The Downtown Program Fund grant, offered by City of Eugene Cultural Services, provides artists and organizations with an opportunity to transform public spaces into arts and culture destinations that support the vibrancy, economic vitality and livability of the cultural heart of Eugene.
Donor Name: City of Eugene Cultural Services
State: Oregon
County: Lane County (OR)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/07/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Funding of up to $5,000 per project will be awarded to organizations or individuals who wish to produce their own quality programming in publicly accessible spaces in Eugene’s downtown core. These spaces include the Park Blocks, Kesey Square, the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza and other public right of ways, such as sidewalks or City streets. Funding can support any artistic or cultural discipline, including visual art, dance, music, theatre, film/video/media, multidisciplinary fields and events.
The 2024 Downtown Program Fund seeks to:
- Bring visitors, economic vitality, a sense of place and safety to the downtown core through activation of public spaces with arts and culture events and/or installations.
- Help the regional artists and arts organizations thrive.
- Foster a sense of belonging and safety for historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, such as Eugene’s BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, low-income communities, people experiencing disabilities, unhoused individuals, youth and seniors.
- Promote cultural exchanges through public art and experiences that will generate empathy, understanding, dialogue, wonder and curiosity.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Downtown Program Fund grant is open to all organizations and individuals headquartered/physically residing within Lane County.
- Organizations or artists with outstanding Downtown Program Fund grants are not eligible to apply until their programs are completed and final reports have been submitted.
- Previously funded programs, artists and organizations are eligible to reapply. Approximately 30% of funding will be awarded to first-time programs, small-scale programs or programs occurring in areas other than the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza.
- Proposed programming must take place between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2024.
- Programs must take place in publicly accessible spaces in Eugene’s downtown core. These spaces include the Park Blocks, Kesey Square, the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza and other public right of ways, such as sidewalks or City streets.
- Programs should be made as accessible as possible for community members. If the event is not free to attend, a portion of tickets must be offered for free or on a sliding scale.
- Applicants must provide a 1:1 cash, in-kind and/or volunteer time match for the project that equals the amount of your Downtown Program Fund grant amount (e.g., if the City awards you $1,000 then you must also contribute at least $1,000 toward your project costs). Your total match amount should consist of one or any combination of the following:
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- Cash: either already secured or additional funds you anticipate raising through sponsorships or other fundraising.
- In-kind: this includes donated materials and supplies, valued at full retail or rental cost.
- Volunteer time: value each hour of volunteer time given to the project at the nationally established rate of $31.80 per hour.
- Please note that you can choose to use in-kind and/or volunteer time as 100% of your match.
- Applicants may submit proposals for as many as two programs. If two programs are proposed, then a complete and separate application is required for each one.
- City of Eugene employees are not eligible to personally apply for a Downtown Program Fund grant as individuals, but may be involved with an organization or group led by a non-City employee who is applying for a grant.
- The applicant must be able to obtain liability insurance as a requirement of the Downtown Activity Zone Permit.
Selection Criteria
- Programming Quality:
- To what extent will the programming draw people to downtown spaces and meet the goals of Downtown Program Fund and the mission of Cultural Services?
- Does the programming allow for adaptability to last minute changes? Does the project allow for flexibility/scaling?
- Applicant Capacity:
- Does the applicant demonstrate the capacity to display thoughtful planning and produce the proposed programming? Does the applicant have experience administering and producing similar programming?
- Community Impact:
- How will the project demonstrate community engagement with the communities the applicant serves and/or represents?
- To what extent does the project impact the community the applicant serves?
- Equity, Inclusion and Diversity:
- Is the program accessible and welcoming for all community members? Are diversity, equity and inclusion incorporated?
- Does the program support historically marginalized or underrepresented communities? Does the project provide access, opportunities and/or resources to these communities? Is the applicant’s marketing plan sufficient to connect with these communities?
- Budget:
- Does the budget look thorough and complete?
For more information, visit City of Eugene Cultural Services.
