Call Description

ABOUT MIDTOWN HOUSTON:

Midtown Houston began in 1995 as a blighted inner city area. Drawing on this rich and diverse history, Midtown Houston has been reimagined as a bustling inner city community with prominent cultural landmarks (The Ensemble Theatre, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Lawndale, Art Square Studios on Main and MATCH among others) that have helped create a dense, walkable and vibrant neighborhood filled with exciting dining, activities, and park spaces. In September 2012 this community was the first management district to receive a State of Texas Cultural Arts and Entertainment District designation from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Since 1995, Midtown Houston has experienced exponential growth in our business, residential and cultural community with more than 90 arts organizations and four parks located in Midtown we truly are the center of it all. For more information about our community visit Midtown

 PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The Midtown Houston CAED works diligently to bring quality cultural arts based programming and projects to the community. Some of our past projects include Art in the Park our annual fine art festival, Mistletoe Market a holiday inspired market, and park programming presented by The Ensemble Theatre, Apollo Chamber Players, Revels Houston, Houston METDance and more.  The district is currently seeking non-profit organizations or individual artists with the capacity to develop, implement and perform or create public art programming for the Midtown Houston community. We currently have three park spaces available for use Elizabeth Baldwin Park, Elizabeth Glover Park and Midtown Park. You may also choose a separate location provided it is within the boundaries of Midtown Houston.

ELIGIBILITY:

This request for projects/programming is open to all professional artists and designers age 18 or older who are eligible to work in the United States. If selected, artists will be required to provide a community project/performance or a cultural art based event. Artists may also work in a capacity-building partnership with a local or regional artist or artist team. Candidates are eligible regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identification, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or physical ability.

What we do not fund:

• Social functions, parties, receptions, fundraisers or galas

• Operating expenses for home offices

• Operating expenses for state, city or county owned facilities including but not limited to, salary and facility costs

• Financing of political activities

• Retroactive funding

• Debt reduction

• Projects, productions, workshops and/or programs that include obscene material as defined in Section 43.21, Penal Code of Texas.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Application materials must be received by September 30, 2018 by 11:59 PM  MST via the submission portal on CaFÉ. Click here to follow the link to apply

INDIVIDUAL or ARTS ORGANIZATIONS:

•Statement of interest: Including your COMPLETE contact information, including organizational or artist social media handles. Briefly describe interest in this grant opportunity, and qualifications for completing the project/program. Artist teams should explain their interest and qualifications collectively. 

•Work samples: Submission should include visual or audio representations of past projects that demonstrate qualifications as a grant recipient. Applicants must upload a total of 5 images that represent up to 5 previously completed projects. Each sample should have an accompanying summary of the title, location, cost, materials/media, and timeline associated with that projects/programming. Videos will count as one of the 10 images. Artist teams’ work sample submissions should include examples from each team member.

• Résumés: Résumés for each artist/artist team member should include any public  project/programming experience. ORGANIZATIONS - please provide a one page history of the organization, including a list of current Board Members.

•References: Each artist or organization should provide two (2) professional references or recommendation letters with contact information for each reference.

 SELECTION PROCESS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Midtown staff will preview applications for completeness and may reject incomplete applications or non-responsive submissions. A Selection Committee (which may include Midtown Staff, visual art/design professionals, and other community members) will review and evaluate applications based on criteria that will include the following:

•Aesthetic Excellence: Aesthetic excellence of past projects/programming and creativity of this project/program.

•Track Record: Proven track record of significant past projects/programming.

•Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage projects/programming on time and on budget.

The Selection Committee will invite chosen finalists to interview. After the interviews, the Selection Committee will recommend an artist(s) or organization for approval by the Board of Directors of the Midtown Management District. This selected artist(s) or organization will be invited to contract with the Midtown Management District for the work.  Artist(s) and Arts Organizations will also need to provide a W-9, and a Form 1295 Certificate of Interested Parties.

PROJECT BUDGET:

The total budget for this project is $3,400. This amount will be distributed in three (3) $1,000 grants and one (1) $400 grant.

PROPOSED PROJECT TIMELINE:

 Artist Call Released: September 14, 2018

 Submittal deadline: September 30, 2018 by 11:59 PM MST**

 Finalist selection: October 2018

 Finalist interviews: October 2018

 Selected artist notification: October 2018

 Anticipated contract execution October 2018

  Project Completion: by December 2018

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Midtown CAED reserves the right to reject any and all proposals. The District may negotiate changes of any nature with any Finalist or Awardee with respect to discrepancies between the project/program selected for the contract and the project/program that will be selected by the District. All applicants should make their best faith effort to comply with the requirements outlined in this opportunity.

The evaluation criteria included in this opportunity are intended to be used to make a recommendation to the Midtown Management District Board of Directors who is authorized to award the grants.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

 Applicants with additional inquiries should email Cynthia Alvarado, CPM ®, Operations Manager at cynthiaa@houstonmidtown.com

HELPFUL LINKS TO DISCOVER MIDTOWN:

Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District 10-Year Master Plan

Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment – midtownhouston.com

Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District website

Midtown Park

Elizabeth Baldwin Park

Elizabeth Glover Park

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria