Nominations sought for 2019 AMOCAT Arts Awards

AMOCAT Arts Award illustration designed by Chandler O’Leary

The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting nominations for the 2019 AMOCAT Arts Awards, which recognize the people and organizations that positively impact Tacoma with their passion, innovation and commitment to the arts. Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 4, 2019.

The Tacoma Arts Commission will review all nominations and select one finalist in each award category based on the breadth and depth of the nominee’s community impact as well as the quality of the work being done by the nominee. Mayor Victoria Woodards will present the 2019 AMOCAT Arts Awards at Kaleidoscope, the Tacoma Arts Month opening party on Oct. 2, 2019.

Award Categories:

1. Community Outreach by an Individual– Community outreach, engagement and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an individual
2. Community Outreach by an Organization– Community outreach, engagement and involvement in the arts in Tacoma by an organization
3. Arts Patron– A community partner who significantly supports or contributes to the arts in Tacoma

To Make a Nomination:

Fill out the online nomination form via Submittable: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit. You must create a Submittable account in order to complete the form.

Past Award Winners:

In the category of Community Outreach by an Individual, past winners include: Jackie Fender, Michael Haeflinger, Christopher Paul Jordan, Connie K. Walle, Jessica Spring, David Domkoski, Katy Evans, Stella Haioulani, Oliver Doriss, William Kupinse, Linda Danforth, Lance Kagey & Tom Llewellyn, Laura and Matt Eklund, Jared Pappas-Kelley & Michael S. Lent, and Lynn Di Nino.

In the category of Community Outreach by an Organization, past winners include: Tacoma Little Theatre, Monkeyshines, Tacoma Youth Symphony Association, Tacoma Public Library, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Puget Sound Book Artists, The Grand Cinema, D.A.S.H. Center for the Arts, Fab-5, Hilltop Artists, King’s Books, Victory Music, Barefoot Studios, Tacoma School of the Arts, Tacoma Art Museum & Museum of Glass Education Programs, and Arts Impact.

In the category of Arts Patron, past winners include: MultiCare Health System, Tacoma Housing Authority, Metro Parks Tacoma, University of Washington Tacoma, ArtsFund, Erivan and Helga Haub and Family, Key Bank, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Urban Grace Church, City Arts, Hotel Murano, The Weekly Volcano, 6th Avenue Business District, Pierce Transit, and Sound Transit Art Program.

More Information:

More information about the AMOCAT Arts Awards is available at cityoftacoma.org/amocat.

Tacoma Arts Month is coming, what do you have planned?

Call for Arts Activities
18th annual Tacoma Arts Month
October 1 – 31, 2019

Will you be hosting an arts event in October? Do you want to contribute to the arts programming offered in Tacoma, build community, and benefit from free publicity?
Submit your arts activity for inclusion in the 2019 Tacoma Arts Month online calendar!

The Tacoma Arts Commission is seeking submissions of arts activities happening during Tacoma Arts Month this October. We are looking for a variety of activities spanning all categories of art and culture including but not limited to music, visual art, literary art, dance, theater, and film.

If you will be hosting an exhibition, performance, class, workshop, reception, lecture, tour, artists’ market, celebration, meeting, presentation, or any other programming, let us know. We will list your arts event in an interactive and searchable online calendar of events on tacomaartsmonth.com. There is no cost to you. We will be promoting the many events going on throughout the month through newspaper and magazine advertisements and articles, electronic newsletters, television ads, radio ads, and through a variety of social media outlets.

This month would not be possible without the participation of local businesses, organizations, and community members. We encourage you to participate by hosting your own arts activity or event.

The deadline for the first round of submissions is August 5, 2019. We will accept activities on a rolling basis after that but submitting your information by August 5^th will ensure that your activity is included in the first round of information that will go out.

To Qualify:

Your arts activity must be located within the City of Tacoma limits and occur during the month of October.

To Participate:

Fill out the online submission form via Submittable: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit. Please note: If you are submitting multiple events, please fill out an individual form for each event.

Questions? Contact Chevi Chung at (253) 591-5171 or cchung1@cityoftacoma.org or Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org

Call for Tacoma Artists: 2019 Tacoma Studio Tour

Application deadline: Monday, July 1, 2019, 11:59 pm

Tacoma Studio Tour dates: Saturday, October 12 & Sunday, October 13, 2019

Are you a professional artist that lives in Tacoma and/or has a working studio in Tacoma? Help us advance the visibility of the arts in Tacoma by applying to participate in our 18^th annual Tacoma Studio Tour! The Tacoma Studio Tour is an exciting way to open your studio to the public, give demonstrations of how you make your work, or host a hands-on activity for the community.

The Tacoma Arts Commission is seeking professional artists who are willing to open their studios to the public for the Tacoma Studio Tour, one of the features of Tacoma Arts Month this October. The emphasis of this tour is to raise visibility of the arts and provide artistic opportunities for the community to connect to the arts. We encourage artists to have work for sale. Studios will be open on Saturday, October 12^th and Sunday, October 13^th from 11 am to 5 pm. Artists can choose to be open on Saturday, Sunday, or both days. The Tacoma Arts Commission will produce extensive electronic publicity materials including email newsletters, social media posts, and an interactive website and map. We will also produce a printed brochure for the Tacoma Studio Tour. The studio tours are free to both the artists and visitors. Artists are encouraged to use the Tacoma Arts Month publicity materials to invite personal guests and patrons to attend this event.

This year, we will be continuing the Studio Tour Passport program as an incentive for people to visit new and/or multiple studios. Each studio space will receive a unique stamp to indicate guests’ attendance. Studio Tour artists are encouraged, but not required, to donate a small art item that can be included in the prize packages.

Deadline for applications is Monday, July 1, 2019, 11:59 pm. Applicants will be juried in a competitive process by a sub-committee of the Tacoma Arts Commission and selected based on the quality of artwork and the overall diversity of the work presented, as well as geographic diversity of the studios.

People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Eligibility:

• You must live within the City of Tacoma limits and/or your working studio must be located within the City of Tacoma limits
• You must provide a demonstration of your art form and/or provide a hands-on activity for attendees
• You must actively promote the Studio Tour to your own contacts

If you would like to be a guest at another studio, the above guidelines still apply. A studio is defined as a location where artwork is created on a consistent basis.

To Apply:

Eligible artists interested in this opportunity must fill out the online application form and attach the following items via Submittable: https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit

1. Five Work Samples: Submit 5 high quality JPEG files of your past work or 5 video/URL samples of your work, if you work in performance or media. If selected for the tour, we will use the images in materials produced for Tacoma Arts Month. Images must be at least 300 ppi resolution. Images smaller than 600 pixels per side are not recommended
2. Artist Resume or Bio (if you have not participated in the Studio Tour in the past 2 years)

Please note: each artist in a group studio needs to submit their own application, work samples, and artist bio.

Questions? Contact Naomi Strom-Avila at 253.591.5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org

Tacoma Creates Pre-Application Survey Now Available

Tacoma Creates Pre-Application Survey

About this Survey
Tacoma-based arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations that provide public programming in Tacoma are invited to complete the Tacoma Creates Pre-Application Survey. This survey is intended to help the City of Tacoma’s Office of Arts & Cultural Vitality understand the field of organizations who may be eligible to apply for Tacoma Creates funding. It will also help us plan appropriate Tacoma Creates funding programs and capacity building opportunities.

Fill out the Survey
The survey is available online at tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit. Only one person per organization should complete this survey.

Organizations are strongly encouraged to complete this survey by Monday, May 20, 2019 in order to help build the most informed funding programs possible. Surveys will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis after this date. All organizations that intend to apply for Tacoma Creates funding will be required to complete this survey first.

Please help spread the word about this survey and share the survey link with other Tacoma-based arts, culture, heritage, and science organizations!

What is Tacoma Creates?
Tacoma Creates is a voter-approved initiative to increase access to arts, culture, heritage, and science experiences throughout Tacoma by reducing barriers to access and expanding offerings, particularly for underserved youth. Tacoma Creates was established to expand equity and access to Tacoma’s arts, culture, science and heritage programs. Examples of public benefits include:

• Increased opportunities for children and youth through before and after school, and summer programs
• Financial and technical support for community programs, events, and activities
• Free and reduced-price tickets, admission, and memberships to arts, culture, heritage, and science experiences, with a focus on lower income families and public school students

Find out more about Tacoma Creates at www.cityoftacoma.org/TacomaCreates.

Tacoma Creates Eligibility
Under state law, eligibility for Tacoma Creates funding extends to any 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organization in Tacoma, whose primary purpose is the advancement and preservation of science or technology, the visual or performing arts, zoology, botany, anthropology, heritage, or natural history. These organizations must also have at least a two-year track record of directly providing programming or experiences available to the general public. Programs and projects can be fiscally sponsored by eligible organizations.

Excluded from eligibility is any agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions; any municipal corporation; any organization that raises funds for redistribution to multiple cultural organizations; and any radio or television broadcasting network or station, cable communications system, internet-based communications venture or service, newspaper, or magazine.

Questions?
Email contact@tacomacreates.com

Are you Tacoma’s next Poet Laureate?

2017-2019 Tacoma Poet Laureate Kellie Richardson performs at the Tacoma Arts Month opening party.

Call to Artists for 2019-2021 Tacoma Poet Laureate

Application Deadline: February 18, 2019, 11:59 pm

Stipend: $4,000

OPPORTUNITY
The Tacoma Arts Commission announces the eighth annual Tacoma Poet Laureate competition, the winner of which will be named Tacoma Poet Laureate for 2019-2021.

The Tacoma Poet Laureate will hold the title for a period of two years, from May 2019 to April 2021, and receive a stipend of $4,000.  The individual will actively contribute to and advance Tacoma’s literary community in meaningful ways through readings, performances, workshops, presentations, publications and/or special projects; participate in Tacoma Arts Month each October; and help produce the 2021 Tacoma Poet Laureate ceremony to announce the next Poet Laureate. The Poet Laureate is expected to determine the direction, focus, and appropriate public components for their term of service.

In keeping with the City of Tacoma’s Equity and Empowerment Initiative, the Tacoma Poet Laureate should actively strive to engage the breadth of Tacoma’s citizenry, expanding access to the literary arts to underserved/underrepresented audiences including people of different races/ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation and identity, ability, and income.

People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups are encouraged to apply.

Current Tacoma Poet Laureate Kellie Richardson will curate and host a poetry event at which the winner of this year’s Poet Laureate competition will be awarded. The event date and location will be announced.

DUTIES
The artist selected as Tacoma Poet Laureate must be willing and able to:

• Offer a minimum of two free public workshops in Tacoma each year relating to poetry (four workshops total.)
• Actively contribute to and advance Tacoma’s literary community in meaningful ways through readings, performances, workshops, presentations, publications, special projects, etc. as agreed upon with the City’s Arts Office staff.
• Participate in Tacoma Arts Month programming each October (can be participation in a public event that the City is already producing).
• Competently handle administrative duties including being the point of contact for all programming inquiries from the public, managing a schedule, arranging details for programs, and coordinating press releases with City’s Arts Office staff.
• Help produce, with the assistance of the City of Tacoma’s Arts Office, an event in Tacoma in April 2021 to announce the winner of the 2021‐2023 Tacoma Poet Laureate  program.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicant must live in Pierce County and be actively engaged in Tacoma’s creative community. Staff will verify addresses against official Pierce County map.
• Applicant must be a practicing artist, dedicated to producing poetry (in any form, genre, or style) on a regular basis.
• Applicant must be 18 years or older.
• Applicant cannot be a previous Tacoma Poet Laureate title holder.
• Applicant cannot be a current Tacoma Arts Commission member, City Council member, City of Tacoma staff member, or Tacoma Poet Laureate selection panel member.

HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cityoftacoma.org/artsopps for all the details and apply at https://tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit.

QUESTIONS?
For questions or assistance, please email Naomi Strom-Avila at nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 591-5191.

Apply Now! Funding for Tacoma Artists

The City of Tacoma is now accepting Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) funding applications from eligible Tacoma artists who wish to create new artwork in any discipline and present that work through a free public component. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2019.

“TAIP funding assists innovative, creative artists in their efforts to realize exhibitions, performances, and workshops that are free to the public. Tacoma’s artists are cultural and economic driving forces in our communities, and we are pleased to partner with them in their efforts.” – Mike Sweney, Tacoma Arts Commission Chair

The Tacoma Arts Commission has allocated up to $65,000 for TAIP funding, and each selected artist will be awarded $2,500. Funding for TAIP is determined through a competitive application process. A panel comprised of Tacoma Arts Commission members, community members and past TAIP awardees will review applications and make funding recommendations. Those recommendations will go to the Tacoma Arts Commission for approval. All projects selected for TAIP funding must be completed by Dec. 31, 2020.

Eligibility extends to artists who are residents of Tacoma, practicing artists who are dedicated to producing artwork on a regular basis, are at least 18 years of age, and not a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in an arts-related degree program. Artists who have received TAIP funding between 2015 and 2018 are not eligible to apply.

Please see the TAIP guidelines and application instructions for full details.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a free workshop which explains and addresses questions about the application and funding process on Dec. 13, 2018, from 5:30-7 p.m., at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, Room 243.

Invest your passion for the arts in Tacoma

Individuals who are knowledgeable and passionate about the literary, visual and/or performing arts are invited to apply for the Tacoma Arts Commission. If you are interested in supporting, enhancing and providing leadership for the arts in Tacoma, this is a great opportunity.

The Tacoma City Council is looking for applicants to fill the following positions on the Tacoma Arts Commission:

• One At-Large position – A person representative of acknowledged accomplishment or persons working outside of professional practice in the arts but who demonstrate a deep interest in and appreciation of cultural and artistic activities
• Two Professional positions – Persons with professional experience or training related to the arts, originating from employment or study within the following disciplines: arts or art history, arts administration, architecture, art criticism, art education, curation, conservation, heritage arts, literature, music, new media, performing arts, public arts, visual arts, or a related field.
• One Working Professional Artist position– A person working as professional artist

The Commission consists of 15 volunteer members who are appointed by the Economic Development Committee and confirmed by the City Council to serve three-year terms. Members are Tacoma residents who are arts advocates and artists.

The Tacoma Arts Commission provides leadership in supporting and enhancing the arts for the benefit of the City and its residents. The primary responsibility of the Commission is to create policies to support the ongoing development of arts programs and projects in Tacoma. Its primary programs include the funding of artists and arts organizations to provide services for the citizens of Tacoma, Tacoma Arts Month, and oversight of public art as part of the Municipal Art Program. The Commission’s functions are outlined in Chapter 1.28A and 1.28B of the Tacoma Municipal Code.

Monthly meetings are held from 5 – 7 PM on the second Monday of each month, in the Tacoma Municipal Building North, Room 16 (728 St. Helens Ave., 1^st floor). Beyond monthly meetings, commissioners are asked to sit on at least one committee and one panel each year. Commissioners are also asked to periodically attend and evaluate programs produced by artists and organizations the Commission funds and are expected to attend and assist with all major programs the Commission produces.

The Tacoma Arts Commission strongly supports inclusion, equity and access. People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural and other identity groups are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Monday, October 15, 2018. Please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact the City Clerk’s Office at (253) 591-5178 or servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org, or stop by the City Clerk’s Office, located at 733 Market St., Rm 11, Tacoma, WA 98402, in Tacoma Municipal Building North.

Additional information on the Tacoma Arts Commission is available on the City’s website or from Naomi Strom-Avila at (253) 591-5191 or nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org.

Applications for 2019 Arts Projects Funding Now Available

Ballet Folklorico troupe at Roosevelt Elementary. Photo courtesy of Broadway Center for the Performing Arts.

Will your organization or group be producing publicly accessible arts programming within Tacoma city limits in 2019? If so, you should take a look at our Arts Projects funding program. Arts Projects funding ranges from $1,000 to $5,000, and supports community projects that focus on the arts.

Applications are due by Monday, November 5, 11:59 pm.

Lion dance and drumming during Trung Thu. Photo courtesy of Chùa Phước Huệ Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation and Cultural Center.

Past funding has supported a variety of projects including, but not limited to, arts components of community festivals; arts workshops or demonstrations; dance, theater, and music performances and workshops; film festivals; youth-focused arts programming; arts-focused cultural and historical events; visual art exhibits; and literary events. Funded events must take place between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2019.

Eligibility extends to private non-profit agencies with a 501(c) designation; organized groups of community volunteers, such as a business district or neighborhood council with an advisory body, business license and organizational bank account; educational institutions or for-profit businesses wishing to produce not-for-profit arts functions; and federally-recognized tribes or Native non-profits. Applicants are required to have offices within Tacoma or, if they have no office, a majority of the applicant’s activities must take place within Tacoma city limits. Other eligibility requirements apply. See guidelines for complete terms.

Louder Than A Bomb poetry panel discussion with writers, community members and organizers Photo courtesy of Write253.

Funding for Arts Projects is determined through a competitive application process. Actual contract amounts will be based upon availability of funds and the review of each application as measured against evaluation criteria detailed in the guidelines.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a free workshop, which explains and addresses questions about the application and funding process. The workshop will be held Oct. 4, 2018, from 5:30 – 7 p.m., in the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street, 2^nd floor, room 248.

READY TO APPLY? 

Check out the Arts Projects guidelines and application instructions.