Photo courtesy of The Living School of Art
2020 grant cycle
Up to $190,000 will be awarded in next grant cycle. Applications open Nov. 22 and close Feb. 3.
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2019 grant awards announced
See the eight projects selected out of the 78 applications received.
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Metro’s Community Placemaking grants help people tackle community challenges or opportunities through arts-based, equity-focused projects.
What is Community Placemaking?
Community Placemaking projects have a few key ingredients. The idea comes from the community the project is intended to serve. Those community members, especially people of color or other historically marginalized communities, play a role in making the project happen. Arts or cultural activities bring people together to strengthen their connection to each other and the places they care about.
Program objectives
Placemaking: People’s connections to each other and to places they care about are strengthened.
Equity: People of color and members of historically marginalized communities have power and resources to influence their neighborhoods and communities.
Partnerships: People’s efforts are maximized because they work in partnership with each other and with Metro.
Leadership: People participate in projects and decisions that affect them.
Project types
Community Placemaking projects are creative at their core and can take many forms. Get started thinking by looking at the previous grantees to see the types of projects this program has supported. Staff is available to help think through your idea and get you ready to submit a strong application.
Funding available
Up to $190,000 is available for grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for the 2019 cycle. No matching funds are required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Anyone can apply, while meeting the following conditions:
- Community-based organization must have support from the property owner (city or private owner) where the project will take place.
- Public agencies must have community partners involved in the implementation of the project and a plan to involve the broader public.
- Community groups or individuals without nonprofit status must partner with a fiscal sponsor, such as a state certified, federally approved 501(c) nonprofit or a public agency. That fiscal sponsor must have must have a federal employer tax ID number and capacity to contract with Metro.
- (New) If you are a past recipient of a Community Placemaking grant and your project was exclusively an event (spanning 1-3 days), you may not reapply the year following your award.