Jacobs Center Creative Placemaking Partner Program
Creative Placemaking is both a philosophy and a hands-on approach that inspires us to reimagine and reinvent public spaces, strengthening the connection between people and place. Placemaking utilizes a community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, in the creation of quality public spaces that contribute to people’s health, happiness, and sense of connectedness.
The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is excited to release the FY 2017 Creative Placemaking Partnership Grant application. For this grant cycle we will fund proposals that support elements of our 2016-2017 Arts Strategy including:
Activating Space: Utilizing the natural and built environment we create “places” for community to come together and develop a shared identity. Projects and related programming or activities can take place anywhere in the Diamond Neighborhoods or along the Barrio Logan/Downtown corridor and trolley line connecting to Southeastern San Diego, as long as primary activities are centered within the Diamond Neighborhoods. Types of projects can include: pop-up installations, performances, public art, wall murals, street art.
Creative Capital for Emerging Artists and Arts Enterprises: Untapped talent is a key ingredient in transforming community; emerging artists and art forms provide an important view into the identity and evolution of place. Projects can support an emerging artists’ original work; a consortium of artists working together on multiple or joint projects; serve as a platform for artists to convene and form networks; or support an arts enterprise/ business. Projects in this category may include a digital component. Priority in this category will be given to artists from, working in or connected to Southeastern San Diego.
Community Engagement Projects: We believe in the arts as process as well as product, and as a tool for civic engagement, inclusion and equity. We support projects and programs that elevate community voice and use the arts as a tool to further civic discourse. Projects should demonstrate depth of community engagement and an eye toward solutions. Strong projects will address a community issue, need or opportunity such as: safety, mobility, education, workforce development, and beautification to name a few. Festivals may apply in this category. Cross-sector collaborations with organizations focused in the aforementioned areas strongly encouraged.
What projects are eligible for funding?
Projects that promote the connection between people and place; create shared values and community identity; activate public spaces; and contribute to people’s health, happiness, and sense of connectedness. Projects should promote learning and build networks through the use of diverse art forms: performing, visual, multi-media. Activities must be accessible to the public and assist in building a vibrant cultural destination and arts district. Anyone may apply. Applicants that do not have IRS 501(c) (3) status must provide evidence of a fiscal sponsor agreement with an appropriate organization at the time the grant is received.
How much can a group or organization request?
Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000.
When do we apply?
Proposals are reviewed once a year. Deadlines and other key dates for FY 2017 are as follows:
| Project Takes Place | Deadline to Submit Letter of Intent | Invitation for full proposal | TA workshop for full proposals | Full proposals due | Final Projects notified |
| October 2016 – September 2017* | August 5, 2016, 5 p.m. | August 15, 2016 | August 26th | September 16th | September 30th |
*Pending funding availability
How are proposals evaluated?
Each application is reviewed by a committee and evaluated on the following criteria:
- Application clearly demonstrates one or more of the outlined strategies listed above
- Project demonstrates quality, creativity and innovation
- Strength and clarity of project purpose, goals, and outcomes
- Project involves artists and arts organizations from Southeastern San Diego
- Project engages residents and community from Southeastern San Diego
- Project has the ability to reach a broad and diverse audience
- Strategy for documenting attendance
- Good demonstration of cross-sector and multi-cultural collaboration
- Proper visual renderings and design documents as needed
How do we apply?
A Letter of Intent to apply is due on August 5th at 5 p.m. via e-mail to Vhamilton@jacobscenter.org . Full grant applications will be by invitation only.
For those that are invited to submit a full application, attendance at a site visit and/or technical assistance workshop will be required and scheduled for August 26th.
Please submit a brief letter of intent (no more than two pages) with the following information:
Contact Information
Your name and title
Who you represent
E-mail address and phone number
Link to your website
Describe Your Project
The name of your project
Identify which Placemaking strategy(s) your project addresses
Describe the project (who, what, where, when and how)