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INTRODUCTION The Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and Storefronts Seattle seek artists, groups, and companies to develop pop-up Creative Enterprise projects for vacant storefronts in various Seattle neighborhoods, including Pioneer Square, the Chinatown/International District, Capitol Hill, South Lake Union, and Rainier Beach. The projects will be programmed in available spaces throughout 2012 and into 2013. Creative Enterprise provides a place to experiment and test out new creative business ideas. Creative Enterprise participants will have access to a space for three to six months, dependent on space availability and number of applicants. Creative Enterprise spaces are open to the public, and Creative Enterprise participants must hold appropriate city of Seattle and State of Washington licenses and permits, as well as a general liability insurance policy. Selected artists and/or artist teams will be required to hold set business hours. The call is open to all artists. Application deadline is 11 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22 (Pacific Standard Time). Examples of possible Creative Enterprise uses: 1. Businesses that exhibit a creative/innovative emphasis 2. Performance space for public showings of theatre, dance or other performance art 3. Retail space for hand-made items (i.e. jewelry, fashion, art, etc.) 4. Services (i.e. art classes, design advice, etc.) 5. Merchandising a creative product 6. Museums, galleries and creative presentation spaces 7. Creative home-based businesses testing their product in a retail environment BACKGROUND Storefronts Seattle is a program designed to activate vacant storefront and display spaces in Seattle’s various neighborhoods by providing temporary space to artists, creative businesses, organizations and community groups. Founded in 2010, the program has expanded from one core downtown neighborhood to include (at this writing) seven neighborhoods, as far away as Auburn, Washington. In its first year of programming, Storefronts put more than 70 arts projects into nearly 25 spaces. This request for proposals is intended to create a roster of projects from which to program storefront spaces as they become available. Roster inclusion does not guarantee placement in the program. ELIGIBILITY Individual artists, arts groups, or arts businesses may apply. Arts groups are not required to have 501(c)3 status. SCOPE OF WORK If chosen for a Storefronts Creative Enterprise project, you will receive access to a vacant space in a participating neighborhood. There will be no occupancy fee. Selected participants in the Storefronts program must agree to the following:

• Enter into an agreement with Storefronts Seattle regarding the terms of use
• Have/obtain the appropriate city of Seattle and state of Washington business licenses and permits. Shunpike is available for assistance with licensing, permitting, insurance or other administrative questions.
• Be willing to relocate or give up the space if the property owner finds a permanent tenant within the negotiated timeframe
• Consult with Shunpike for small business/non-profit advice
• Present high-quality artwork and/or service activity
• Partner with Storefronts to market and promote events and activities
• Comply with all federal, state and local laws
• For Creative Enterprise only: a General Liability insurance policy is required. Shunpike is available for assistance in procuring a policy.
• The Storefronts panel and staff will pair applicants with available spaces, based on the needs of the applicants. Below is a question about artist’s space needs. Please be specific so you can be matched to an appropriate space. This request for proposals is intended to create a roster of projects from which to program storefront spaces as they become available. Roster inclusion does not guarantee placement in the program. APPLICATION DEADLINE 11 p.m., February 22, 2012 Pacific Standard Time. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Apply using CaFÉ, a Web-based online application service. All application materials, including images, must be submitted digitally via the CaFÉ online system. Link to the online application via http://www.callforentry.org/. See questions below for required materials. SELECTION CRITERIA All applicants will be selected based on the following criteria. The review process is competitive and the review panel will be looking for a diversity of offerings.


• Innovation
• Capacity to be successful (i.e. to accomplish what you are proposing)
• Benefit to the community and appropriateness for the public realm
• High level of engagement of the street and passers-by
• Strength of proposal
• Artistic quality
• The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and Storefronts Seattle are committed to reflecting the diversity and cultural richness of our city in the selection of artists and artworks. SELECTION PROCESS Proposals to the Storefronts Seattle program are reviewed by a panel of arts professionals, representatives of neighborhood groups, and commercial property owners. NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS Applicants will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by late March 2012. WE’RE HERE TO HELP Please contact Matthew Richter at matthew@shunpike.org. For assistance with the CaFE online application process, contact CaFE tech support at (888) 562-7232 or cafe@westaf.org, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria