Beyond Placemaking Organization Frequently Asked Questions

DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE TO BE HEADQUARTERED IN PINELLAS COUNTY?

No. The organization can be located/have headquarters outside of Pinellas County as long as they actively serve Pinellas County residents.

MAY THE ORGANIZATION APPLY FOR THE GRANT?

No. This is an artist-led grant and only artists can apply. If your organization has a project you would like to have support for, you can reach out to the arts community and see if there is an artist who would like to partner with you. Creative Pinellas has an outreach liaison for this project, who can assist you in finding an artist who might be interested in working with you.

WHY IS THIS GRANT FOR ARTISTS, RATHER THAN ORGANIZATIONS?

In reviewing the results of our most recent NEA project grants, the most successful projects were ones where artists came up with a transformative idea for a community-based interactive project and partnered with an organization to make it happen. Because the artists were outside the organizational structure and were essentially bringing both their expertise and funds, they were able to initiate their programs quickly and easily, without putting undue burden on the organization. The success of the artist-led projects were so notable that we decided to use that approach as a model going forward.

DOES THAT MEAN THE ARTIST GETS ALL THE FUNDS? WHAT IF THE ORGANIZATION HAS COSTS, TOO?

The artist does get all the funds. However, some of those funds can be used for costs that the organization incurs. That is something to discuss and agree upon when the artists and the organization work out the details of their partnership. Organizational expenses can be put into the budget submitted with the application.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC AGREEMENTS OR REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRANT?

The only specific requirements are that the participating organization submit a form letter stating that they are partnering with the artist on the project, and then respond to a short survey when the project is complete (that provides basic information such as how many people were served, whether the project was a success, and other questions like that.) The other details of the project and the organization’s responsibilities are up to the organization and the artist. Our expectation is that the project is in alignment with the organization’s mission. So, if the mission is providing services to the visually impaired, then the expectation is that the project will address a need for or service to the visually impaired. If their mission is to create a safer environment, then the project will focus on the environment.

HOW WILL GRANT FUNDS BE SPENT?

Grant funds can be spent for artist’s fees, materials, facility usage and similar costs. A list of allowable and ineligible expenses is included in the guidelines.

IF AN ARTIST WORKS FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, MAY THEY APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AND PARTNER WITH US?

If they are a contractor, generally, yes. If they are a full-time employee, it is likely a conflict of interest.

WHAT IS PLACEMAKING?

Placemaking is about building community, not necessarily about physical spaces. It can be communications, social media, performances, connectivity – anything that helps build a sense of community.

Placemaking is the process of creating quality places where people want to live, work, play and learn. Placemaking means creating places and focusing on transforming public spaces to strengthen the connections between people and these places.

Four key components to placemaking include theme (the Sunshine State, the City of the Arts, etc), active transportation, gateway and signage (wayfinding), and amenities.

Placemaking shows people just how powerful their collective vision can be. It helps them to re-imagine everyday spaces, and to see anew the potential of parks, downtowns, waterfronts, plazas, neighborhoods, streets, markets, campuses, and public buildings.

Placemaking addresses:
Accessibility – Can people access the space? Is it easy to get to?
Comfort – Do people want to stay? Is the space clean and safe (e.g., hygiene, lighting, security?)
Sociability – Can people interact in the space?
Activities – Do people have reason to visit?

WHAT IS BEYOND PLACEMAKING?

Creative Pinellas wants to take placemaking to the next level – to change the way people think about addressing community issues. It is not just about comfort and accessibility, it is seeking solutions to systemic community problems, using art as a catalyst.

WHAT IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT?

Transformational Projects are designed to support a work in progress or a bold new idea that will result in measurable solutions to identified community problems.

WHAT IS A CHANGE PARTNER?

A Change Partner is a non-profit collaborator in Transformative Projects. For this grant, artists must partner with a non-profit cultural organization or a social service organization that is already delivering high-quality programs and services.

Beyond Placemaking supports projects that advance access and cultural equity, foster change and transformation, and demonstrate responsiveness and impact. Successful projects are transformative, collaborative, and provide tangible outcomes in the areas of health & well-being (including behavioral health), education, community engagement, making art more accessible, environmental activities and action, the creative economy and placemaking.

WHAT IS A TANGIBLE OUTCOME OF A PROJECT?

A tangible outcome for this project grant would be one that has been actualized, and can be measured, monitored and controlled. The “deliverables”. Examples: How many? How much? What program initiatives were created?

Intangible outcomes” are “soft benefits” – those that are impossible to quantify, like satisfaction or happiness.

WHAT IS ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE?

Art for social change is art with a vision, an intention, and the ability to make positive change. It is an artistic or creative cultural practice that can be traditional or nontraditional. It is interactive, engaging people in the world they are a part of.

Art with a vision impacts people in many ways. It can:
Raise consciousness
Alter how we think about ourselves, our society, or our culture
Create a vision of a more just world
Be a tool or strategy for organizing and movement-building
Preserve or reclaim traditional cultural practices using your artistic practice as a form of resistance or empowerment
Create space for expression and build a sense of community
Shift or transform the perception of justice, equality, and/or accountability
Value healing practices focused on strengthening communities, not just individuals
Engage and utilize a reciprocal process — where there is simultaneous teaching and learning, and the consent for engagement is mutual, as is the benefit for yourself as an artist and the community you are engaging with.

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