Guidelines: Community-Run Public Art Microgrant Program

Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair, and transparent processes. If you have any questions, want feedback on your application or if it’s your first time applying, please don’t hesitate to contact us for support.

While we may not be able to meet in person at this time, our team is available to provide support over the phone, through email, or through the use of audio and video platforms.

Please see Investment Program FAQ for answers to common questions, and contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible. Staff can provide feedback on your application up to one week before application deadlines.

We will work one-on-one with applicants who experience barriers to access to develop accommodations that suit their abilities and situations. Some examples of accommodations are:

• Translation of written materials into other languages.
• Transcription of verbal meetings or audio and video recordings into a written document.
• Verbal video or audio applications. If you would prefer to answer the application questions verbally you can submit an audio or video recording of yourself or our staff can help record your responses using an online platform, such as Zoom.
• Language interpretation for phone or video meetings (Note: This will depend on the availability of external service agencies).
• Grant writing assistance if you need help.

You may be eligible for application assistance to pay someone to help you prepare and submit an application if you need it or for any of the reasons listed below:

• An artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness.
• An artist facing language, geographic or cultural barriers.

Please contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.264.5330 to inquire about application assistance.

Recognizing that public art opportunities can come from grassroots ideas that are initiated and led by communities, Calgary Arts Development invites proposals for community-run public art projects. The program is intended to promote economic revitalization in the city of Calgary.

This opportunity is open to community-run organizations, including informal groups that define themselves in terms of distinct communities, neighborhood associations, and non-profit organizations or charitable organizations.

Community-run organizations in Calgary are invited to apply for funding to hire local artists and create public art in their neighbourhoods. Communities are required to team up with local artists at any level of experience to explore any form of public art in any part of the city.

The program seeks to inspire Calgarians and support local artists that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an opportunity for community-initiated public art projects.

Projects must address one of the following five themes:

Foster truth & reconciliation

Learning about the truth of Canadian colonization and its ongoing impact on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.  Explore and create paths towards reconciliation and right relations with Indigenous peoples and the land.

Focus on justice, inclusion, and human dignity

Focus on ways to build connections around local and global concerns. Introduce art that reflects the diversity of the cultures, languages, and people in our communities.

Uncover little-known stories about the city or overlooked histories

Team up with artists, Indigenous Elders or historians to create a project that connects people to places and spaces in different ways. Celebrate overlooked people and events and the diversity or diverse learnings of your community. Restore or uncover names of places.

Explore stories of your community

Create and share stories of how local businesses or community organizations tell the story of where you live and what makes your community unique.

Bring beauty, joy, whimsy, and hope

Art doesn’t have to be political or serious. Introduce whimsy, surprise, and joy to your community.

This opportunity is open to community-run organizations, including informal groups that define themselves in terms of distinct communities, neighborhood associations, and non-profit organizations or charitable organizations.

We will only accept one application per group, and only one application per project. You may not receive more than one Calgary Arts Development grant for the same project or phase of a project. Success in this program does not affect your eligibility to apply to other Calgary Arts Development grant investment programs.

This program cannot fund projects retroactively, meaning that projects that have begun before the deadline of October 18, 2021, are not eligible.

Projects funded through this program must be completed by September 30, 2022.

Communities may apply for up to $10,000 to support eligible projects.

Total funding available for this program is $100,000.

As part of our responsibility to Calgarians to ensure equitable access to public funding, Calgary Arts Development is dedicated to addressing and working to eliminate institutional inequity in our programs, policies, and practices. We also acknowledge that our actions—both conscious and unconscious, past and present—have benefited some communities while limiting opportunities and outcomes for others.

This opportunity is open to community-run organizations, including informal groups that define themselves in terms of distinct communities, neighborhood associations, and non-profit organizations or charitable organizations in Calgary.

Activities must take place in Calgary, and applicants must either be Calgary-based, or be able to demonstrate that they regularly make significant contributions to the arts that are accessible to Calgarians. If the applicant is not based in the city, Calgary Arts Development staff will determine eligibility through the applicant’s commitment to the arts and the scope of activities within Calgary’s arts community.

We acknowledge that there are many artists who are new to the city of Calgary and may not be familiar with what grant programs are available, if they are eligible to apply, or if they’re able to receive a grant from a public funder. Artists do not need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in order to receive a grant, but you do need to be able to report on this grant to Canada Revenue Agency. If you are a newcomer, immigrant or refugee artist and have questions or concerns, please know that our program staff are available to help navigate your unique circumstances and provide support.

We will only accept one application per group, and only one application per project. You may not receive more than one Calgary Arts Development grant for the same project or phase of a project. Success in this program does not affect your eligibility to apply to other Calgary Arts Development grant investment programs.

Please contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about eligibility before you begin your application.

A portion of the budget must be used to hire local artists to help carry out the project.

The artwork must be publicly accessible.

The artwork must be safe for public interaction.

The location (if applicable) must be approved by the site owner. The project applicant is responsible for obtaining approval from the site owner. For approval on City land, assistance can be provided if your project is approved for the grant. Please contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about submitting a project on City land before submitting an application.

The artwork must be owned and maintained by the community or the private site owner for the duration of its lifespan (and it is recommended the artwork is designed to require little to no maintenance).

Projects that require engineering approvals will not be considered (including sculptures).

Calgary Arts Development supports The City of Calgary’s response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action, as documented in the White Goose Flying report. All applicants are encouraged to reflect on their journey and understanding of what Truth and Reconciliation is, and how it may relate to their proposed projects. Successful applicants are required to participate in a Truth and Reconciliation Learning Session prior to commencement of community engagement for the project.

If your work includes Indigenous content, works with Indigenous people, or would like to include Indigenous knowledge or ways of knowing and doing, it is recommended that applicants read:

• Calls to Action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• White Goose Flying report

Within 90 days of the project’s completion, microgrant recipients are required to complete a final report about their experiences, including images of their project.

Public art projects should have a clear start and end date, with a specific set of goals and must be publicly accessible. This program cannot fund projects retroactively, meaning that projects cannot begin before the application deadline.

This program supports projects that must be completed by September 30, 2022.

Please note that the eligible and ineligible expenses and activities listed below are given as examples and are not exclusive. If you have questions about eligible expenses or activities, please contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Eligible Expenses

Funding up to $10,000 is available to support projects.

The successful applicant is responsible for managing their project budget.

There are no additional funds available for cost overruns.

A portion of the budget must be used to hire a local artist(s) to carry out the project.

Projects will be reviewed by program staff for budget feasibility to determine if the budget is appropriate for the type of art proposed, and whether the budget appropriately pays artists, Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, collaborators, etc. If the budget is not appropriate for the project, program staff may ask applicants to resubmit their proposal.

Funds from this program may go towards almost any expenses that are directly related to your project and its goals, for example:

• Accessibility expenses
• Artist fees
• Documentation
• Engagement expenses
• Fabrication expenses
• Honorariums
• Materials
• Marketing, publicity or outreach
• Meeting expenses
• Purchase of equipment, including hardware (up to a maximum of $1,000 total)
• Professional fees (e.g., fees paid to individuals offering professional services such as web design, publicity or marketing, financial, accounting or legal services, etc.)
• Rental of equipment or space
• Technical fees (e.g., web service fees, licensing fees etc.)

Ineligible Expenses

Funds from this program are not intended to support any of the following:

• Lost wages or salaries
• Purchase of or financial contribution towards equipment, land, or buildings over a total of $1,000 (capital expenditures)
• Purchase of any equipment not directly related to the project
• Tuition, or other costs related to post-secondary or credit, degree, certificate, or diploma granting educational programs or artistic work related to those educational programs

Ineligible Activities

This program is not intended to support any of the following:

• Art projects that are not publicly accessible.
• Projects started before the application deadline.
• Projects related to post-secondary or credit, degree, certificate, or diploma granting educational programs or artistic work related to those educational programs.
• Fundraising activities (e.g., activities undertaken for the purpose of raising funds on behalf of a political party or charity).
• Contests and competitions (e.g., grant funding cannot be re-granted in the form of prizes or awards).
• Activities that do not comply with or respect cultural protocols.
• Activities that use or present Indigenous cultural material, traditional knowledge or stories without permission from the community.
• Activities that promote hatred or intolerance.
• Activities that are illegal or contravene provincial or federal law.
• Activities related to campaigning for a specific political candidate or party in an election.

Applications will be reviewed by program staff for site approvals prior to selection panel review. Projects that do not meet siting review criteria will not be considered.

Siting Considerations:

• Private Land: The location of the artwork needs to be approved by the site owner. A copy of a written agreement or letter of commitment with the site owner will be requested.
• If the proposed artwork is to be on public land, it is the responsibility of the artist or artist team to determine if it is City owned or provincially owned (call 311).
• It is not recommended for the artwork to be placed on provincially owned land.
• City Land: If the proposed artwork is to be on City land (i.e., parks, roads) or City infrastructure (i.e., pedestrian underpass) the applicant is required to collaborate with their community association to support the project. A copy of a written agreement or letter of commitment with the association will be requested before the location of the artwork can be approved by The City. Additional assistance can be provided to work with The City after the project is commissioned.

All eligible submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel consisting of one Indigenous Elder, two Moh’kinsstis Public Art Guiding Circle representatives, one arts professional, and three community members.

Assessment committees are chosen to represent the broad diversity of Calgary and its artistic communities, including but not limited to: artistic discipline, gender, sexuality, age, religion, beliefs, nation, physical and neurological identities, etc.

Conflicts of Interest: Calgary Arts Development defines conflicts of interest as close family members, people who are involved in the activity being applied for or where there is a real or perceived financial benefit. If in doubt, assessors are encouraged to talk with Calgary Arts Development staff.

If a committee member has applied to the program or declared a conflict of interest, they will not assess those specific applications or be present for any discussions of those applications.

Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by emailing publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Selection Criteria

The selection panel will select project applications based on how their submissions meet the evaluation criteria below (rated out of a possible total 100 points).

1. Explain how your idea relates to the project theme chosen? (30 points)
2. Community Engagement (40 points)
   • How will you and the artists include community engagement in your project? (e.g., Is the artist having discussions with the community? Are community members participating in informing the artwork concept or the creation of the artwork?)
   • Responsiveness to community engagement; understanding of the project’s context in the community.
3. Community Benefit (30 points)
   • Explain how the project will benefit the community? What difference do you hope to make in your community or beyond?
4. Budget Feasibility
   • Does the budget appropriately pay artists, Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, collaborators, etc.?
   • Is the budget appropriate for the type of art proposed?

Committees will read applications and rate each criteria section, A, B, and C above, out of 10. The budget, criteria section D, will be rated as either appropriate or inappropriate.

Each criterion will be rated out of a score of 10 and will be multiplied based on the available points in each section. For example, a score of 7 out of 10 on community engagement will equal 28/40.

Scoring Guidelines

10	Exceeds expectations
8	Somewhat exceeds expectations
6	Meets expectations
4	Somewhat meets expectations
2	Does not meet expectations
0	Lack of valid response

Calgary Arts Development staff will download each assessor’s evaluations into a scoresheet.

The committee will discuss each application and make final funding decisions in a meeting facilitated by the public art staff.

Assessment committees are held to the Group Agreements intended to commit to open, generous, and respectful evaluations and communications.

Please see the Disclosure of Grant Information Policy for information about how Calgary Arts Development collects and uses information submitted through grant applications.

The Investment Program FAQ includes answers to common questions, definitions of terms, and some helpful suggestions. It may be helpful to review these as well as the program criteria as you work through your application.

Staff are available to assist applicants, answer questions and provide feedback on your drafted application, up to one week before the program deadline. If you would like assistance or feedback, please call 403.264.5330 or email publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible.

Further description and information about each application requirement can be found in the application form in the grant interface.

Please note that the grant interface uses character counts, rather than word counts. Keep in mind that the maximum character amounts listed below are not necessarily the goal—if you can be clear and succinct in fewer words that is great. These ranges are merely suggestions for each of the written sections.

• Organization submitting application
• Organization type (e.g., non-profit, community association, etc.)
• Contact Information (name, address, phone, email)
• Organization website (if available)
• Organization mission statement
• Project name
• Brief description (1,000 character maximum)
• Total funding request
• Project start date
• Project end date
• What is the name of the artist or artists that you are collaborating with on this project?
  • Please provide a letter of interest or letter of commitment from the artists hired to collaborate on this project. If you are the artist, a letter of commitment is not required.
• ​​What kind of public art are you creating? (Examples: mural, painted utility box, experiential, participatory, performance, social practice)
• Project category:
  • Uncover little-known stories about the city or overlooked histories
  • Focus on justice, inclusion, and human dignity
  • Foster truth and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples
  • Explore stories of your community
  • Bring beauty, joy, whimsy, and hope
• How does your idea relate to the project categories chosen? (1,000 character maximum)
• What is the artistic outcome of this project?
• Are you (or will you be) collaborating with Indigenous Elders or Knowledge Keepers?
  • Please include an email or letter from the Elder to show that you have had these conversations and they are aware of their participation.
  • Notes:
    • Successful applicants are required to pay Elders and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers to acknowledge their time and efforts to support your project. This should be included in your project budget.
    • We encourage successful applicants to include a Treaty 7 Land Acknowledgment protocol within their project.
  • If your work includes Indigenous content, works with Indigenous people, or would like to include Indigenous knowledge or ways of knowing and doing?
    • Recommendations:
      • Engage with Indigenous communities, Indigenous Elders or Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.
      • Include Indigenous Elders or Indigenous Knowledge Keepers on your project team.
      • Engage with Fort Calgary, Glenbow Museum, Blackfoot Crossing, Native Student Centre, etc.
    • If the project category is Foster Truth and Reconciliation Between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples:
      • Does your proposed project connect to the Calls to Action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada? If so, which calls?
      • Suggestions for research:
        • Calls to Action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
        • White Goose Flying report
      • Community Engagement: Explain how you will include community engagement in your project (e.g., Who in the community do you propose to engage with? Is the artist having discussions with the community? Are community members participating in informing the artwork concept and/or the creation of the artwork?) (2,500 character maximum)
      • How will the project benefit the community? (1,250 character maximum)
      • Proposed location of project
        • Who owns the site:
          • Private land
          • City land
        • Will the artwork be publicly accessible? How is it accessible to the public? (1,250 character maximum)
        • Do you have approvals to use the site?
          • For private land, please attach a letter of commitment from the site owner.
          • For approval on City land, assistance can be provided if your project is shortlisted for the grant.
        • What is the anticipated lifespan of the artwork?
          • It is recommended the artwork be temporary (have a lifespan of five years or less).
        • Who will own the artwork for the duration of its designated lifespan? Will it become the property of the community association, community group, private site owner?
          • Note: The City of Calgary will not own or maintain the artwork even if it is located on City land. The artwork must be owned and maintained by the community or the artist for the duration of its designated lifespan.
        • Who will be responsible for the maintenance of the artwork for the duration of its designated lifespan? (e.g., the artist, the community association, the community group, the private site owner).
          • Note: The City of Calgary will not own or maintain the artwork even if it is located on City land. The artwork must be owned and maintained by the community or the artist for the duration of its designated lifespan.
        • Tell us about any safety concerns you foresee, and how you will address them. (e.g., is there a risk of the artwork falling on anyone, is there a climbing risk, does the artwork have sharp or pointed edges, etc.)
          • Note: Projects that require engineering approvals will not be considered in this grant, including sculptures, and objects with moving parts.
        • Do you have other funding sources? If so, please describe them. Are they pending or confirmed?

Attachments

• Letter of interest or letter of commitment from the artist you will be collaborating with.
• Letter of interest or letter of commitment from all other collaborators (community association, site owner) if applicable.
• Project timeline or work plan.
• Project budget (upload and use the required standard template).
• Support material (up to four optional upload fields, maximum 3MB each, video and audio material should be provided as a link).

Audio or video files cannot be directly uploaded to the granting interface. Instead, they must be uploaded to a file sharing site such as YouTube, Vimeo or Dropbox with the link provided in the application. If the link requires a password to access the audio or video file, please provide that in your application as well. Please contact us early on if you require assistance.

Application Templates

Project Budget

Policies

Deadline Extension Policy
Accessibility & Accommodation Policy
Disclosure of Grant Information Policy

Other

Group Agreements
Application Assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
Assessor Nomination Form

Applicants will be notified of their results by email. Successful applicants will be sent an investment agreement via Docusign and are required to sign and return the agreement within 30 days of receiving it in order to receive funding.

We use electronic fund transfers to make grant payments. If your application is approved, you will be required to provide a void cheque or direct deposit form with your banking information. Please let us know if you need any help with this.

Final Reporting

We’re interested in hearing how the grant benefitted your community and what you learned through the process. We will ask you to report this back to us through a final report online, due 90 days after your final activity.

We would like to know:

• What you accomplished and how this changed or helped your community. We are also curious about any learnings or changes from your original proposal.
• How the project advanced or served the theme selected.
• How this funding impacted your communities (others involved) or your own sense of community.
• How the grant funds were spent. Please upload a new budget with actuals. Please keep receipts and invoices for tax purposes. You may also be asked to provide them.
• Please share any materials that resulted from your activities, such as images, website links, video or audio material, written samples, etc.
• Optional: Anything else you’d like to share with Calgary Arts Development.

Successful applicants may also be asked to participate in optional surveys, research, and peer-to-peer learning. Please contact publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about reporting requirements.