Vibrant City Arts Grants are available to artist collectives, cultural groups, and arts organizations providing inclusive arts and culture programming in Tempe. The Community Arts Grants Program aims to activate Tempe as a supportive place for artists and a home for community creativity in all its forms.

Amount: Up to $2,500 – no match required

Deadlines:

Cycle 1: July 1, 2024 for projects taking place between September 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Cycle 2: December 16, 2024 for projects taking place between February 1 – June 30, 2025

How to Apply: All applicants are required to meet with Maja Aurora, Community Arts Manager, before completing the application. Schedule a meeting and find the application at www.tempe.gov/artsgrants

Expectations:

• Applicants do not need to be Tempe-based, but their projects must occur in Tempe

• Requests may include services of artists, professional services, stipends, supplies, production costs, space rentals, food, marketing and/or printing.

• Projects may include:

▪ Performances

▪ Residencies/Workshops

▪ Arts Events

Eligibility:

• Artist collectives, cultural groups, or arts organizations providing arts programming in Tempe.

• Applicants are only eligible to receive one Community Arts Grant per year (September 1-June 30).

Restrictions; this grant does not fund:

• activities that occur outside of the City of Tempe;

• organizations with an annual budget over $100,000;

• entirely virtual programming (activities can simultaneously occur in-person/virtual);

• permanent enhancements of infrastructure (i.e. murals or public art);

• construction or renovation of facilities, reduction of debt, feasibilities studies;

• projects in schools (see Arts in Schools Grant);

• parent teacher organizations (i.e. booster clubs, PTA or PTO) or TCA home/resident companies;

• projects associated with universities or colleges;

• projects funded by a TCC Grant or a Neighborhood Grant;

• organizations that are incorporated for religious purposes or projects that focus on religious themes;

• fundraising, re-granting, scholarship programs or awards;

• an applicant who failed to submit a Final Report from a previously funded grant.

Review Process: Applications will be reviewed by an independent Arts Grant Review Panel comprised Tempe residents, artists, arts educators, representatives from the Tempe Arts and Culture Commission and the Tempe business community. The review process is competitive and based on available funds, therefore, some applications may receive partial or no funding. The panel will recommend awards to the Community Services Director for final approval.

Final Report: Must be submitted within 60 days of completing the project. The report will include a summary of the project, final budget and professional quality photos. The grant recipient agrees to give the City of Tempe the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes.

Wavemaker Arts Grants are available to arts non-profit organizations providing inclusive arts and culture programming in Tempe (501c3 status required). The Community Arts Grants Program supports a commitment to advancing Tempe as a vibrant and progressive community for cultural and artistic activity, and aims to fulfill the following recommendations from the Arts and Culture Plan:

• Increase and promote Community-Initiated Arts projects
• Support community festivals celebrating cultural diversity
• Continue, expand and enhance informal arts programming provided in community settings

Amount: Up to $10,000 – no match required

Deadline: July 1, 2024

How to Apply: All applicants are required to meet with Maja Aurora, Community Arts Manager, before completing the application. Schedule a meeting and find the application at www.tempe.gov/artsgrants

Expectations:

• Project must take place in Tempe between September 1, 2024 - July 30, 2025.
• Requests may include services of artists, professional services, stipends, supplies, production costs, space rentals, food, marketing and/or printing.
• Project structures may include:
• Performances
• Residencies/Workshops
• Festivals/Arts Events

Eligibility:

• Non-Profit organizations providing arts programming in Tempe (501c3 status required)
• Applicants are only eligible to receive one Community Arts Grant per year (September 1-June 30)

Restrictions; this grant does not fund:

• activities that occur outside of the City of Tempe;
• entirely virtual programming (activities can simultaneously occur in-person/virtual);
• permanent enhancements of infrastructure (i.e. murals or public art);
• construction or renovation of facilities, reduction of debt, feasibilities studies;
• projects in schools (see Arts in Schools Grant);
• parent teacher organizations (i.e. booster clubs, PTA or PTO) or TCA home/resident companies;
• projects associated with universities or colleges;
• projects funded by a TCC Grant or a Neighborhood Grant;
• for-profit organizations or organizations that are incorporated for religious purposes or projects that focus on religious themes;
• an organization or learning institution’s administrative or artistic staff salaries; grant administration, overhead or processing fees taken by an umbrella/parent organization as a percentage of the total award;
• fundraising, re-granting, scholarship programs or awards;
• an applicant who failed to submit a Final Report from a previously funded grant.

Review Process: Applications will be reviewed by an independent Art Grant Review Panel comprised of Tempe residents, artists, arts educators, representatives from the Tempe Arts and Culture Commission and the Tempe business community. The review process is competitive and based on available funds, therefore, some applications may receive partial or no funding. The panel will recommend awards to the Community Services Director for final approval.

Final Report: Must be submitted within 60 days of completing the project. The report will include a summary of the project, final budget and professional quality photos. The grant recipient agrees to give the City of Tempe the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes.

Studio Artists Residency Program 

tempe.gov/StudioArtists 

Studio Artists Residency Description: 

The Studio Artists Program is looking for a visual artist for a three-year residency. This partnership between Tempe Elementary District and the City of Tempe provides students with an opportunity to experience quality arts programming and provide personal studio space for the artists. 

Artist Expectations

· Be available to teach workshops in different schools in the Tempe Elementary School District during the 2024-25, 2025-2026, and 2026-27 school years. 

· Upon selection, complete fingerprint clearance card application (reimbursement available).

· Develop a hands-on workshop that relates to the artist’s expertise and style with support. 

· Prior to working in the schools, meet with City Staff for workshop development for a minimum of four times at two hours each during the months of June and July. 

Qualifications

· Lives in Tempe, AZ or surrounding city (i.e., Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Gilbert, etc.) 

· Experience in teaching visual arts (i.e., workshops, adjunct, after school programs, etc.) 

· Interest in working with elementary school students 

· Actively creating visual artworks 

· Availability two days a week during school hours (8am to 2pm) 

Artist Residency Compensation 

· $50 per one hour classroom visit 

o Classroom visits between 12 and 15 classrooms four times per school year

o Workshops held in school classrooms 

· 24/7 access to art studio space in district building in Tempe, AZ 

o Shared space with up to two other artists

o Studios do not currently support ceramics

Residency Timeline

· May/June – Selected artists notified 

· June – New artist orientation meetings & contract offer

· June/July – Workshop development with support & studio move-in 

· August through May – Workshops taught in classrooms

Application Materials

· Submittable Application: 

o Complete questionnaire on Submittable.com and upload requested documents/files

o Resume/CV: Include recent teaching experience and accomplishments as an artist (up to 2 pages)

o 5 Images: Images of personal completed artwork (no student examples) 

Deadline: Open Until Filled. Next Review Wednesday, May 8th.  

Questions: 

Amanda McGlothern, Community Arts Specialist 

amanda_mcglothern@tempe.gov