HomeMy WebLinkAboutIowa City Public Art Matching Fund ProgramIowa City Public Art Matching Fund Program
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in this grant opportunity. Prior to completing this application form, please review the Public Art Matching Grant
Frequently Asked Questions at www.icgov.org/publicart.
If your project takes place on City-owned or privately-owned property, you must provide evidence in the following application that you have
support and approval from the appropriate parties to proceed with this project. Failure to obtain prior approval could disqualify or delay an
otherwise good proposal. If you aren’t sure if you need prior approval from a project partner, please contact Neighborhood Outreach &
Engagement Specialist T'Shailyn Harrington at THarrington@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5093.
Beyond initial siting approvals obtained prior to submitting this application, please be advised that some projects may be required to obtain
additional permits or approvals as determined necessary by the City. Any such requirements would be outlined in the grant agreement.
Regardless of whether the project is located on public or private property, the project must be freely accessible by the public.
Awarded applicant(s) are responsible for performing or coordinating the execution of all phases of the project, including but not limited to site
prep, installation, etc. If any component of the proposed project is beyond your capabilities, please explain in the application.
*
I acknowledge that I have read and understand the information above.
General Information
The Public Art Matching Grant Program aims to increase public art access and opportunities in Iowa City. The program funds visual, audio, or
performance-based art projects that are located in Iowa City and accessible to the general public.
Successful grant applications will show evidence of a specific planned project which can be completed before December 31, 2025. Please
complete the following application in its entirety. If you have questions or need assistance completing this application form, please contact
Neighborhood Outreach & Engagement Specialist T'Shailyn Harrington at THarrington@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5093.
It is recommended applicants save the form every 5-10 minutes to avoid losing progress. To do this, click “Save as Draft” at the bottom
of the File Uploads page.
Project Name *
Iowa Art Field
Applicant Name *
Public Space One
Applicant Email *
kalmia@publicspaceone.com
Applicant Phone *
319-855-9365
Applicant Address *
Street Address
229 N Gilbert
Address Line 2
City
Iowa City
State/Province/Region
IA
Postal/Zip Code Country
52245 USA
Are you the project artist *
Yes No
Briefly describe who will be completing the project, including a URL to the artist webpages if available. If unknown, explain how an
artist(s) will be recruited for the project.
We are working with artist/curator Nicholas Cladis (https://www.nicholascladis.com) and will be selected 8 additional artists through an open call.
Have you received Public Art Matching Grant Funds in the past?*
Yes No
Please share if the proposed project has changed or expanded in any way.
We've received Public Art Matching Grant Funds only for a different project; this is a new one.
Project Details
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Provide a brief description of the proposed project *
We are seeking funding from the Public Art Advisory Committee to support Iowa Art Field (IAF), the creation of and programming around paper-
based site-specific installations in different public spaces around the Iowa City area in October 2025. Public Space One is partnering with local
artist/curator/educator Nicholas Cladis to produce this project.
IAF takes inspiration from Imadate Art Field, a decades-running exhibition of paper-based contemporary art that is held in diverse sites scattered
around Echizen, Japan, a historical papermaking village where Cladis lived – and was involved in arts organizing – for many years. Since moving to
Iowa City almost five years ago, Cladis has developed a number of exchange opportunities between Iowa City and Echizen.
The project will include installations by both visiting Japanese artists and Iowa artists selected through an open call that asks the artists to
propose paper-based artwork that is site-specific and/or engages with themes connected to local ecological, historical, or social contexts. The
artwork will be on view for 10 days, during which time visitors will be able to visit with a self-guided model using printed and digital maps,
participate in a tour, and/or attend an event such as a papermaking demonstration, performance, or artist talk at one of the sites.
Our hope is that this project will provide professional support and a unique opportunity for artists working with paper, nurture cross-cultural
relationships, and engage Iowa City residents and visitors through artwork that activates meaningful spaces in our community, highlights
important local issues, and demonstrates diverse modes of working with paper as an artistic medium.
Explain how the project is defined as “public art.” Please include how the artwork will be located in an area open and freely
accessible by the public; and describe how you envision the artwork engaging the public.*
All of the artwork that is part of Iowa Art Field will be installed in locations that are either already publicly accessible or will have daily open hours
during the length of the project.
Each IAF site, even those accessible at other times, will have scheduled visiting hours hosted by a volunteer docent who can provide welcome and
more information about the project. We will also have information about each artwork posted at the site, available online, and shared on our
social media accounts. As described above, we will also host several programs that activate interest in the materials/methods, themes, and/or
locations of the artwork.
We also anticipate that in some locations that are already busy, such as City Park, visitors will stumble across an artwork and have the unexpected
opportunity to engage.
While the installations will only be on view for ten days, we also plan to produce a catalog of the project that will be available to view online and in
print, so that more people can experience the artwork after IAF is complete.
Describe the intended audience for this project, why public art is important to that audience, and any efforts you will make to
benefit the broader community, especially populations which have faced systemic barriers to art access or opportunities *
Iowa Art Field is intended to benefit a wider community than those who typically attend visual art exhibitions, particularly those interested in the
historical, social, and/or ecological contexts of our community. By placing artwork in a variety of venues and having free daily open hours over
the run of the project, running a thorough and collaborative marketing campaign (including intentional outreach to community centers and
groups well beyond the arts community), and creating clear wayfinding materials, we hope to reach a large and diverse audience.
While many individuals will visit IAF artworks in a self-guided mode, some will unintentionally happen across the installations that are near where
they live or travel, and some will participate in guided tours. We intend to provide at least one bus tour that will make the project accessible to
individuals with physical disabilities and/or without access to personal transportation, and one bike tour that may attract community members
looking for a fun physical activity.
All sites and programs will be selected and designed with diverse abilities in mind, and with preparation for needed accommodations.
How will you know your project was successful? Please list specific outcomes or measures (qualitative or quantitative).*
We will measure the success of this project through both quantitative and qualitative measures:
attendance numbers
attendance demographics and feedback (provided optionally through surveys available in-person and online)
feedback from participating artists
feedback from venue and program partners
Having not produced a project exactly like this before, we don’t have an exact goal for attendance but anticipate that the project will reach
hundreds of people. Another important measure for success, especially for a large and complex project like this, is the experience of all the
collaborators (venues, artists, organizers) – our aim is that artists feel like the experience was professionally valuable and connective and that
venue partners feel that the project enhances and attracts more attention to their important community and historical spaces.
Will this project take place on public or private property?*
Public/City-Owned
Private Property Owned by the Applicant or project partner listed below
Private Property not owned by the applicant
Location of Project *
multiple locations included one City-Owned (see letter from Juli Seydell-Johnson) -- City Park, Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, PS1 Close
House, and others TBA
Project Partner(s) (if any)
Nicholas Cladis, Johnson County Poor Farm, Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department
Describe the role of any project partners listed
Nicholas Cladis will serve as the organizing curator, working with PS1 staff to manage all aspects of the project and in particular the selection of
and coordination with participating artists.
Staff from the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department, and our other venue partners will coordinate with
IAF organizers to provide site information and access for organizers and artists, create artwork installation guidelines, develop a schedule of
public viewing hours and visitor guidelines suitable for the site.
*Please note that we have initiated conversations with several other potential venue partners but since we have not yet made agreements with
them, they are not included in this application. We anticipate having at least three other locations (the Historic Poor Farm may host multiple
installations).
Please check any of the following project aspects that apply to your project.
Note: These selections do not impact scoring, but are informative for the selection committee.
Functional Art: Art that also serves a practical, everyday purpose (i.e. bench, lighting, shelter, timepiece, etc.)
Unexpected Art: Art that offers an element of surprise, perhaps occuring at a place or time where it is unexpected.
Participatory Art: Art that directly engages the audience in the creative process, so they become participants in the event (i.e. an interactive
performance or participation in creation of an artwork).
Ephemeral Art: Art that is intended to be temporary, short-lived, or disappear over time.
Contemplative Art: Art that encourages self-reflection and mindfulness.
Timeline
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Project Timeline
Tell us about the proposed timeline and action steps needed to complete this project. Use one line for each milestone and add additional lines as
needed.
Action Step/Milestone Completed by
Project funding finalized, general agreements with venue partners 04/30/2025
Artists selected and matched with venues, specific partnership
agreements finalized
06/15/2025
Public announcement of artists and locations, general marketing of
project begins
07/01/2025
Site prep details and open hours schedules, programming (tours,
workshops, etc.) finalized
09/01/2025
Public announcement of programming details, specific marketing of
project begins
09/15/2025
Installation of artwork complete 10/01/2025
Installations on view, programming, photo and video documentation
of artwork and events
10/12/2025
Deinstall complete 10/19/2025
Catalog production complete 12/01/2025
Budget
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Please use the budget templates below. A completed budget should tell us what sources of funds your project will use and how you plan to spend
the grant money.
Project Funding Sources
Total Project Cost *
$48,950.00
Matching Grant Request *
$4,000.00
Please list any other funding sources supporting your project. Add additional rows as needed.
Other funding source *Amount *Committed or Anticipated?*
Japan Foundation $22,500.00 Committed Anticipated
Think Iowa City Tourism Grant $2,000.00 Committed Anticipated
Iowa Arts Council $5,000.00 Committed Anticipated
organizational fundraising/private
foundation support
$10,450.00 Committed Anticipated
local business sponorships $5,000.00 Committed Anticipated
Please describe any project supplies, equipment, or labor which are being donated in-kind
Project Budget
Please list a breakdown of project expenses and funding sources. Funding for personal property or gain will not be authorized. Example:
Amount:Describe Expense Item:Amount paid by Matching Grant:Amount paid in-kind or by other
funding source:
$400 Paint $400
$200 Paint Supplies $200
$1,500 Artist labor $500 $1,000
$150 Plaque/signage $150
Amount Expense Item Amount paid by Matching
Grant
Paid in-kind or by other
funding source
$5,000.00 curator stipend $5,000.00
$2,250.00 stipends for local/regional
artists ($750/artist)
$2,250.00
$1,500.00 travel and lodging for
local/regional artists
$1,500.00
$15,000.00 travel, lodging, and per diem for
Japanese artists
$15,000.00
$5,500.00 installation and production
supplies
$1,750.00 $3,750.00
$1,400.00 insurance $1,400.00
$2,000.00 marketing $2,000.00
$1,800.00 wayfinding design and
production
$1,800.00
$8,500.00 PS1 overhead ((admin costs,
labor use of supplies,
equipment, and space))
$8,500.00
$5,000.00 printed/digital catalog
production including
documentaiton
$5,000.00
$1,000.00 accessibility accommodations $1,000.00
-Next
File Uploads
Letters of support, if available (?)
Iowa City Public Art Grant PS1_Historic Poor Farm Letter of Support_Signed.pdf 233.37KB
IC_ParksRec support letter Iowa Art Field.pdf 19.13KB
Images (?)
PAAC.pdf 709.71KB
Site Plan (?)
Additional Information (?)
letter of support cladis.pdf 80.32KB
Signature