Artist Hiring Incentive Grants Program (Round Three) – United States

Funding Information

• Total Funds: $54,000
• Awards: 18 grants at $3,000 each. The costs of hiring a Boulder-based artist for exhibition or performance.

Ineligible Uses of Funds

• Exclusions. Funds will not be provided for: projects that have occurred before the grant funding decisions have been made, the purchase of alcohol or marijuana, debt reduction, creating or building endowments, political activity, programming that promotes a single religion over others, re-granting of the funds, or for capital construction or acquisition of real estate unless exceptionally approved by the Boulder Arts Commission with a showing of a significant public purpose.

Eligibility Requirements

• Contractual age. All applicants must be of legal contractual age as defined by the state of Colorado (18 years). They encourage those younger than 18 years of age to collaborate with an eligible artist or organization in order to apply.
• Good standing. Applicants must be in good standing with the Boulder Arts Commission having met agreed-upon deadlines for any previous Boulder Arts Commission-sponsored project, and/or can demonstrate good faith efforts to comply with Boulder Arts Commission requests regarding previous projects.
• Compliance with law and policy. All applicants, organizations, and the content of all projects must comply with the ordinances and policies of the City of Boulder.
• Service area. The product (performance, piece of art, etc.) funded in whole or in part by the Boulder Arts Commission must be provided for and accessible to the Boulder community. Any product that receives other funding may be held in another municipality or area, provided that at least one performance is provided within Boulder Valley, as defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, and is for the direct benefit of the Boulder community. As a shorthand, office staff use addresses with the zip code starting with 803— to determine if it is in the acceptable area.
• Civil Rights Act compliance. All applicants must comply with Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to the end that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, physical or mental handicap, sex or religion, be excluded.
• Applicants. Any organization may apply if the general eligibility requirements are met, including non-profit organizations, organizations with pending non-profit status, fiscally sponsored organizations, and for-profit organizations with a community focus. These for-profit organizations must be able to demonstrate the following:
  • The organization has community-oriented mission and goals, services, and programming.
  • The organization is currently active and has conducted programming consistently for at least two years.
  • The organization has oversight from a board, advisory committee, or other stewardship group. That group must include community representation.
• Service area and programming. Projects must have a significant component of public programming that takes place within the city limits of Boulder. This programming must meet the criteria described in the Chapter 14-1-2 of the City of Boulder Revised Code. The applicant must demonstrate that they are headquartered in the city limits of Boulder. Applicants may also demonstrate that they are partnered with a Boulder-based organization. Examples of documentation to demonstrate being headquartered or residing in Boulder may include a utility bill, phone bill, pay stub, renter’s or mortgage bill, lease, insurance policy, or other official document. P.O. Boxes are not acceptable. The term “city limits of Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.The term “city limits of Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
• Boulder-based artists. The artist hired must have their primary address in Boulder. Examples of documentation to demonstrate having a primary address in Boulder may include a utility bill, phone bill, pay stub, renter’s or mortgage bill, lease, insurance policy, or other official document. P.O. Boxes are not acceptable. The term “city limits of Boulder” is defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
• Projects must take place after the grant funding decision and be completed by June 30, 2026.

Ineligibility Criteria

• City of Boulder Conflict of Interest policy. City employees are not eligible to receive grant funding.

For more information, visit City of Boulder.