City of Dubuque Opens Round 2 of NEA/ARPA-Funded Creative Empowerment Subgrant Program Supporting Local Creatives

CONTACT:
Laura Merrick, Communications and Grants Administration Assistant
563.581.4666, lmerrick@cityofdubuque.org

June 1, 2023 -- For Immediate Release

DUBUQUE, Iowa –The City of Dubuque and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission is now accepting Round 2 applications from eligible creatives for the Creative Empowerment subgrant program, a one-time limited funding opportunity made possible through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) via American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources. 

The City of Dubuque will serve as a Local Arts Agency (LAA) to subgrant via Round 2 $7,000 in federally awarded funds to support individual creatives residing within Dubuque city limits in producing tangible arts-based projects that further their careers and deepen their community engagement through meaningful public programs and activities with measurable impact. 

"We're hitting on several strategies outlined in the City's Arts and Culture Master Plan with the Creative Empowerment program, including 'nurturing individual artists, from amateur to professional to foster engagement at all levels' and undertaking initiatives that 'develop, attract, and retain creative talent to promote and support arts and culture as Dubuque's competitive edge,'" said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. "We've seen artists and creatives put at the center of community engagement and COVID-19 recovery around the country, and we're excited for Dubuque to join in these broader national initiatives."

Applications are encouraged from practicing creatives (artists, curators, arts administrators, producers, presenters, etc.) working in artistic disciplines related to the visual arts, dance, music, theater, literature, or media/multimedia that meet all eligibility requirements. Eligible creatives may request funds, including stipends, fees, materials, and marketing costs, that directly support art-based project expenses incurred by producing tangible public-facing outcomes occurring within the defined funding period of performance. Additional information on eligibility criteria and allowable costs is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artsgrants.

Round 2 is open to receive applications Friday, June 2 – Friday, July 14, 2023, for consideration of projects occurring between October 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024. No match is required. The minimum request is $500. The maximum request is $2,000. Round 1 awardees are ineligible to apply to Round 2. However, creatives who applied but were not awarded funds in Round 1 are eligible to apply in Round 2. 

Applications for Round 2 are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 14, 2023. Applications must be submitted via the online application portal at https://cityofdubuque.slideroom.com. All information related to the notice of funding, scoring rubric, and access to the online application portal is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artsgrants.

The Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs is offering a free informational webinar to anyone interested in learning more about Round 2 of the Creative Empowerment subgrant program. All are welcome to attend; advance registration is encouraged. 

The Round 2 informational webinar is scheduled for: 

• Friday, June 9, 2023, from 2-3 p.m. – Click here to register for this webinar.

The webinar will be recorded with the recording posted to the City's website for those unable to attend.  

Virtual office hours will be held during scheduled day and evening hours for interested applicants to ask questions and discuss program topics with staff. The schedule is available here. 

The Creative Empowerment subgrant program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 

For additional information, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/artsandculture or contact City of Dubuque Communications and Grants Administration Assistant Laura Merrick at lmerrick@cityofdubuque.org or 563.581.4666.