurred during your period of performance. Costs
associated with other federal funds, whether direct or indirect (e.g., flow down through a state
arts agency or pandemic relief funds), cannot be included in your Project Budget. Costs
incurred before the earliest project start date of July 1, 2025, cannot be included in your
budget or cost share/match.
Period of Performance
Our support of a project may start on or after July 1, 2025.
Grants awarded under these guidelines generally may cover a period of performance of up to
two years. The two-year period is intended to allow an applicant sufficient time to plan,
execute, and close out its project, not to repeat a one-year project for a second year. Scale
your project accordingly.
Any planning costs that are included as part of the project budget must be incurred during your
established period of performance. No pre-award costs are allowable in the Project Budget.
Project costs that are incurred before July 1, 2025, will be removed from the Project Budget.
A grantee may not receive more than one NEA grant for the same activities during the same
period of performance.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Unallowable Activities/Costs
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Unallowable Activities/Costs
The activities and costs listed below are not allowable, and should not be included as part of
your project or budget. This includes activities/costs covered by cost share/matching funds.
Unallowable Activities
• General operating support
• Support for a full season of programming
• Direct grants to individuals
• Direct grants to individual elementary or secondary schools (charter, private, or public),
local education agencies, or school districts (Local education agencies, individual
schools, and/or school districts may participate as ADDITIONAL PARTNERS in projects for
which another eligible organization applies.)
• Projects that replace arts instruction provided by an arts specialist
• Generally, courses/coursework in degree-granting institutions
• Literary publishing that does not focus on contemporary literature and/or writers
• Generally, publication of books, exhibition of works, or other projects by the applicant
organization's board members, faculty, or trustees
• Generally, exhibitions of, and other projects that primarily involve, single, individually-
owned, private collections
• Projects for which no curatorial, juried, or editorial judgment has been applied to the
selection of artists or art works
• Social activities such as receptions, parties, galas, community dinners, picnics, and
potlucks
• Costs of entertainment, including amusement, diversion, and social activities and any
associated costs are unallowable; generally, this includes activities at venues such as
bars, wineries, and breweries where the consumption of alcohol/social activity is the
primary purpose of the venue
• Awards to individuals or organizations to honor or recognize achievement
• Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including arts markets, concessions,
food, T-shirts, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual
sales/shops
• Lobbying, including activities intended to influence the outcome of elections or
influence government officials regarding pending legislation, either directly or through
specific lobbying appeals to the public
• Voter registration drives and related activities
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Unallowable Activities/Costs
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• Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities (Design fees, preparing space for an
exhibit, installation or de-installation of art, and community planning are allowable.
However, no NEA or cost share/matching funds may be directed to the costs of physical
construction or renovation or toward the purchase costs of facilities or land.)
• Subgranting or regranting
Certain Unallowable Costs
• Cash reserves and endowments
• Costs for the creation of new organizations
• Costs to bring a project into compliance with federal grant requirements. This includes
environmental or historical assessments or reviews and the hiring of individuals to write
assessments or reviews or to otherwise comply with the National Environmental Policy
Act and/or the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Expenditures related to compensation to foreign nationals and/or travel to or from
foreign countries when those expenditures are not in compliance with regulations
issued by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. For further
information, see https://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational-structure/offices/
pages/office-of-foreign-assets-control.aspx or contact our Office of Grants Management
at grants@arts.gov.
• Project costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding
received either directly from a federal agency (e.g., National Endowment for the
Humanities, Housing and Urban Development, National Science Foundation, or an entity
that receives federal appropriations such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or
Amtrak); or indirectly from a pass-through organization such as a state arts agency,
regional arts organization, or a grant made to another entity.
• Alcoholic beverages
• Purchase and/or use of gift cards and gift certificates to support project costs
• Gifts and prizes, including cash prizes as well as other items (e.g., electronic devices, gift
certificates) with monetary value
• Stipends/fees to individuals who are incarcerated
• Contributions and donations to other entities, including donation drives
• General miscellaneous or contingency costs
• Fines and penalties, bad debt costs, deficit reduction
• Marketing expenses that are not directly related to the project
• Audit costs that are not directly related to a single audit (formerly known as an A-133
audit)
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Unallowable Activities/Costs
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• Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with
the applicant organization
• The purchase of vehicles
• Visa costs paid to the U.S. government
• Costs incurred before the beginning or after the completion of the official period of
performance
All applicants should carefully review the Assurance of Compliance and Appendix A of our
General Terms and Conditions (GTC) which detail other requirements that govern awards.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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Eligibility
All applications are submitted by one organization (the eligible applicant) and require one
partner organization (the required partner). The applicant-partner pair must include 1) a
nonprofit organization and 2) a local governmental or quasi-governmental entity. The pair will
provide leadership for the project. Additional partners across all sectors are encouraged.
As a program of the NEA, Our Town seeks to support projects that clearly center arts, culture,
and design. As such, if neither the nonprofit organization nor the local governmental entity
have the requisite arts, culture, or design expertise necessary to carry out the project, a third
partner with that arts, culture, or design expertise is required. If this applies to your
application, a letter of commitment from this third partner is required, reflecting the partner’s
familiarity with and role in the project. Applications requiring this additional partner that are
submitted without documented, committed involvement by an arts, culture, or design partner
will be deemed ineligible and will not be reviewed.
Eligible Applicant
The applicant organization must meet the eligibility requirements, and will submit the
application and assume full responsibility for the grant.
ELIGIBLE
The following are eligible to apply:
• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organizations
• Nonprofit institutions of higher education
• Units of local government
• Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes
NOT ELIGIBLE
The following are not eligible to apply:
• Individuals
• Applications through a fiscal sponsor/agent
• State and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs)
• Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs)
To be eligible, the applicant organization must:
• Meet the NEA’s "Legal Requirements" including nonprofit, tax-exempt status at the time
of application. (All organizations must apply directly on their own behalf. Applications
through a fiscal sponsor/agent are not allowed. See more information on fiscal
sponsors/agents.)
• Have completed a three-year history of programming prior to the application deadline.
o Programming must have started in or before August 2021.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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o For the purpose of defining eligibility, "three-year history" refers to when an
organization began its programming, and not when it incorporated or received
nonprofit, tax-exempt status.
o You will be asked to provide examples of previous programming in the
application.
o Programming is not required to have taken place during consecutive years.
o Organizations that previously operated as a program of another institution may
include arts programming it carried out while part of that institution for its
three-year history.
• Be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov), have a
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and maintain an active SAM registration until the
application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the
award. Partner organizations are not required to have a SAM registration or a UEI.
Required Partner
Note that some types of organizations can only serve as a required partner and not as the
eligible applicant:
If the eligible applicant is a… They must have a…
Nonprofit organization:
• 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization
• Nonprofit institution of
higher education
Local government partner:
• A unit of local government
• A quasi-government entity
• Federally recognized tribal
communities or tribes
If the eligible applicant is a… They must have a…
Local government entity:
• Units of local government
• Federally recognized tribal
communities or tribes
Nonprofit partner:
• A 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization
• Nonprofit institution of
higher education
Definitions
Nonprofit organization: tax-exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations
Nonprofit institution of higher education: public (state and county/community level) and
private universities and colleges with nonprofit status, including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Predominately Black Institutions, and Hispanic
Serving Institutions
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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Units of local government: departments of parish, town, village, or county governments, local
arts agencies, or tribal communities or tribes
• For U.S. Territories, if no local government exists, the territory government can serve as
the local government.
• Local education agencies or school districts are not eligible to serve as required local
government or quasi-government applicants or required partners for Our Town
applications.
o Individual schools, school districts, and local education agencies are welcome as
additional partners in an Our Town application, but cannot fulfill the local
government entity role in the required partnership.
o If you seek to do work primarily with school age youth, schools, school districts,
and/or local education agencies, an application through the NEA’s Grants for
Arts Projects is likely a better fit for your project. Please see the Grants for Arts
Projects guidelines for more information.
o If you have additional questions related to a project with K-12 schools and the
Our Town program, please contact OT@arts.gov prior to submitting your
application.
Quasi-government entity: includes any entity that has been officially designated by a municipal
or tribal government to carry out a function of that government on its behalf. This may include
regional governments, special districts, housing authorities, public utility commissions, city
council or alderman offices, rural or regional planning organizations, or business improvement
districts, among other entities.
• If a quasi-government entity has 501(c)(3) status, it may function as a nonprofit
applicant organization and would need a local government partner and may also need
an arts, design, or cultural partner.
• Note that if a quasi-government entity is included in your application as the local
government required partner, you must upload documentation with your application
that establishes the authorized role this entity has to operate on behalf of the local
government. Contact OT@arts.gov with any questions regarding the required
documentation to upload with your application.
Additional Partnerships
Additional partners are strongly encouraged. Additional partners can come from across all
sectors (private, nonprofit, public) and from any field (arts, non-arts), and can include
organizations such as community foundations, local schools, or other partners that can help to
advance the project’s goals.
Application Restrictions
Late, ineligible, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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An organization may serve as the eligible applicant on two (2) applications to Our Town.
A partnering organization may serve as a partner on as many applications as they like.
If more than one application is submitted from an eligible applicant or within the same
geographic area, the capacity of the applicant organization or geographic area to carry out and
sustain multiple Our Town projects will be considered in the review of the applications.
Other NEA Funding Opportunities
You may apply to other NEA Fiscal Year 2025 funding opportunities, including Grants for Arts
Projects or Challenge America, as well as Research Grants in the Arts in addition to Our Town. If
you submit applications to other opportunities, each request must be for a distinctly different
project, or a distinctly different phase of a project.
If you have other NEA awards or pending applications with activities and/or periods of
performance that will overlap with you proposed Our Town project, contact Our Town staff
(OT@arts.gov) for guidance to ensure that the projects are different or for a distinctly different
phase of a project.
If you have applied to the NEA in the past and were not recommended for funding, you may
apply again to any funding opportunity, including Our Town.
Other Eligibility Considerations
Parent and Related Organizations (Independent Components)
Exceptions to the application limit are made only for parent organizations that have separately
identifiable and independent components (e.g., a university campus that has a presenting
organization and a radio station); this includes city or county governments.
A parent organization that comprises separately identifiable and independent components
(e.g., a university campus that has a presenting organization and a radio station) may submit an
application for each such component. In addition, a parent organization also may submit one
application on its own behalf for a project that is different from any project submitted in an
application by its independent component(s).
The application for the independent component must be for a project of the component. For
example, if a university campus submits an application for its art museum as an independent
component, the project must be for the art museum. The art museum cannot be used as a
passthrough entity for projects from other areas of the university.
Independent Component Eligibility
An eligible independent component must be a unit that is both programmatically and
administratively distinct from the parent organization. To qualify as an eligible independent
component, it should be equivalent to a stand-alone institution. The independent status is
demonstrated by the component’s:
• Unique mission, separate and distinct from the parent entity;
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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• Separate, dedicated staff, with duties specific to the mission of the component;
• Independent board, mostly consisting of members not associated with the parent
entity. The board should generally function with substantial oversight and management
of the component;
• Separate budget, maintained by the component; and
• Three-year history of arts programming undertaken by the component.
A parent organization should consult with our staff to verify the eligibility of its component
before preparing an application. If an application is submitted by a parent organization on
behalf of a component that is determined by the NEA not to be independent and separate from
the parent organization, then that application may be allowed as the parent’s single
application.
The following do not qualify as eligible independent components:
• Academic departments of colleges and universities
• Programs, initiatives, and projects of organizations
• Collaboratives or consortiums of multiple organizations
For example:
• An art museum on a university campus serves the general public and does not grant
degrees. The museum board, not the university trustees, manages the museum's
budget, staff, and programming. In this example, the art museum essentially is a stand-
alone organization and qualifies as an independent component.
• A symphony association sponsors a youth orchestra in addition to its professional
orchestra. Some symphony musicians serve as faculty for the youth orchestra; there is
some overlap of membership between the symphony trustees and the youth orchestra's
advisory board; and the executive director for the symphony association serves as CEO
for both the professional and youth orchestras. In this case, while the youth orchestra
may be an important program of the symphony association, it is not equivalent to a
separate institution and therefore does not qualify as an independent component.
Additionally, the parent organization must meet the eligibility requirements for all applicants. A
related organization that performs grant administration duties for a parent organization (e.g., a
college foundation that administers grants awarded to a college and its components) may
submit applications for components and the parent organization in lieu of such applications
being submitted by the parent. The related organization must meet the eligibility requirements
for all applicants.
Fiscal Sponsorship
We do not fund unincorporated or for-profit entities or individuals that engage nonprofit, tax-
exempt 501(c)(3) U.S. organizations; units of state or local government; or federally recognized
tribal communities or tribes to apply for grants on their behalf. An ineligible organization (i.e.,
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Eligibility
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one without its own nonprofit status) may not use a fiscal sponsor/agent for the purpose of
submitting an application.
If your organization does not have its own nonprofit status, you may still participate in a project
submitted by another organization that meets our eligibility criteria, but you may not apply on
your own.
What is a fiscal sponsor/agent?
A fiscal sponsor/agent is an entity that oversees the fiscal activities of another organization,
company, or group of independent artists or projects. These activities may include
bookkeeping, filing of W2s or 1099s, daily banking, or grant preparation.
The key to avoiding the appearance of fiscal sponsorship is the involvement of your
organization. This might include:
• Producing or co-producing.
• Partnering on creative direction or development.
• Organizing workshops, public showings, or distribution of work.
• Providing social networking strategies or web implementation.
You can provide evidence of your organization's involvement in your application, on your
website, through announcements and evaluations of public events, and with archival
documentation. We may review your website and other materials in addition to your
application to determine the eligibility of the project.
While an organization that serves as a fiscal sponsor/agent may not apply for projects on behalf
of the entities or individuals that it may sponsor as part of its mission and programs, it may
apply for its own programs and productions. In this case, the organization must clearly
demonstrate that it is applying only for its own programmatic activities.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines How to Apply
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How to Apply
Submitting an application is a multi-step process:
•Register with Login.gov, System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov, and
Grants.gov or renew/verify these registrations.
•Part 1: Submit to Grants.gov the “Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short
Organization Form.” This is a brief form that will collect very basic information about
your organization. A direct link to the Grants.gov Opportunity Package is included
further down on this page.
•Part 2: Complete the “Grant Application Form (GAF)” and upload items through the
NEA’s Applicant Portal. This web form is where you will enter the majority of your
application material (e.g., project description, timelines, budget information).
Login.gov, SAM, Grants.gov (Part 1), and the NEA’s Applicant Portal (Part 2) are separate online
systems.
Instructions for Part 1 and Part 2, including application deadlines and a list of all the application
questions, can be found at the bottom of this page.
If you have questions, contact us at OT@arts.gov.
Grant Opportunity Package
Access the Grant Opportunity Package for Part 1 with the Application for Federal Domestic
Assistance/Short Organization Form on Grants.gov by clicking on the link below:
CLICK HERE
Funding Opportunity Number: 2024NEA01OT
1.Clicking the link above will take you directly to the pre-populated application package in
Grants.gov.
2.The Grants.gov “View Grant Opportunity” screen will open, click the red “Apply” button.
3.You will be prompted to enter your Grants.gov Username and Password. In order to
create the Workspace application, you must be logged into Grants.gov with a participant
role of either Workspace Manager or Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
More information on participant roles can be found here.
4.After logging in, to create a Workspace application:
a.Fill in the Application Filing Name field, then
b.Click the Create Workspace button.
5.After creating a Workspace, you will be directed to the Manage Workspace page, where
you can begin working on the application.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines How to Apply
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Learn more about using a Grants.gov Workspace.
Application Questions and Instructions
For instructions on completing Part 1 and Part 2, download the application instructions.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Application Review
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Application Review
Review Criteria
Applications are reviewed on the basis of the following criteria:
Artistic Excellence
The artistic excellence of the project, which includes the following:
• Quality of the artists, culture bearers, design professionals, organizations, works of art,
activities, artistic process, and/or services that the project will involve; and their
relevance to the community in which the project takes place.
• Potential of the project to center artists, culture bearers, and designers in the proposed
project activities, and ultimately to center them in long-term systems change work.
Artistic Merit
The artistic merit of the project, which includes the following:
• Potential of the project activities to advance local economic, physical, or social
outcomes desired by the community.
• Evidence of deep and authentic community engagement in planning for and
participating in the project.
• Potential for the project activities to support artful lives or to ultimately lay the
groundwork for systems changes that sustain the integration of arts, culture, and design
into strategies for strengthening communities over the long term. Indicators of systems
change can include, for example: establishment of new and sustained cross-sector
partnerships; shifts in institutional structure, practices or policies; replication or scaling
of innovative project models; or establishment of training programs.
• Strength and depth of the proposed partnership between the required local leadership
and nonprofit partners, as well as engagement across other sectors.
• Potential to serve and/or reach individuals or communities whose opportunities to
experience the arts are limited by factors such as geography, race or ethnicity,
economics, or disability, as applicable.
• Appropriateness of the proposed performance measurements and their ability to
demonstrate that project activities are advancing local physical, economic, or social
outcomes, including, as appropriate, plans for documentation and evaluation of the
overall project results and plans to engage project participants in these efforts.
• Ability to carry out the project based on factors such as the appropriateness of the
budget, the quality and clarity of the project goals and design, the resources involved,
and the qualifications of the project’s personnel.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Application Review
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NOTE: We fund arts, culture, and design projects, and make grants only for specific, definable
activities. Your application may be rejected if it does not sufficiently describe the project
activities.
If more than one application is submitted from a single applicant, local government, or within
the same geographic area, the capacity of the applicant organization, local government, or
geographic area to carry out and sustain multiple Our Town projects will be considered in the
review of applications.
What Happens to Your Application
All applications are reviewed according to the review criteria by an advisory panel comprised of
qualified peer experts, including at least one knowledgeable layperson, representing a range of
multidisciplinary art, design, and economic and community development fields. Panel
recommendations are forwarded to the National Council on the Arts, which then makes
recommendations to the Chair of the NEA. The Chair reviews the Council’s recommendations
and makes the final decision on all grant awards. Pending the availability of funding, it is
anticipated that applicants will be notified of award or rejection in April 2025.
Risk Assessment: All recommended applications undergo a review to evaluate risk posed by the
applicant prior to making a federal award. This may include past performance on grants,
meeting reporting deadlines, compliance with terms and conditions, audit findings, and other
risk or capacity assessments, as needed.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Award Administration
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Award Administration
Award Notices
Grant decisions for the Our Town category are expected to be announced in April 2025.
Note that the announcement is likely to take the form of a preliminary congratulatory note with
a tentative funding amount and a request for project/budget revisions, or a rejection
notification. The official grant award notification (i.e., a notice of action authorized by the NEA
Office of Grants Management) is the only legal and valid confirmation of award. Receipt of your
official award notification can take several months depending on a number of factors such as
reviewing changes to the project budget, the number of awards to be processed, whether the
agency has its appropriation from Congress, etc.
Final Reports for Previous NEA Awards
Before a grant is awarded, organizations must have submitted acceptable Final Report packages
by the due date(s) for all NEA grant(s) previously received.
Project Reporting and Evaluation
We ask all applicants to define what they would like to achieve, how they will evaluate the
degree to which it is achieved, and, upon completion of the project, what they have learned
from their experiences. Such feedback need not entail large-scale or expensive evaluation
efforts. You should do what is feasible and appropriate for your organization and project.
When a grant is completed, you must submit a final report and answer questions detailing your
accomplishments, who benefited, and the resulting impact of your project as well as list the
involvement of key partners, funders, and artists. We recognize that some projects involve risk,
and we want to hear about both your successes and failures. Failures can provide valuable
learning experiences, and reporting them will have no effect on your ability to receive NEA
funds in the future.
Before applying, review the Our Town reporting requirements for the NEA’s Final Descriptive
Reports. In your application, you will identify the strategies you expect to employ to strengthen
your community through the arts. Given the nature of Our Town projects, benefits are likely to
emerge over time and may not be fully measurable during the period of a grant. You will need
to indicate areas in which your project made progress toward achieving systems change as
appropriate to the project.
Administrative Requirements
As part of this program, Our Town grantees may be required to participate in the technical
assistance program at no cost to the grantee while executing their projects at the local level.
The Creative Placemaking Technical Assistance (CPTA) program supports grantees in a variety of
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ways including learning communities, one-on-one coaching, peer-based learning, webinars,
training sessions, toolkit resources, and many other offerings.
Beyond the reporting requirements for all grantees, selected Our Town grantees may be asked
to assist in the collection of additional information that can help the NEA determine the degree
to which agency objectives were achieved. For example, Our Town grantees may be asked to
participate in surveys or interviews, and/or may be asked to assist in publicizing and promoting
these data collection efforts. You may be contacted to provide evidence of project
accomplishments including, but not limited to, work samples, community action plans, cultural
asset studies, programs, reviews, relevant news clippings, and playbills. Remember that you are
required to maintain project documentation, including documentation of project expenditures,
for three years following submission of your final report.
We may publish grantees’ reports and products on our website. Note that all federal
grantmaking agencies retain a royalty-free right to use all or a portion of grantees’ reports and
products for federal purposes.
National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental
Policy Act Review
All NEA projects are subject to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and/or the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the NEA will conduct a review of your project to
ensure that it is in compliance with NHPA/NEPA.
Some of the common project types requiring NHPA/NEPA review are:
• A project involving or occurring at or near a place that is 50 years old and therefore
potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. This includes
a property, such as a historic house museum or a historic plaza; or a historic district with
multiple historic properties. Historic places may also be structures, such as bridges, or
objects, such as sculptures, or a landscape that is historically significant.
• The commissioning and installation of temporary or permanent outdoor installations,
including sculptures, statuary, banners, mixed media, painting, or murals.
• An outdoor arts festival.
• Permanent wayfinding signs and other similar artistic directional installations.
• Maintenance or rehabilitation of landscapes and gardens.
• In-kind replacement or repairs at a facility that is older than 50 years of age.
• Design services and planning for projects that may affect historic properties.
This review and approval process takes time to complete and may delay your project's start
date, and our ability to make a grant award; and/or our ability to release grant funds. If you are
recommended for an award which may have historic preservation or environmental concerns
(NHPA/NEPA), you will be notified and asked to provide additional information.
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To expedite review, include thorough and complete information for all project activities and
locations. The NEA cannot release grant funds until the NHPA/NEPA review is complete. If
asked for additional information during a review, you must provide the timeline for
determining grant activities and locations, if they are not yet finalized.
For some projects, such as permanent art installations or advanced design work (more
advanced than early design development) affecting historic properties, you may be instructed
to continue the review with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
See here to learn more about the questions you must answer for the review of a project subject
to the National Historic Preservation Act and/or the National Environmental Policy Act.
Accessibility
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and NEA’s implementing regulation require that
all NEA-funded projects be accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities
may be audiences, visitors, artists, performers, teaching artists, students, staff, and volunteers.
Funded activities must be held in a physically-accessible venue, and program access and
effective communication must be provided for participants and audience members with
disabilities.
If your project is recommended for funding, you will be asked to provide detailed information
describing how you will make your project physically and programmatically accessible to people
with disabilities:
• Buildings and facilities (including projects held in historic facilities) must be physically
accessible. The following are some examples, but are not an exhaustive list:
o Ground-level/no-step entry, ramped access, and/or elevators to project facilities
and outdoor spaces;
o Wheelchair-accessible box office, stage/backstage, meeting, and dressing rooms;
o Wheelchair-accessible restrooms and water fountains;
o Directional signage for accessible entrances, restrooms, and other facilities; and
o Accessible workspaces for employees.
• The programmatic activities must be accessible either as part of the funded activity or
upon request, where relevant. The following are some examples, but they are not an
exhaustive list:
o Accommodations for performances, tours, virtually streamed events,
conferences, and lectures, such as sign language interpretation, real-time
captioning, and audio description;
o Print materials in alternative formats, such as large-print
brochures/labels/programs, braille, and electronic/digital formats;
o Accessible and screen reader-compatible electronic materials, documents,
websites, and virtual platforms, and inclusion of alternative text for images;
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o Closed/open captioning and audio/visual description for video, film, television
broadcasts, and virtual events;
o Auxiliary aids and devices, such as assistive listening devices.
See the Nondiscrimination Statutes in our "Assurance of Compliance" for additional
information.
For technical assistance on how to make your project accessible, contact the Accessibility Office
at accessibility@arts.gov, 202-682-5532; or the Civil Rights Office at civilrights@arts.gov, 202-
682-5454; or see our online Accessibility Resources.
Civil Rights
Projects may focus on reaching a particular group or demographic (such as gender, disability,
economic status, race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency); however,
they may not be exclusionary under federal civil rights laws and policies prohibiting
discrimination. This extends to hiring practices, artist selection processes, and audience
engagement. Your application should make it clear that project activities are not exclusionary.
Please review the Assurance of Compliance, as well as NEA Civil Rights guidance on our website,
including this archived webinar: Things to Know Before You Apply: Federal Civil Rights and Your
Grants Application.
The NEA’s Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov investigates complaints
about compliance with accessibility standards as well as other federal civil rights statutes. For
further information and copies of the nondiscrimination regulations identified above, contact
the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov.
For inquiries about limited English proficiency, go to http://www.lep.gov, the FOIA Reading
Room, or contact the Office of Civil Rights at 202-682-5454 or civilrights@arts.gov.
Changes in Projects
Applicants must notify the NEA immediately of any significant changes in their project that
occur after submitting an application. If the project or the organization's capacity to carry out
the project changes significantly before an award is made, the NEA may revise or withdraw the
funding recommendation.
Grantees are expected to carry out a project that is consistent with the proposal that was
approved for funding by the NEA. If changes to the award project are required, the grantee
must submit a request with justification for the change(s) through a proper REACH account for
the award for review by the Office of Grants Management. Approval is not guaranteed.
Detailed information is included in the NEA’s General Terms & Conditions for Grants to
Organizations. Only the NEA Office of Grants Management is authorized to amend or change
an NEA award. Written and/or verbal approval of proposed project changes from any other
NEA office does not constitute an approved change to an award.
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Crediting Requirement
Grantees must clearly acknowledge NEA support of the grant project in their programs and
related promotional material, including publications and websites. Additional acknowledgment
requirements may be provided later. The NEA does not fund general operating support, so you
must ensure that the NEA is only credited with funding the grant project and not your entire
organization or its operations.
Implementation of Title 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards
This guidance from the federal government's Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
establishes clarity and consistency of the pre- and post-award requirements applicable to
federal grantees. Under the authority listed above, the NEA adopts the OMB Guidance in 2 CFR
part 200 under §3255.1 Adoption of 2 CFR Part 200. This part gives regulatory effect to the
OMB guidance and supplements the guidance as needed for the NEA.
Freedom of Information Act Notice
Disclosure Notice: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) may share a copy of awarded
grant applications and/or related materials submitted to the NEA by the applicants, with the
public or other third parties, where required or permitted by law.
General Terms & Conditions
Federal government-wide and agency-specific requirements that relate to grants awarded by
the NEA are highlighted in our General Terms & Conditions (GTC). The GTC incorporates the
adoption of 2 CFR Part 200 by reference. The document also explicitly identifies where the NEA
has selected options offered in the regulation, such as budget waivers and requirements for use
of program income. It also includes requirements for cost share/matching funds, reporting
requirements, amendment processes, and termination actions. Grantees must review,
understand, and comply with these requirements. Failure to comply with the GTCs for an
award may result in termination of a grant award, and/or returning funds to the NEA, among
other consequences.
Legal Requirements
NOTE: This list highlights some of the significant legal requirements that may apply to an
applicant or grantee, however, it is not exhaustive. More information regarding these and
other legal requirements may be found at Appendix A of our General Terms & Conditions
which sets forth the National Policy and Other Legal Requirements, Statutes, and Regulations
that Govern Your Award. There may be other applicable legal requirements that are not
listed here.
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1. By law, the National Endowment for the Arts may support only those organizations that:
• Are tax-exempt. Organizations qualifying for this status must meet the following
criteria:
1. No part of net earnings may benefit a private stockholder or individual.
2. Donations to the organization must be allowable as a charitable contribution under
Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
For further information, go to the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) website.
Organizations who have had their IRS status revoked are not eligible for NEA support. It
is your responsibility to ensure that your status is current at the time of the application
and throughout the life of your award.
• Compensate all professional performers and related or supporting professional
personnel on National Endowment for the Arts-supported projects at no less than the
prevailing minimum compensation. (This requirement is in accordance with regulations
that have been issued by the Secretary of Labor in 29 CFR Part 505. This part does not
provide information on specific compensation levels.)
• Ensure that no part of any National Endowment for the Arts-supported project will be
performed or engaged in under working conditions which are unsanitary or hazardous
or dangerous to the health and safety of the employees involved.
2. Some legal requirements apply to every applicant, for example:
• Compliance with the federal requirements that are outlined in the Assurance of
Compliance below.
• Debarment and Suspension procedures. The applicant must comply with requirements
set forth in Subpart C of 2 CFR 180, as adopted by the National Endowment for the Arts
in 2 CFR Part 3254. Failure to comply may result in the debarment or suspension of the
grantee and the National Endowment for the Arts suspending, terminating and/or
recovering funds. More information on Debarment and Suspension procedures can be
found in the General Terms and Conditions, under the “Other National Policies”
heading.
• Federal Debt Status (OMB Circular A-129). Processing of applications will be suspended
when applicants are delinquent on federal tax or non-tax debts, including judgment
liens against property for a debt to the federal government. An organization's debt
status is displayed in the System for Award Management (SAM). New awards will not be
made if an applicant is still in debt status as of September 1 of the year in which you
apply.
• Labor Standards (29 CFR Part 505). If a grant is awarded, the grantee must comply with
the standards set out in Labor Standards on Projects or Productions Assisted by Grants
from the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities.
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• The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (41 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. and 2 CFR Part 3256). The
grantee is required to publish a statement regarding its drug-free workplace program as
well as to comply with other requirements.
3. Some legal requirements apply depending upon what the grant is funding. For example:
• If your project activities have the potential to impact any structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, adjacent to a structure that is eligible for or
on the National Register of Historic Places, or located in an historic district, you will be
asked to provide additional information about your project or take additional action so
that the agency can review and comply with the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA). NHPA also applies to any planning activities that may affect historic properties
or districts. The additional agency review must be completed prior to any agency funds
being released.
• If your project activities have the potential to impact the environment or
environmentally sensitive resources, you will be required to provide information in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The additional agency
review must be completed prior to any agency funds being released.
• If your contract is over $2,000 and involves the construction, alteration, or repair of
public buildings or public works, it must contain a clause setting forth the minimum
wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics employed under the contract in accordance
with The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA). More information on DBRA can be found
in the General Terms and Conditions, under the “Other National Policies” heading.
4. Some legal requirements apply depending upon who the Applicant is, for example:
• The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. 3001 et
seq.) applies to any organization that controls or possesses Native American cultural
items, such as human remains or associated funerary objects and receives Federal
funding, even for a purpose unrelated to the Act (25 USC 3001 et seq.).
Assurance of Compliance
By signing and submitting its application form on Grants.gov, the applicant certifies that it is
in compliance with the statutes outlined below and all related National Endowment for the
Arts regulations and will maintain records and submit the reports that are necessary to
determine compliance.
We may conduct a review of your organization to ensure that the applicant is in compliance
with these statutes. If the NEA determines that a grantee has failed to comply with these
statutes, it may suspend or terminate the award, and/or recover funds. The applicant’s
assurance of compliance is subject to judicial enforcement.
The applicant certifies that it does not discriminate:
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• On the grounds of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), implemented by the National
Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR 1110.
• Solely on the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), as amended implemented by the National Endowment for
the Arts at 45 CFR 1151, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), as
amended, (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
• On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended
(42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.) implemented by the National Endowment for the Arts at 45 CFR
1156.
• On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).
The applicant will inform the public that persons who believe they have been discriminated
against on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age may file a complaint
with the Director of Civil Rights at the National Endowment for the Arts.
The applicant will forward all complaints for investigation and any finding issued by a Federal or
state court or by a Federal or state administrative agency to:
Director, NEA Office of Civil Rights
Email: civilrights@arts.gov
The applicant shall maintain records of its compliance and submission for three (3) years. The
applicant will compile, maintain and permit access to records as required by applicable
regulations, guidelines or other directives.
The applicant must also certify that it will obtain assurances of compliance from all
subrecipients and will require all subrecipients of National Endowment for the Arts funds to
comply with these requirements.
The United States has the right to seek judicial or administrative enforcement of this assurance
of compliance.
Regulations Relating to Lobbying
For organizations applying for more than $100,000 (31 U.S.C. 1352).
The Applicant certifies that:
a) It has not and will not use federal appropriated funds to pay any person for influencing
or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of a
National Endowment for the Arts advisory panel or the National Council on the Arts, a
Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member
of Congress in connection with the awarding of or modification to any federal grant or
contract.
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b) If it has used or will use any funds other than federal appropriated funds to pay any
person for influencing or attempting to influence any of the individuals specified above,
the Applicant:
c) Is not required to disclose that activity if that person is regularly employed by the
Applicant. (Regularly employed means working for at least 130 days within the year
immediately preceding the submission of this application.)
d) Will complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, "Disclosure of Lobbying Activities," if that
person is not regularly employed by the Applicant.
e) It will require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents
for all subawards of more than $100,000 and that all subrecipients shall certify and
disclose accordingly.
Standards for Service
The NEA has set the following standards for serving applicants. We pledge to:
• Treat you with courtesy and efficiency.
• Respond to inquiries and correspondence promptly.
• Provide clear and accurate information about our policies and procedures.
• Provide timely information about funding opportunities and make guidelines available
promptly.
• Promptly acknowledge the receipt of your application.
• Ensure that all eligible applications are reviewed thoughtfully and fairly.
We welcome your comments on how we are meeting these standards. Email:
webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Standards for Service.
For questions about these guidelines or your application, see Agency Contacts. In addition,
applicants may receive an invitation to participate in a voluntary survey to provide feedback on
the grant application guidelines on our website and any experiences consulting with our staff.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at an average of 26
hours per response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data
sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. We welcome any suggestions that you might have on improving the
guidelines and making them as easy to use as possible. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for
reducing this burden, to: webmgr@arts.gov, attention: Reporting Burden.
Note: Applicants are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
OMB No. 3135-0112 Expires 10/31/2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Basics | Review Process | Other NEA Grants | Budget and Cost Share/Matching Funds
Required Partnership | Local Government Entity | Letters of Commitment | Other
Basics
What is “creative placemaking?”
Creative placemaking integrates arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen
communities. Creative placemaking requires partnership across sectors, deeply engages the
community, involves artists, designers and culture bearers, and helps to advance local
economic, physical, and/or social change, ultimately laying the groundwork for systems change.
This definition is intentionally open and broad because creative placemaking draws on all
artistic disciplines, and can be deployed as a strategy to address a wide range of community
issues or challenges from public health to safety, economic development to housing. For
additional information on NEA’s definition of creative placemaking, as well as the Our Town
Program’s Theory of Change and other resources, visit www.arts.gov/impact/creative-
placemaking.
What percentage of applications receive funding?
Based on application numbers from previous years and contingent upon available funding,
roughly 20% of applications to the Our Town program receive funding each year.
If we received an Our Town grant last year, can we apply again this year?
Yes, you may apply to the Our Town category for FY 2025 for a distinctly different project or a
distinctly different phase of the project than was funded in your previous Our Town grant.
How long can my period of performance (grant period) be?
Your period of performance may be up to two years in length, and may start on or after July 1,
2025. If your project is part of a multi-year initiative, you may describe the broader vision but
your application, including the budget, should reflect only the activities or phases of work that
will occur within the period of performance. Two-year periods of performance are reserved for
projects that require a two-year timeline and should not be used to repeat a single year project.
Will projects in small towns and rural areas be competitive?
Yes. We are seeking a diverse range of applicants and encourage communities of all sizes to
apply.
Can we apply for a project that addresses the ongoing impacts of COVID-19?
Yes. The Our Town program seeks to leverage creative placemaking and innovative partnerships
in responding to evolving and emerging local community needs. These may include efforts to
support artists and cultural organizations in addressing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,
artist unemployment, racial inequity, and other needs that may not be clear at this specific
time.
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How is Our Town different than Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) funding?
Our Town is distinct from GAP funding in several ways. 1) Our Town requires a partnership
between a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a local government or quasi-government entity that
together, through meaningful roles, provide leadership for the project. 2) Our Town supports
arts, design, and cultural projects that aim to strengthen communities at the local level and
impact longer-term systems change. If offered a grant through the Our Town program, you will
be asked to report on the impact your project had on the local community. 3) Our Town
projects are multi-layered, cross-sectoral efforts that are as much about the process as the
product—think “who are we?”, “why does this matter?”, “how do we get there?”, in
conjunction with “what will we do/make/present?”.
Review Process
How will the projects be evaluated?
Congress specified in our authorizing legislation that "artistic excellence and artistic merit" are
the criteria by which all applications must be evaluated. For more detailed information about
how artistic excellence and artistic merit apply to Our Town projects, see the "Review Criteria"
in the guidelines.
How can I demonstrate artistic excellence for my proposed project?
Artistic excellence is evaluated based on the material and work samples submitted with the
application. This includes the quality of the artists, culture bearers, design professionals,
organizations, works of art, activities, and/or services that the project will involve; and their
relevance to the community in which the project takes place. If artists are not yet selected, a
description of the process and criteria for selection will enable panelists to assess artistic
excellence.
Who reviews and selects grantees?
All applications will be reviewed according to the review criteria of artistic excellence and
artistic merit by an advisory panel composed of qualified peer experts, including at least one
knowledgeable layperson, representing a range of multidisciplinary art, design, and economic
and community development fields. Panel recommendations are forwarded to the National
Council on the Arts, which then makes recommendations to the Chair of the NEA. The Chair
reviews the Council's recommendations and makes the final decision on all grant awards. A list
of past Our Town panelists is available on the website (see the Design discipline).
Can staff help me with my application?
Members of Design and Creative Placemaking staff are available to answer specific questions
about the application materials and forms. However, we do not review full proposals or provide
edits to text or budgets in advance of the application deadline. Email OT@arts.gov with any
questions.
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Other NEA Grants
Can my organization apply to receive funding from both the Our Town and Grants for Arts
Projects or Challenge America categories?
Yes. An organization may apply to other NEA funding opportunities, including Grants for Arts
Projects or Challenge America, as well as Research Grants in the Arts, in addition to Our Town.
In each case, the application must be for a distinctly different project or a distinctly different
phase of the same project, with a different period of performance and costs. You cannot
charge the same activities/costs to two different awards at the same time (this applies to both
the applicant organization and any partner organizations). If you apply for the exact same
project or same phase of the same project in Our Town and another program, you will be asked
to withdraw one of the proposals.
Budget and Cost Share/Matching Funds
Do all cost share/matching funds need to be committed in advance of the submission
deadline?
No, but we ask you to designate on the budget form funding that is committed versus funding
that is being proposed or sought. Designate committed funding with a (*) after the source.
Can funds raised prior to the project be used as part of the cost share/match?
Yes. However, cost share/matching funds must be spent on eligible activities included as part of
the proposed project during the proposed period of performance.
Can cost share/matching funds be in-kind?
Yes. No formula exists for how much of the required cost share/match can be in-kind. However,
reviewers tend to look very carefully at any project with a budget that shows a cost
share/match that is largely in-kind; generally, some cash cost share/match is preferred. In all
cases, cost share/matching funds are evaluated in the context of the project and the
community. Remember, if you use in-kind contributions as part of your cost share/match, you
must maintain proper documentation. For help in doing this, see our sample format for
recording in-kind (third party) contributions.
Can federal funds such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) or Neighborhood
Stabilization Program (NSP) funding count toward the cost share/match?
No. Even though these funds may come through your state, the original source is federal. No
cost share/matching funds can be from federal sources and these should not appear in
your Our Town project budget as either income or expenses.
Can community infrastructure costs be considered part of the cost share/match for
something like a streetscape project?
Costs that pertain strictly to preparing a site specifically for the art or design work, such as slabs
or pedestals, landscaping that's necessary for the art work, or landscaping that is the art work
(e.g., a mosaic tiled walkway with landscaping that is required for the work) are allowable.
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Installation of generic municipal street lighting or wayfinding signage is not allowed. Costs to
prepare the street, including purchase of property, building appropriate access, infrastructure,
etc., are also not allowable and can’t be used for cost share/match.
Are artists' or consultants’ fees allowable expenses?
Yes. Fees for individuals involved in the project are allowable costs, such as fees for artists,
performers, designers, architects, facilitators, or other consultants. All fees must be incurred
during the period of performance.
Is rent for space for an event an allowable expense?
Yes, but not for a party, reception, or other social event.
Can overhead be funded?
You may claim administrative costs or overhead as direct costs under on the Project Budget
form. (This assumes that there is a basis for justifying the costs as direct costs.) You also may
use a federally negotiated indirect cost rate or a de minimis indirect cost rate to account for
overhead.
Can salaries for administration or additional fundraising be funded?
Salaries, contract fees, and stipends for administration and project management are allowed, as
well as fundraising specifically to raise the required minimum cost share/match for the
approved project. All other fundraising costs are unallowable.
Does sharing the funding between the two required partners count as subgranting or
regranting?
No. Subgranting is defined as regranting funds to an individual or organization for activities that
are conducted independently of your organization and for the benefit of the subgrantee's own
program objectives. You may include project-specific costs and/or contributions from your
partners, as needed.
Does anything need to be done to formalize the financial relationship between the two
required partners?
When a grantee partners with another organization that will directly support project costs tied
to the federal award, the grantee must ensure a contractual agreement is in place that outlines
the relationship and responsibilities of each partner. In addition, the partner’s accounts and
documentation will be subject to review if audited by the NEA or the grantee’s own auditors.
Required Partnership
Can a private foundation or corporate entity serve as a required partner?
No. Partnerships must involve at least two entities as defined by these guidelines: a nonprofit
organization and a local government or quasi-government entity. If one of the two required
partners is not a cultural (arts or design) organization, then the project must include at least
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one additional partner that is. However, additional partners across all sectors are encouraged,
and a private foundation or corporate entity could serve as an additional partner.
Can a local government arts agency apply and fulfill the role of the cultural organization and
the government agency?
Yes, but it would still need a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to serve as the required partner.
Local Government Entity
Can a city/town/county apply for more than one project?
Yes. Since FY 2021, we have eliminated the limit of only two applications per community.
Multiple applications may be submitted from within the same geographic area. However, if
more than one application is submitted from a single applicant or within the same geographic
area, the capacity of the applicant, partners, or geographic area to carry out and sustain
multiple Our Town projects will be considered in the review of applications.
Can a tribal government entity apply?
Yes, federally recognized tribes and tribal communities are eligible applicants. Tribes and tribal
communities submitting applications to Our Town would meet the local government half of the
required partnership and would need a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to serve as their
required partner.
Can a regional government entity apply?
No, regional government entities do not qualify as eligible applicants, however, a regional
government entity could possibly meet the requirement for a local government or quasi-
government entity as a required partner for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization applicant. For
example, in areas where the county government serves as the local government (i.e. there is no
town or city government level below that of the county, or areas where the city/county
government are the same thing), the county government can serve as the local government
required partner. Please contact OT@arts.gov if you have a question about the eligibility of a
specific regional government entity.
Do local schools, public school districts, or K-12 education authorities qualify as a local
government entity?
No. Under the Our Town program, local schools, school districts, and K-12 education authorities
may be additional project partners, but do not qualify as either the local government or quasi-
government entity for the purposes of Our Town program eligibility.
Do community colleges qualify as a local government entity?
No, public community colleges, similar to other institutes of higher education, are considered
nonprofit entities under the Our Town program and can serve as the nonprofit half of the
required partnership. Community colleges may also serve as additional partners on a project.
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Can a city council or alderman office apply?
No. City council or aldermen’s offices are considered quasi-governmental entities under the Our
Town guidelines and are not eligible to serve as the applicant organization. However, as a quasi-
government entity they can serve as the required partner for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
applicant. If a city council or alderman’s office is serving as the required partner in your Our
Town application, a letter of support and engagement articulating their role in the project is
required.
Does a state university qualify as a local government entity?
All public and private institutions of higher education can qualify as the nonprofit organization
(either as applicant or required partner) in an Our Town application. No state level entities
qualify as a local government or quasi-government entity (applicant or required partner) under
the Our Town guidelines. State universities and state government entities can always serve as
an additional partner.
Does a U.S. territory qualify as a local government entity?
If no local government exists, the territory government can qualify as the local government
applicant or required partner. If you are thinking of applying with a U.S. territory as the local
government entity, please contact the Our Town team at OT@arts.gov with any questions
about eligibility.
Letter of Commitment
What letters of commitment are required for the application?
A letter of commitment from the required project partner, and if needed, the arts, culture, or
design partner, are required for the Our Town application. Letters from additional partners are
encouraged. You may include up to ten (10) total statements of support for your project. A
letter of commitment from the highest-ranking local government official is encouraged, but not
required.
Can you guide us as to what the letter of commitment should contain? Do you have a
template that we can use?
We do not have a template. However, the document should be a one-page formal letter, on
appropriate letterhead, from the required partner, and the arts, culture, or design partner, (if
needed). This letter(s) should reflect the partner’s familiarity with and role in the project. For
verification purposes, the letter should come from leadership of the partnering entity and
include their name, phone number, and email address at the partner organization.
Is there a limit to the number of letters of commitment that we can submit?
Yes. You may submit up to ten (10) total letters of commitment. We encourage you to be
selective in listing only the partners or individuals that are critical to the project's success, not
those that are solely funding sponsors or project beneficiaries. Keep letters to one page each.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions
National Endowment for the Arts 40 | Page
Other
Can our organization use funds we received from the Small Business Administration (SBA) or
other federal agencies as cost share/match for an NEA grant?
No. Federal funds are not allowed to be used as cost share/match for federal grants (2 CFR
§200.306). In addition, the NEA’s enabling legislation does not allow any other federal funds to
be used as cost share/match for its grants. This includes the funding from other federal
agencies, including:
• Corporation for National and Community Service (e.g., AmeriCorps)
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Park Service
• National Science Foundation
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Education (e.g., 21st Century Community Learning Centers)
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Or an entity that receives federal appropriations such as the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting or Amtrak
Note that organizations are eligible to apply for NEA funding even if they have applied for and
received funding from other federal agencies, provided the organization isn't double-claiming
any individual's salary or other costs. Recipients will be required to keep documentation to
show which employees are being paid from each funding source so that the government isn't
paying more than 100 percent of a salary. Applicants with additional questions about other
federal grant programs should contact the other agency directly as we are unable to provide
guidance on programs other than our own.
What are some examples of measurement tools you'd like to see?
You should propose measurement tools that are feasible and appropriate for your organization
and project. You will be asked to address the anticipated results in your application. If you
receive a grant, you will be asked to provide evidence of those results at the end of your
project. Given the nature of Our Town projects, benefits are likely to emerge over time and may
not be fully measurable during the period of a grant. In the project’s final descriptive report,
you will need to provide evidence of progress toward achieving improved strengthening of the
community(ies) as appropriate to the project. We recognize that some projects involve risk, and
we want to hear about both your successes and failures. Failures can provide valuable learning
experiences, and reporting them will have no effect on your ability to receive NEA funds in the
future.
Beyond the reporting requirements for all grantees, selected Our Town grantees may be asked
to assist in the collection of additional information that can help the NEA determine the degree
to which agency objectives were achieved. For example, Our Town grantees may be asked to
participate in surveys or interviews, and/or may be asked to assist in publicizing and promoting
these data collection efforts. You may be contacted to provide evidence of project
accomplishments including, but not limited to, work samples, community action plans, cultural
asset studies, programs, reviews, relevant news clippings, and playbills. Remember that you are
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Frequently Asked Questions
National Endowment for the Arts 41 | Page
required to maintain project documentation for three years following submission of your final
report.
Can federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes. In keeping with federal policies of Tribal Self Governance and Self-Determination, we may
provide support for a project with a primary audience restricted to enrolled members of a
federally recognized tribe. Applicants (federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits
situated on federally recognized tribal lands, or other nonprofits whose mission primarily serves
federally recognized tribal enrollees) should consult with our staff to verify their eligibility
before preparing an application.
Can non-federally recognized tribes apply?
Yes, as long as the applicant is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), U.S. organization. Projects for
non-federally recognized tribes and indigenous groups may be supported, but project
participation can’t be restricted to only tribal members.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Responsible Research Conduct
National Endowment for the Arts 42 | Page
Responsible Conduct of Program Evaluation and Research
As a federal agency, we are committed to the responsible conduct of research. The NEA
requires applicants to comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the conduct of
research in the United States for projects supported with NEA funding.
If you are recommended for a grant and your project includes program evaluation and/or
research activities that involve directly collecting information from program participants, the
NEA may conduct a review of your project to ensure that it complies with our general guidance
regarding the responsible conduct of research.
Data collection activities conducted under an award are the sole responsibility of the recipient
organization. The NEA’s support of the project does not constitute approval of those data
collection procedures. Accordingly, data collected from respondents/participants will be
conducted by the awardee or at the awardee’s direction, and any NEA-funded researchers
collecting data from respondents/participants may not represent to those subjects that such
data are being collected on behalf of the NEA.
Many projects under the Our Town program include some type of informal evaluation, such as
conducting anonymized surveys of audiences about their satisfaction with a program, or even
basic field observations of program participants such as counting the number of audience
members or tickets sold. These types of activities are often exempt from a program evaluation
ethics review. Furthermore, data collection activities related to completion of the Final
Descriptive Report (FDR) are exempt from a program evaluation ethics review. Examples of
questions on the FDR are available here.
Whether formal or informal, however, evaluation activities of arts programs occurring within
schools or school districts must be done under the rules and regulations governing those
institutions or jurisdictions.
On the other hand, some grantees want to conduct more formal program evaluation and/or
research as part of their grant. Program evaluation may require an ethics review, especially if
the activities will be completed during the grant’s period of performance and will use funding
from the grant or its match (if applicable). Examples include activities that require asking
program participants to provide sensitive and/or confidential information about themselves,
and/or that involve systematic studies to assess a program’s benefits for participants.
If you are recommended for an award that may require a program evaluation ethics review,
you will be notified and asked to provide additional information. This may include providing
more detail on such factors as: the purpose and nature of any research or evaluation activities;
when data will be collected for these purposes; the source of funding to support these
activities, the steps taken to comply with applicable laws and regulations; steps taken to obtain
permissions (including but not limited to the acquisition of existing data) from all appropriate
entities or individuals (including but not limited to minors or other sensitive populations) for
conducting the proposed evaluation activities; and evidence of ethics training in the conduct of
human subjects research.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Responsible Research Conduct
National Endowment for the Arts 43 | Page
Costs of submitting research proposals to Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are allowable if the
activity occurs during the award’s period of performance; however, the grantee must provide
evidence that the applicant has consulted with its preferred IRB or IRBs. If you receive an
award, we may withhold funds until IRB approval is demonstrated and evidence of ethics
training in the conduct of human subject’s research is provided for all individuals engaged in
research activities that include human subjects. Such evidence can take the form of an active,
unexpired certificate of completion of a training module. The NEA does not specify or endorse
any specific educational programs. The NEA will not reimburse costs for ethics training.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides additional guidance and resources
for learning about the responsible conduct of research, including decision charts for assessing
whether a project needs an ethics review, a set of free training modules (which can be used to
provide evidence of ethics training for an NEA application), and a database of registered IRBs.
The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education also have resources
related to IRB and human subjects’ protections.
Additional information for regarding systematic evaluation studies can be found
here: https://www.arts.gov/impact/research/resources-program-evaluation-and-performance-
measurement.
A program evaluation review and approval process may take up to several months to complete
and may delay your project's start date and the NEA’s ability to make a grant award or the
ability to release award funds. Thorough and complete information for all project activities will
expedite our process for approving the release of funds. The NEA may withhold award funds
until the program evaluation review is complete.
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Our Town FY25 Guidelines Contacts
National Endowment for the Arts 44 | Page
Contacts
We encourage you to review the materials in these guidelines for information about the Our
Town program including allowable activities/costs, required partnerships, and examples of
successful projects in recent funding cycles.
If you cannot find an answer to your question in these guidelines, please reach out to Our Town
staff at OT@arts.gov. Note: Our staff experience a high volume of inquiries related to the
program; correspondence will be returned as promptly as possible.
Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM, or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites, including questions regarding electronic
accessibility, contact them directly:
• Login.gov Help: Call 844-875-6446, consult the information posted in their Help Center,
or use their online form to submit a question.
• SAM Federal Service Desk: Call 1-866-606-8220 or see the information posted on the
SAM website at SAM User Help.
• Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov, or consult
the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support. The Grants.gov Contact
Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Rising Inversion sculpture installation budget for the NEA: Our Town grant application
Sculpture 155,000.00$
Soluable varnish/graffiti coating 2,000.00$
Grading 5,000.00$
Installation 2,000.00$
Crane 5,000.00$
Transport 1,000.00$
Landscape 5,000.00$
Solar lights 5,000.00$
Electrical Installation 5,000.00$
Signage/Plaque 3,000.00$
Community Outreach 1,000.00$
Photography 2,000.00$
Videography 2,000.00$
Dedication 5,000.00$
198,000.00$
Jul-25 Contracting
Sep-25 Community Outreach
Oct-25 Grading and Site Prep
Nov-25 Electrical Installation
Dec-25 Logistics: Transport/Crane/Installation
Jan-26 Dedication and Press
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Ironwood Park
47800 Chia Drive
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Page 1 of 1
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2024
PREPARED BY: Erica Powell, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: ARTIST PROPOSAL SELECTION FOR PARK BENCH VINYL ART WRAP
RECOMMENDATION:
Select artist proposal for one vinyl art wrap onto a park bench to be placed at the Palm Desert
Civic Center Park
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
At its July 10, 2024, meeting the Cultural Arts Committee (CAC) approved to release a Request
for Proposals (RFP) inviting artists to submit digital artwork proposals for vinyl wrap placement
on a bench crafted from retired wind turbine blades at the Civic Center Park. The artwork
proposals were to be in conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch
Pledge, which is to “create a community art project to enhance and promote monarch and
pollinator conservation as well as cultural awareness and recognition”.
The RFP was released on July 22, 2024, and promoted through Instagram, Facebook, the City’s
Artist Opportunities webpage, and by news channel KESQ. The RFP closed on September 22,
2024, and a total of eight proposals were received.
Staff is requesting the Committee review and select one artist proposal that supports monarch
butterfly and pollinator conservation for placement on the park bench.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Costs for artwork, vinyl wrap installation, and an informational plaque should not exceed $6,500.
Funding for this has been included in the FY 2024/2025 Public Art budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Artist Proposals
2. Canvus Rose Sanctuary Bench Information
3. Request for Proposals – Park Bench Beautification
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8 A rtist Proposals
•Artist i nformation
•Artist r esume
•Artist p ast work examples
•Artist p roposal
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Request for Proposals, Park Bench Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Aug 22, 2024, 8:53:33 PM
First Name
Cheyne
Last Name
Ellett
Email Address
Phone Number
Address
City
Pomona
84
State
CA
Zip
91767
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
ELLETT 2024 Resume with website and refs.pdf
234.9KBPDF
85
Upload 5-10 images of past work. (Image files)
01.jpg 09.jpg
08.jpg 07.jpg
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06.jpg 05.jpg
04.jpg 03.jpg
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02.jpg
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www.ellettcheyne.com
Education
B.F.A Illustration Cal State University Long Beach
A.A. Fine & Performing Arts Citrus College
A.A. Communication Studies Citrus College
A.A Language Arts Citrus College
Experience
2014-Present Artwork/Murals/Freelance Design Pomona, CA
-Conceptualizing, pitching, and designing large-scale multi-building mural projects
-Conducting site visits and analyzing architectural drawings to inform mural designs
-Managing project timelines and budgets, coordinating with stakeholders and
subcontractors
-Collaborating with clients to ensure project objectives are met and exceeded
-Developing and presenting design concepts and visual presentations to clients
-Creating and producing detailed sketches, renderings, and mockups for clients to approve
-Designing and producing graphic design assets such as branding and marketing materials,
signage, print and digital advertising
-Creating and maintaining project documentation, including progress reports and invoices
-Conducting quality control checks on completed projects to ensure they meet client
expectations
-Communicating with clients and stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to ensure
their needs are met
-Developing and maintaining relationships with clients and stakeholders to generate new
business opportunities
2017-2018 CSULB Design Print Lab Long Beach, CA
-Preprint work, maintaining inventory misc tasks as needed.
2012-2017 Second Director/Lead Creative Pomona, CA
Viva! Music Group
-Coordinate festival's creative aspects.
-Manage design and construction of stages, backdrops, and signage.
-Work with director and designers to create marketing materials, static and motion.
-Curate artists for onsite installations, and oversee installation and teardown of all creative
elements/ maintineng schedules and budgets.
Honors/Affiliations
Mission Asset Fund-Los Angeles Young Creatives Grant 2020
Journalism Association of Community Colleges Front Page Layout 2nd Place 2013
Skills
-Strong ability to conceptualize and plan art installations.
-Proficient in a variety of art mediums, drawing, painting, sculpture
-Skilled in project management, including budgeting, scheduling and resource allocation
-Excellent communication and collaboration skills, able to work with clients, team members and contractors
-Experience in technical aspects of installation, including lighting and rigging.
-Proficient in design software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Blender
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www.ellettcheyne.com
-Experience in project documentation, including photography and video production.
-Zines!
As an Artist and Freelance Designer, I am committed to producing high-quality, visually stunning work
that exceeds all expectations. My ability to concept, pitch, and execute large-scale projects, as well as
my expertise in graphic design, make me a valuable asset to any creative team. Past Clients include: The
City of Claremont, The City of Pomona, DA center for the arts, Los Angeles County of Education, VIVA!
Pomona, Beleaf Beddar Burgers, Barth Partners and Abercrombie Kids.
CV
Exhibitions
2023
Everything But The Kitchen Sink, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles California, July -August
Sentidos, ExpoArts, Long Beach, CA June
Pocket Change, Eastside Art House, Riverside CA April
2022
Everything But The Kitchen Sink, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles California, July-August
Suenos, Flatline Gallery, Long Beach California 90805, March
taDa!, Da Center for the Arts, Pomona CA 91767, March
2021
Home Sweet Home Presented by Node, Caps and Drip, Pomona, CA 91767
2019
Insights, University Art Museum, California State University Long Beach, May
Incrementum, Gatov East and West Gallery, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach CA, April
Potluck, Dr. Maxine Merlino Gallery, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach CA, February
2018
Ink 21 Dutzi Gallery, California State University, Long Beach CA, October
2017
Cody Cano and Cheyne Ellett Presented by The Julian Foundation, Family Jules Gallery Fullerton, CA, June
Paint with the Grain, Golden Road Brewing, Anaheim CA, March
2016
Fun House!, F+ Gallery, Santa Ana August
Santa Ana Pop Up, Beatnik Bandito, May
Selected Collections
San Diego State University
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
West Los Angeles Regional Library
City of Pomona
City of Claremont
Grants
2020
Mission Asset Fund-Los Angeles Young Creatives Grant
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www.ellettcheyne.com
References
Jocelyn Ayala-Public Arts Coordinator City of Pomona (909)524-8985 Jocelyn.Ayala@pomonaca.gov
Marilyn De La Cruz-Management Analyst-City of Rancho (909)477.2700 ext 2043 Marilyn.DeLaCruz@cityofrc.us
Monica Fernandez-Public Arts Coordinator City of Claremont (562)519-9471 Monica@artsplotter.com
Pam Aliaga– Collections Management, American Museum of Ceramic Art (909)331-5468 exhibitions@amoca.org
Crisselle Mendiola- Past Collaborator (714) 276-4679 crissellecm@gmail.com
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Artwork Proposal
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Palm Dessert- Rose Sanctuarty Wrap
“Twilight Zephyr”
93
Request for Proposals, Park Bench Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Sep 20, 2024, 2:56:06 PM
First Name
Vanessa
Last Name
Gomez
Email Address
Phone Number
Address
City
Victorville
94
State
California
Zip
92392
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
VanessaGomez_Resume.pdf
72.5KBPDF
95
Upload 5-10 images of past work. (Image files)
VanessaGomez_7.jpg VanessaGomez_8.jp
VanessaGomez_9.jpg VanessaGomez_imageLi
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VanessaGomez_6.jpg VanessaGomez_5.jp
VanessaGomez_4.jpg VanessaGomez_3.jp
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VanessaGomez_2.jpg VanessaGomez_1.jp
Upload 1 to 3 concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork. (Image files)
98
Artwork Proposal
99
100
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Request for Proposals, Park Bench Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Sep 20, 2024, 5:44:04 PM
First Name
Autumn
Last Name
Martino
Email Address
Artworkbyautumn@gmail.com
Phone Number
7604246084
Address
43101 Portola Ave Spc 56
City
Palm Desert
102
State
CA
Zip
92260
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
Art Resume.docx
8.7KBDOCX
103
Upload 5-10 images of past work. (Image files)
IMG_2595.jpeg IMG_2286.jpeg
IMG_2292.jpeg 645C7AA5-F6F7-491C-906C-D81C
104
IMG_9933.jpeg IMG_2768.jpeg
IMG_20201217_135926_496.jpeg 20201216_203720.jpe
105
20200826_091016.jpeg IMG_0082.jpeg
Upload 1 to 3 concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork. (Image files)
IMG_3267.png IMG_3269.png
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Artist resume
Autumn Martino Artist Resume for Murals
Since 2021 I have completed 7 large mural jobs. My experience with painting is life long
as I have been creating since I was young, and professionally since 2012.
Large public mural experience:
Pizza, Eggs benedict and Boom Boom Shrimp Chalkboard (Permanent indoor)
Dimensions: 14' x 9'
Location: Kitchen 86 Bar and Grill
Materials: MTN 94 Spray Paint, Nova Paint, Behr Paint, Dunn Edwards
Cost: $6000
Completed: 8/30/2024
Giant Ice Cream Cone (Permanent outdoor)
Dimensions: 10' x 14'
Location: Handel's Ice Cream in Indio
Materials: MTN 94 Spray Paint, Nova Paint, Behr Paint, Dunn Edwards
Cost: $3000
Completed: 3/5/2024
An Old Speakeasy (Permanent indoor)
Dimensions: 20' x 12'
Location: Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Materials: MTN 94 Spray Paint, Dunn Edwards, Behr, and Nova Paint
Cost: $6800
Completed: 2/13/2024
Frank, Sammy and Dean (Permanent indoor)
Dimensions: 22' x 14'
Location: Frank’s Hideout Social Club in Palm Desert
Materials: MTN 94 Spray Paint, Nova Paint, Behr Paint, Dunn Edwards
Cost: $5000
Completed: 12/19/2024
“Night at the Theatre” Social Media Mural Located on Outside wall of McCallum (Permanent
outdoor)
Dimensions: 18' x 14'
Location: McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert
Materials: MTN 94 Spray Paint
Cost: $9000
Completed: 12/17/2022
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Veteran Mural for City of Coachella (Permanent outdoor)
Dimensions: 20' x 12'
Location: 4th Street between Vine and Orchard
Materials: Mtn 94 Spray Paint, Dunn Edwards Evershield, Wicked Colors Airbrush paint
Coachella, CA 92236
Cost: $14,000
Completed: 1/18/2022
Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage (Temporary Social Media indoor wall mural)
Dimensions: 9' x 14'
Temporary Location was at Social Media wall next to Steakhouse inside:
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
32250 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Materials: Ace Hardware paint, and Liquitex paint
Cost: $4000
Completed: 4/2/2021
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/artworkbyautumnmartino
Instagram Tag: @artworkbyautumnmartino
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artworkbyautumn
Autumn Martino is a talented local artist, born and raised in the vibrant Coachella Valley. From
a young age, her artistic inclinations were evident, and she has passionately nurtured her
creative spirit ever since. Autumn first gained recognition in the sixth grade, winning her
inaugural art contest for the City of Palm Desert, marking the beginning of a flourishing artistic
journey.
Since then, her work has been featured in numerous publications, galleries, and art shows
throughout California, including the prestigious Palm Springs Art Museum. Autumn's artistic
endeavors have earned her several scholarships and awards that have supported her academic
pursuits. She is an alumna of Palm Desert High School and holds an Associate's Degree from
the College of the Desert, followed by a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies with a
Concentration in Art from Cal State San Bernardino Palm Desert.
While Autumn explores various artistic mediums, her primary focus is on painting. Her expertise
spans oil, acrylic, spray paint, watercolor, caricatures, face painting, and murals. She began her
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professional painting career in 2012 and transitioned to mural work in 2021. Since then, she has
completed seven public murals, including a temporary Social Media Wall at Agua Caliente
Rancho Mirage (displayed for nine months), a permanent outdoor mural honoring Vietnam War
veterans for the City of Coachella, a large public mural for The McCallum Theatre and the City
of Palm Desert, and additional murals for Frank’s Hideout Social Club, the Indian Wells Tennis
Garden, Handel's Ice Cream in Indio, and Kitchen 86 Restaurant and Bar, among many other
private projects.
Autumn draws inspiration from the beauty and culture of the desert, utilizing vibrant colors and
organic forms to develop a unique style that embodies Figurative Expressionism. "Creating art
allows me to capture the essence of beauty and joy," she reflects. "Murals serve as a wonderful
medium for making art accessible to everyone. Especially in these unprecedented times, it is
crucial to bring joy and hope to humanity."
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Artwork Proposal
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Request for Proposals, Park Bench Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Sep 21, 2024, 11:32:10 PM
First Name
tiphanie
Last Name
brooke
Email Address
Phone Number
Address
City
Anaheim
113
State
CA
Zip
92801-4937
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
resume.TBrooke.pdf
72.4KBPDF
114
Upload 5-10 images of past work. (Image files)
w.lover.jpg w.installation.jpg
w.collagepainting.jpg theBlocLA.jpg
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loverMural.jpg blocLA.jpg
Upload 1 to 3 concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork. (Image files)
info-concept.jpg
Upload 1 to 3 concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork. (PDF or doc files)
benchs.pdf
136.9KBPDF
116
TIPHANIE BROOKE
antigirl.work
antigirl.la
antigirl@icloud.com
213-319-0258
PROFILE
With over 20 years of experience in fine art,
digital design, and academia, I bring a
diverse skill set and adaptability to every
role. As an artist, and creative director, I
excel in collaborative and independent
environments. My strong self-motivation,
organizational skills, and proficiency with
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator,
InDesign), Coda, Figma, and various Content
Management Systems have driven my
success across non-profit organizations and
classrooms. I aim to bridge challenges with
knowledge, creativity, and positivity.
SKILLS
Adaptability
Artistic Vision
Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Leadership
Media Literacy
Project Management
Strategic Thinking
Team Collaboration
Trauma-Informed Approach
Trend Awareness
proficient in;
adobe creative suite; Illustrator, Photoshop,
indesign, fontmaker. figma, Coda, HTML5,
CSS, kirby, big cartel, Squarespace, cargo
collective, wordpress.
EXPERIENCE
The Education Team — Current - 2024, Teacher
Foster a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment conducive to learning and
exploration while using teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles.
Implement pre-designed lesson plans in accordance with Montessori and private
school curriculum guidelines.
Provide one-on-one support and guidance to students as needed.
Communicate effectively with school staff, parents, and administrators to ensure
continuity of instruction and student progress.
Safe Place for Youth — 2021 - 2022, Graphic Designer / Art Teacher
Designed and produced on-brand communication materials to facilitate effective
communication among members, staff, and government entities.
Developed and implemented a Healing Arts curriculum for over a dozen members,
leading classes and promoting well-being using art and design to motivate the youth.
Collaborated closely with video teams to produce high-quality multimedia content for
various platforms.
W Hotels — 2014 - 2015, Artist
Worked with marketing team to plan art projects and prepared conceptual design
materials for proposals; defined scopes of work, budgets, and production schedules.
Produced intricate pieces of art by raw materials, paints, pencils, and papers along
side computer software programs.
Designed and produced inspiring art while maintaining accurate scale and
architectural standards.
Discover Los Angeles — 2013 - 2016, Creative Director
Created a series of concept sketches for review, revision, and approval of
promotional merchandise and art shows.
Traveled to manufacturing facilities to provide insights on product creation and
development.
Translated project specifications into illustrations used to create final products for
promotion and marketing.
Orly Nails + Target — 2013 - 2015, Creative Director
Led and directed design and production teams for packaging projects, building a
unique relationship between Target and Orly to successfully launch new products in
the market ($1.75m in growth).
Supported projects by developing and producing promotional content, including
typography, logos, treatments, illustrations, and photography to effectively showcase
artwork.
Designed point-of-sale (POS) materials using a mix of collage, photography,
typography, and icons to enhance brand awareness and attract customers.
SarkissianMason — 2008 - 2009, Designer
Support for all their print accounts. Worked on technical manuals for both books and
screens, for Toyota and Bose. Led a project between Target and General Mills to bring
an environmentally friendly packaging project for a cereal box.
Created new client pitches and supported creative director in creating copy and
imagery to support incoming projects.
EDUCATION
Art Center College of Design, Graphics + Product Design — BFA, 2016
Phoenix College, Fine Arts + Photography — AA, 2011
references & letters of rec. available upon request 117
Artwork Proposal
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119
Request for Proposals, Park Bench
Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Sep 22, 2024, 1:12:35 PM
First Name
Jeni
Last Name
Bate
Email Address
Phone Number
120
Address
P.O. Box 5239
City
Salton City
State
CA
Zip
92275
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
JeniBateResume.pdf
112.3KBPDF
121
“Marilyn’s Morning ” Indio, CA. Mural on signal box at Monroe and Avenida Del Mar.
Total Budget: $1500
2011
I was subsequently contracted to paint to match, an ‘add-on’ box that was attached to the side of the box
about 5 years later for an additional $500.
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“Tranquility”. Digital adaptation, reproduction and installation for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, CA.
Worked with printer to image and digitally manipulate painting to fit size and ratio for the office wall.
Budget for project $2500
2012
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“Fred’s Skies”. Palm Desert, CA. Mural on signal box pair at Fred Waring and Town Center.
Some fun issues with this project – the construction (you can see behind) ran late, and being City property I
couldn’t work weekends and holidays, collectively preventing me from working to schedule, or within the limits
of the temporary business license. Negotiated license extension and additional stipend for several 100mi
round trips when I arrived to find construction dust filling the air making painting impossible.
Total Budget: $1700
2013
124
Jeni Bate - Resume
P.O. Box 5239, Salton City, CA 92275
(310) 720-1552 skyscapesforthesoul@gmail.com
www.skyscapesforthesoul.com
IG/ FB/YT: SkyscapesForTheSoul
Selected shows or galleries:
Jan 2025. Group Show, Steven Baumbach Gallery, Palm Springs, CA.
Jun 2024: Solo Show, HoltXPalm, Ontario, CA.
Apr-May 2024: Solo Show, Art Depot, Fontana, CA.
Apr 2024: Solo Show, 29Palms Gallery, 29Palms, CA.
Nov 2023-Jan 2024: Solo Show, Yuma Fine Arts Center
Oct-Dec 2023: Solo Show, Chaffey Community Museum of Art
June 2023: Solo Show, Metro Gallery, Pomona, CA
Aug-Sep 2022: Solo Show, Gallery Valerie, Crocket, CA
Jun 2021 - : Online representation, Alessandro Berni Gallery, NY and Italy.
Sep 2021: Group Show, Glass Outhouse Gallery, 29 Palms, CA.
Feb 2020-Sep 2021: Group Show, Ontario Airport, Ontario, CA
Oct 2019: Two-person show, Glass Outhouse Gallery, 29 Palms, CA.
June 2019: Solo Show, Escondido Municipal Art Gallery, Escondido, CA
Sep-Dec 2018: Group Show, La Quinta Art Museum, La Quinta, CA
Aug 2018: Solo Show, Vanguard Gallery, Moreno Valley, CA
Jan 2018: Two-person show, Glass Outhouse Gallery, 29 Palms, CA.
Aug 2017: Solo Show, Vanguard Gallery, Moreno Valley, CA
Apr-Jul 2017: and Jul-Oct 2019 Group Show, High Desert Medical Center, Joshua Tree, CA
Feb 2017: Solo Show, 29Palms Gallery, 29Palms, CA.
Sep-Oct 2015: Solo Show, Yuma Fine Art Center, Yuma, AZ.
May-Jul 2015: Gallery Representation, Orange County Creatives, Laguna Beach, CA
Jul-Sep 2014: Solo Show, Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest, CA.
Jul-Aug 2012: Group Show, Red Brick Gallery, Ventura, CA.
Jan 2012: Solo Show, Ojai Art Center, Ojai, CA.
Oct-Dec 2011: Group Show, City of Palm Desert, CA.
Apr -Jun 2011: Solo Show, Yuma Fine Art Center, Yuma, AZ.
Feb 2010: Solo Show, Whittier Gallery, Whittier, CA.
Jan 2010: Solo Show, Pioneers Museum, Imperial, CA.
Nov 2009: Solo show, City Hall, Fontana, CA.
Jan 08 - Apr 09 : Gallery representation., Crossroads Gallery, Tehachapi, CA.
Feb 05-13 05: Solo Show, Camarillo Art Center, Camarillo CA.
Jun 03-Aug 04: Little Gallery, S. Montgomery St, Ojai, CA.
125
Public Art:
Sep 2024: Four originals for Kaiser Permanente in Huntington Beach, CA
May 2024: Vinyl wrap traffic signal box for Bellingham, WA.
Feb-Apr 2022: Five+ vinyl wrapped traffic signal boxes for Calexico and El Centro, CA
Nov 15: Three vinyl wrapped traffic signal boxes for Desert Hot Springs, CA.
Dec 2013: “Fred’s Skies”, Traffic Signal Box Mural, Indio, CA
Oct 2012: “Tranquility”, reproduction of “Tranquility with Tree” on canvas for Kaiser Permanente
Apr 2011: “Marilyn’s Morning”, Traffic Signal Box Mural, Indio, CA
Apr 2010: Historical Mural, Chamber of Commerce, Salton City, CA.
Collections:
City of Fontana, CA.
City of Palm Desert, CA.
City of Indio, CA.
Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, Huntington Beach and Riverside, CA
International Museum of Collage, Assemblage and Construction, Fort Worth, TX
Private collection in 27 states and 6 other countries.
Selected Commissions:
April 22: Joel’s Wave I and II for Joel Delma, La Quinta, CA
May 21: Rainflowers II for Marlene and Brian Lynn, Palm Desert, CA.
Feb 17: Joshua Evening, for Ernie Alvarez, Franklin, WI.
Jul 16: TL and JL’s Honeymoon, for Tina and John Lai, San Diego.
Jun 15. “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” for Les and Marilyn Widd , Rosarita Beach, Mexico.
May 15. “Gwen’s Solstice” for couple in Indio
Dec 12 Joan Elliott and Gloria Knapp, Palm Springs, CA, “Pioneertown Evening”
Dec 12 Hugh Clairmonte and Steb Rohrbach, Palm Springs, CA “Hugh and Steb’s Sunrise”
Mar 12 Jane and Ed Merino, Freeland, WA. “Mutiny Bay Sunset”.
May 11 David Nolan, Desert Hot Springs, CA. “Vista Nuevo”, mural.
Jan 10 Laura and Scott Strickland, Mission Viejo, CA. "Colorado Lake".
Apr 09 Rob Cerqui, Fife WA. "North Shore Sunset".
July 08; Ruben and Maria’s Apples, Residential Mural.
Dec 08 ArtReach San Diego. "Kiting, a sport for all Seasons".
Jun 08 Roger Lewis, San Diego, CA. "Roger's Moon Dawn", "Moon Life".
Dec 07 ArtReach San Diego. "Jacob's Bench".
Sep 07 "Ocotillo VII". Jenny and Alan Vath, San Diego, CA; mural.
Apr 06 Carlene and Dean Ness, Desert Shores, CA "Santa Rosa Moonset"; mural.
126
Publications:
2017 Interview and article, Art Reveal Magazine
2016 Kolaj Magazine – quoted article on ‘refracturing’.
CSUSB poetry class – class of 2013 anthology – cover art.
Feb 2005. Art Calendar: “Emerging Artist”.
Selected Awards:
Women Painter’s West “Raise your Brushes” judged show,2023. 3rd Place.
Moreno Valley Chalk Art Festival 2018. Second Place.
Indio 10th annual Chalk Art Festival, 2018. Third place.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2018 three 1st place one 2nd place, four 3rd place.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2017 three 1st place three 2nd place, four 3rd place.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2015 one 1st place three 2nd place, two 3rd place.
Thousand Oaks Art Walk 2014; best of category Mixed Media.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2013 two 2nd place, two 3rd place.
The Arts Colony, Corona, CA. 2012. 2nd Best of Show.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2010 two 2nd place, two 3rd place.
Imperial Valley Winter Fair. 2007. one1st place, two 2nd place and one 3rd place.
Ongoing.
Art Fairs in Southern and Central California, Arizona and Nevada.
Borrego Art Institute, Borrego Springs – books, cards, classes.
Yuma Art Gallery Gift Shop, Yuma, AZ – books, cards, artwork, classes.
Classes Taught
Painting for Absolute Beginners – 1 day intensive. Taught at locations in the desert and privately.
Education
2001-2004: Studied in extension classes and a teaching studio in the Thousand Oaks area.
I continually study, reading, attending demos and seminars and collaboration with other artists.
Selected Signature/Other Memberships
Women Painters West.
National Association of Women Artists.
International Society of Experimental Artists; International Art Association (UNESCO)
Women’s Caucus for Art; California Art League; LELA International
127
Artwork Proposal
128
Jeni Bate Proposal 1
Proposal 1 – Clouds and butterflies. A combination of “Accumulations” on each side of
the arch (I’m not sure if you want to wrap the inside also) and “Red Admiral Morning”
on the base. Sorry I’m not an expert in how to stretch something to curves in
photoshop. I’ll assume you will be able to follow the idea! :-)
129
Jeni Bate Proposal2
Proposal 2 = “Butterfly Moon” and “Look Up”.
130
Jeni Bate Proposal3
Proposal 3 – “Orchid Wings” on the arch and around the base, and “What Remains” on the
seat. The latter painting is oval shaped anyway.
131
Request for Proposals, Park Bench Beautification
Submitted by: Anonymous user
Submitted time: Aug 31, 2024, 3:56:18 PM
First Name
Juan
Last Name
Varela
Email Address
Phone Number
Address
City
Riverside
132
State
CA
Zip
92509
I am 18 years or older.
Click here to confirm.
Upload resume or CV. (PDF or doc files)
bio-juan-varela-2024.pdf
1.2MBPDF
133
Upload 5-10 images of past work. (Image files)
TLALOC-JUAN-VARELA-2024-A2.jpg juan-varela-quetzalcoatl-0
Juan-Varela-Frida_Maguey-2023.JPG FRIDA-REFLEXION.jp
134
CACTUS_RAIN-JUAN-VARELA-RIVERSIDE.JPG
Upload 1 to 3 concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork. (Image files)
CACTUS_RAIN-JUAN-VARELA-1.JPG
135
20 Years Work Anniversary!
Visual Artist
Juan Varela
5618 Tilton Ave. Apt 100
Riverside, CA 92509
(909) 681-7050
juanvarela2111a@gmail.com
artemixtlan.com
@artemixtlan_us
Sculptor, painter & embroidery art, mixed media, [Paint with threads].
Thrilled to showcase the entrepreneurial voyage of Varela! Originally from Mexico and
2017 based in Riverside, CA.
Self-taught artist Varela has consistently used art as a means of self-expression. It's no
surprise that he chose to channel his talent into a professional career.
"Since I was young, I have always been creative and now I have decided to make my dream
of creating art professionally come true. Varela”
Varela rapidly gained acclaim for his distinctive artistic style, Varela has exhibited his work in
various museums and art galleries across California.
That's great news!
2023: Varela won 3rd place in the Ontario Museum of History & Art.
2023: Varela was selected by the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation to make the
“Aztec Awards”.
2024: The White House Historical Association, Washington D.C. acquires the artwork Juan
Varela "Home is here”. (Logistics: Caravanserai Project, Palm Springs CA.)
136
2022-2024 Exhibitions
Caravanserai Proyect SBDC - Palm Springs, CA.
1 & 2 Anniversary of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture (booth).
After Dark Art show Barbara & Culver Center of the arts - UCR Arts & RCAA Gallery.
Artscape, Artswalk & Riverside Art Market.
Riverside Art & Music Festival, Historic Mission Inn Festival of Lights.
Riverside Day of the Dead.
Consulado General de México en Los Ángeles.
California Nurses Association - Moscone Center, San Francisco CA.
Aztec Awards - Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF)
The Biltmore Los Angeles.
The Ontario Museum of History & Art. The 12th Biennial Ontario Open Art Exhibition.
The San Bernardino County Museum. “UNIDOS: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.”
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights CHIRLA.
Los Angeles Makery.
CIELO galleries/studios.
El Camino College Art Gallery.
Frida al desnudo – Hermosa Beach, CA.
TOCApaloza Torrance Art Museum TAMA.
Windows Discover Torrance Visitors Bureau - Del Amo Fashion Center.
Encino Terrace Center Gallery.
My little Pasion de Frida exhibit in San Francisco.
Villa Corona Cocina Mexicana, Napa CA.
Laguna Art Gallery.
Uvalde, TX (Donation).
Moreno Valley Festival of Arts.
The City of Moreno Valley - "Día de los Muertos".
Jurupa Valley “Día de Muertos”.
Loma Linda Art Association - Annual Spring/Summer Classic Exhibition Civic Center.
Diamond Bar Golf Course. Diamond Bar, CA
137
Artwork Proposal
138
139
140
141
Artwork Proposal
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
Artwork Proposal
153
154
rose sanctuary
The Rose Sanctuary offers a focal point for large outdoor
spaces, creating an imaginative place to rest, work, or play.
Built from two sections of the blade, this unique bench
features spacious 360-degree seating made from recycled
tires and shoes, an organically shaped arch offering
protection from the elements, backrests formed by the
blade, and stabilizing recycled aluminum feet.
seating materia.l
.·finishes
stone
recycled rubber
poured cush�o"ned surface
that's familiar yet unique,
PAR ··
PAR means·
Primed and Ready
155
156
Request for Proposals
Park Bench Beautification
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES
Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 10 p.m. PST
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The City of Palm Desert is inviting artists who are interested in creating artwork to
beautify a Rose Sanctuary Bench to be installed at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park
Pollinator Garden. The bench is made from recycled materials and promotes the City’s
dedication to protecting and beautifying our environment.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of Palm Desert is seeking artist proposals to create artwork that promotes the
National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.
“Mayors and other heads of local and tribal government are taking action to help
save the monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose eastern populations have
declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Through the
National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, U.S. cities, municipalities,
and other communities are committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and
pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home
and in their community.”
To learn more about the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, please visit:
https://www.nwf.org/MayorsMonarchPledge
The proposed artwork should also:
• Complement the Palm Desert Civic Center Park’s wide range of offerings and
age groups.
• Reflect our vibrant community.
• Must be family friendly.
Finalists will be required to submit artwork digitally so that it can be printed on and
installed as a vinyl wrap. The Palm Desert Cultural Arts Committee (CAC) will select
proposals that best fit the City’s objectives for this project. The City reserves the right to
contact artists prior to final selection for clarification of their proposal.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to any artist 18 and older interested in creating art for a Rose Sanctuary Bench as
described under PROJECT DESCRIPTION. The City of Palm Desert is committed to
inclusion and diversity and welcomes applicants of all faiths, creeds, ancestries, and
ethnicities without regard to disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or immigration
status.
ARTIST COMPENSATION
157
Request for Proposals
Palm Desert Bench Beautification
Page 2
The selected artist design(s) will be awarded an honorarium of $1,000, inclusive of artist
fees and supplies, for their original digital art design(s) to be installed as a vinyl wrap at
Palm Desert Civic Center Park. Upon selection of the design and execution of the
artist’s agreement, artists will receive an initial disbursement of $250 (25%), with the
remaining $750 (75%) paid upon completion of the project.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
1. All artwork must be an original design by the artist.
2. Artists may submit up to three proposals.
3. Art should be viewable from a distance and suitable for all ages.
4. Artwork must not contain political statements or persons; religious references,
symbols, or numbers; copyrighted or trademarked material; or corporate or
organizational branding.
CITY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. City is responsible for wrap fabrication and installation of selected designs.
2. City is responsible for maintenance of artwork.
3. The City will own all installed artwork and reserves the right to copy, reproduce
and adjust artwork as it sees fit, in perpetuity.
4. The City reserves the right to remove, replace, or adjust the artwork as
necessary for the duration of the project.
ARTIST RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Artist must supply high-resolution artwork digitally to be transferred to a vinyl
wrap.
2. Artist will be responsible for working directly with the printer/installer of the vinyl
to assist in adjusting all artwork, files, and necessary materials.
3. Artist will be responsible to accommodate the printer/installer’s design to the
specifications of the assigned bench.
4. The artist shall retain copyright of the artwork.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
1. Completed Artist Application Form
2. A current resume or CV.
3. Between 5 to 10 images of past work in JPEG or PDF format with a
corresponding image list.
4. Up to three JPEG or PDF files of full color scanned or computer generated
concept drawings or renderings of proposed artwork.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Completed submissions should be emailed to epowell@palmdesert.gov. Submissions
can also be mailed to:
City of Palm Desert
Attn: Public Art RFP
73510 Fred Waring Drive
158
Request for Proposals
Palm Desert Bench Beautification
Page 3
Palm Desert, California 92260
SUBMITTAL DEADLINE
Submittals must be received by email or via the mailing address listed above no later
than Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 10 p.m. PST. Proposals cannot be submitted in
person. Late or incomplete submittals will not be accepted.
SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA
Palm Desert’s Cultural Arts Committee (CAC) will review all completed submittals and
evaluate according to the following:
• Artist merit as evidenced by representation of past work.
• Artist’s proposed design(s).
• Identify the best fit for the City’s objectives described under PROJECT
DESCRIPTION.
• Submitted resume.
QUESTIONS
Inquiries should be directed to Erica Powell, Public Art Management Analyst – (760)
776-6346 or via email at epowell@palmdesert.gov.
DISCLAIMER
The City of Palm Desert reserves the right to reject any and all submittals and to decline
to award a contract for this project.
IMAGES OF ROSE SANCTUARY BENCH:
WIDTH: 103” – 133”
DEPTH: 72” – 90”
HEIGHT: 78” – 96”
SEAT HEIGHT: 19”
159
160
Page 1 of 1
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2024
PREPARED BY: Erica Powell, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: RELOCATE DESERT GATEWAY ROCK SCULPTURE BY HEATH
SATOW
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve relocation of Desert Gateway Rock Sculpture by Heath Satow and deaccession of the
monument sign.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
In 2006, the developer, RJ Ventures, LLC, installed the Desert Gateway Rock Sculpture by
Heath Satow at the southeast corner of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive, serving as a
public art installation and a city entry sign. As requested by the City Council, the original lettering
on the sculpture was removed, and a newly fabric ated sign was installed.
In May 2023, the City Council approved the replacement and installation of new monument signs
at various locations across Palm Desert, including the current site of the Desert Gateway Rock
Sculpture. To make way for a new monument sign, staff recommends the deaccession of the
existing sign and relocation of the sculpture within the development. Rothbart Development, as
the current owner of the sculpture under the Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, is responsible
for collaborating with staff to identify an appropriate new location within the development.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs related to relocating the artwork, which include deinstallation, construction of a
concrete art pad, electrical modifications, lighting, installation, and signage, are estimated not to
exceed $10,000. Funding is available in the Public Art budget to cover these expenses.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Original and Current Photographs
2. Current Location
3. Deaccession Worksheet
161
162
Desert Gateway Rock Sculpture by Heath Satow
Image from June 15, 2006
Image from May 3, 2023
163
164
Desert Gateway Rock Sculpture by Heath Satow
Current Location
165
166
City of Palm Desert Public Art Deaccessioning/Relocating Worksheet
Artist: Heath Satow
Title: Palm Desert Sign – Supplemental signage for Desert Gateway Rock Scuplture
Location of work: Southeast corner of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive
Name of property: Desert Gateway – Rothbart Development
Contact name: Erica Powell
Phone: (760) 776-6346 Extension: FAX:
Property owner at the time of commission: RJ Ventures, LLC / Stan Rothbart
Year commissioned/purchased: 2006
Purchase Price / Art in Public Places fee / Value at time of install: $15,000
Dimensions: Entry sign. abstracted rock made from rusted steel with stainless steel
letters for the sign.
Estimated current fair market value:
Source of estimation:
Proposed deaccession reviewed by City Attorney: Yes: No:
Detailed reason for deaccessioning artwork:
The City Council’s direction to replace and install a new monument sign.
Proposed deaccessioning method:
Dispose of the sign.
New location for work (if it is being moved):
Condition: Excellent Good X Fair Poor
Maintenance evaluation and instructions:
167
168
Page 1 of 1
CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 9, 2024
PREPARED BY: Erica Powell, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: RELOCATE ROADRUNNER SCULPTURE BY ALLEN ROOT
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve relocation of Roadrunner sculpture, by Allen Root, to Desert Willow Golf Resort.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
In 2004, the City installed the Roadrunner sculpture by Allen Root at the northwest corner of
Fred Waring Drive and Washington Street, where it functions both as a public artwork and a City
entry sign. Concurrently, Mr. Root designed and installed monument signs and fencing at Desert
Willow Golf Resort, using similar materials and design elements.
In May 2023, the City Council approved the replacement and installation of new monument signs
at various locations across Palm Desert, including the current site of the Roadrunner sculpture.
To better align the sculpture with a location that complements its design, staff recommends
relocating it to a new site northeast of the roundabout on Desert Willow Drive (closest address:
38-995 Desert Willow Drive).
The City is open to alternative locations, as long as they are located on City property and receive
approval from the appropriate City departments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs related to relocating the artwork, which include s deinstallation, construction of a
concrete art pad, electrical modifications, lighting, installation, and signage, are estimated not to
exceed $10,000. Funding is available in the Public Art budget to cover these expenses.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Roadrunner - Current and Proposed Location
2. Allen Root Artwork at Desert Willow Golf Resort
3. May 11, 2023, City Council Staff Report and Minutes
4. Deaccession Worksheet for Roadrunner
169
170
Roadrunner by Allen Root
Current Location
Intersection of Fred Waring Drive and Washington Street
171
Proposed Location
Northeast corner of Desert Willow roundabout on Desert Willow Drive
172
173
174
Desert Willow Golf Resort
Allen Root Artwork
Monument Sign on Country Club Drive at the entrance of Desert Willow Drive
Fencing located on the perimeter of Desert Willow Golf Resort:
one section pictured on Frank Sinatra Drive
175
Monument Sign at the intersection of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue
176
CC, SARDA, & HA Meeting Minutes May 11, 2023
City of Palm Desert
ALL ACTIONS ARE DRAFT PENDING APPROVAL OF THE FINAL MINUTES
2A. REQUEST FOR DIRECTION REGARDING THE WAYFINDING SIGN
PROGRAM MASTERPLAN PROJECT
Project Manager Leyva narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to City
Council inquiries.
MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER HARNIK, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER
NESTANDE, CARRIED 5-0, to move forward with options 1 and 3 to rebrand and
update the current wayfinding design, and to design, replace and install monument
signs at various locations throughout Palm Desert.
177
CITY OF PALM DESERT
STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 11, 2023
PREPARED BY: Martin Alvarez, Director of Public Works
Lucero Leyva, Project Manager
REQUEST: REQUEST FOR DIRECTION REGARDING THE WAYFINDING SIGN
PROGRAM MASTERPLAN PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide staff direction on modifications/improvements to the Wayfinding Sign Program and the
Entry Monument Signage.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS:
The City has installed throughout Palm Desert three different types of signature signage:
•City Limit Signs: 14 locations
•Entry Monument Signs: 5 locations
•Wayfinding Signs: 76 locations
The City Limit signs and the Entry Monument Signs indicate city corporation limits through
standard roadway signage or artistic entry features at key entry points to the community. The
City also has wayfinding signage throughout the City providing guidance to key community
destinations and local attractions. Please refer to the attached presentation and map for pictures
of each sign type and their locations.
History:
On March 13, 2008, City Council approved the "Wayfinding Program", including a wayfinding
sign design and appropriating $100,000 for the Wayfinding Program. The City Council also
authorized staff to solicit bids for the fabrication of the Wayfinding Program signs. The program
included the replacement of outdated brown signs with the new design developed by an internal
committee comprised of representatives from Public Works, Visitor Information Center, Business
Support, and Marketing. A total of 67 Wayfinding signs were designed.
On May 21, 2009, City Council awarded Zumar Industries, Inc. a $53,834 contract for the
fabrication and installation of the Wayfinding Signs Project. In 2016, Staff purchased and
installed seven additional Wayfinding Signs.
On March 23, 2023, during a study session, staff requested input from City Council members on
the Wayfinding Sign program.
Page 1 of 2
178
City of Palm Desert
Direction Requested for Wayfinding Sign Program
DISCUSSION:
Staff requests direction for the Wayfinding Sign Program:
•Option 1: (Estimated Cost of $395,000*) Rebrand and update the current wayfinding
design. Items that could be considered during this process are:
o Identify new wayfinding panel locations.
o Identify new points of interest.
o Incorporate design elements that consider interchangeability and night visibility.
o Evaluate current locations for street-level visibility, placement, and maintenance.
•Or Option 2: (Estimated Cost of $180,000*) Keep current design, but update panels to
reflect new points of interest and/or new local attractions. This would include creating a
list that would implement uniformity in how points of interest are addressed throughout
the city. Identify and replace panels that need maintenance.
•Option 3: (Estimated Cost of $150-200,000*) Design and install a 6th monument sign at
Cook Street/I-10 City entrance.
*Estimates include a 10% Contingency and a 12% Inflation Rate.
Staff is seeking direction from City Council on the abovementioned options to identify a potential
scope of work for FY 23/24. Staff estimates $250,000 for study and design and $250,000 for
construction and installation.
Strategic Plan:
This project advances Strategic Plan Tourism and Marketing Priority 1: Improve access to Palm
Desert and its attractions to enhance the ease of lifestyle.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Should the City Council direct staff to move forward with the Wayfinding Sign Program, $250,000
in Measure A Funds have been included in the proposed Capital Improvement Project (CIP) List
for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and 2024-25 for a total of $500,000; therefore, there will be no financial
impact on the general fund.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director:
Finance Director:
Assistant City Manager:
City Manager:
ATTACHMENTS:
1 . Wayfinding Signs Map
Martin Alvarez
John Ramont for Veronica Chavez
Chris Escobedo
Todd Hileman
2.Study Session: Wayfinding Sign Program Presentation
Page 2 of 2
179
Wayfinding, Monuments, and MUTCD Green signs
3/6/2023
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Loma Linda University. City of Palm Desert. County of Riverside, Bureau of
Land Management, Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, NGA, EPA, USDA, NPS
180
City of Palm Desert
Wayfinding Sign Program
City Council Meeting
May 11, 2023
181
. . ..Palm Desert
. CITY LIMIT . ,
POP 50,907 ELEV 224
Overview of the
Wayfinding Sign Program
•Review Current Sign Locations
•Review Existing Art Monument Signs
•Review Existing Wayfinding Signs
•Request for Direction
182
Current Sign
Locations
Map Legend
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Wayfinding Signs '
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183
Art Monument Signs
•Five Located at main entrances to the city
•Funded by the Art in Public Places Program
•2004 Art Sign Restoration pending
approval of Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget
184
Wayfinding Signs
•Wayfinding Program Approved March 2008
•76 located around the City
•Signs Reserved for Civic Locations and Major
Community Attractions:
•Parks/Desert Wi I low
•CSUSB-PDC/UCR
•College of the Desert
•Visitor Center/Chamber of Commerce
•El Paseo
•The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
•Historical Society
•McCallum Theater
185
Request for Direction
•Option 1: (Est $395,000)
•Rebrand and update the current wayfinding
design. To include:
•New Wayfinding Panel Locations
•New Points of Interest
•Design Elements: Night Visibility and
Interchangeability
•Evaluate Current Locations
•Or Option 2: (Est $180,000)
•Keep Current Design
•Update Panels to reflect new points of interest
and/or new local attractions
•Identify and replace panels that need
maintenance
•Option 3: (Est $150-200,000)
•Design and Install a 6th Monument sign on Cook
Street/1-10 City Entrance
186
1111 Discussion/Questions
i"
187
City of Palm Desert
Wayfinding Sign Program
City Council Meeting
May 11, 2023
188
City of Palm Desert Public Art Deaccessioning/Relocating Worksheet
Artist: Allen Root
Title: The Roadrunner
Location of work: Northeast corner of Fred Waring Drive and Washington Street
Name of property:
Contact name: City of Palm Desert, Erica Powell
Phone: 760-776-6346 Extension: FAX:
Property owner at the time of commission:
Year commissioned/purchased: 2003/2004 ______
Purchase Price / Art in Public Places fee / Value at time of install: $50,000____
Dimensions: Height: Width: Depth: Weight:
Estimated current fair market value:
Source of estimation:
Proposed deaccession reviewed by City Attorney: Yes: No: X
Detailed reason for deaccessioning artwork:
At the direction of the City Council, a proposal has been made to relocate the sculpture
to Desert Willow Golf Resort
Proposed deaccessioning method: Relocation
New location for work (if it is being moved): Northeast of the roundabout on Desert
Willow Drive.
Condition: Excellent Good X Fair Poor
Maintenance evaluation and instructions: Wash with non-caustic soap and water.
189
190
Cultural Arts Committee
Year 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
Month Sep Aug July Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
Day 11 10 12 8 10 13 14 10 13 8
Adney, Carol P - P P P P P P - - P - 0 0
Boren, Maureen P - E E P P P P - - P - 0 2
Flint, Lori P - E P P P P P - -P - 0 1
Hauer, Liz P - P P P P P P - - P - 0 0
Mitze, Tom P - P P P P P P - - P - 0 0
Rose, Pia P - P E P P P P - - E - 0 2
Simley, Ann P - P P P P P P - - P - 0 0
Stone Kristen Olson (Alt.)A - P P P P A A - - E - NA NA
P Present
P Remote
A Absent
E Excused
-No Meeting
Resigned/Not Yet Appointed
Palm Desert Municipal Code 2.34.010
Monthly: Three unexcused absences from regular meeting in any twelve-month period shall constitute an automatic resignation of members holding
office on boards that meet bimonthly.
Please contact the Recording Secretary to discuss any attendance concerns.
Total Absences
Unexcused Excused
191