Oakland Futures: Love Life Edition

ABOUT OAKLAND FUTURES

Oakland Futures is a story-based project of The Center for Cultural Power that uplifts, shares and connects stories about our city’s complex history, current moment and future promise.

In partnership with the California Arts Council (CAC), the Center for Cultural Power will provide 10 Artist disruptors and Culture bearers that live and/or work in specific Oakland zip codes (based on the California Healthy Places Index; HPI) $15,000 to develop new or existing artistic content that uplifts the “OaklandLoveLife” cultural motto and advances at least one of the CAC’s focus areas:

1. public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19; 
2. public awareness related to water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery; 
3. civic engagement, including election participation; 
4. and/or social justice and community engagement.

PROGRAM ASPIRATIONS

Funds from this award are unrestricted with the expectation that the proposed project is completed in the project period and there is documentation of the final project that can be shared with the Center for Cultural Power.

Oakland’s “OaklandLoveLife” cultural motto is a demonstration of solidarity and commitment to all of those threatened by violence. The Center for Cultural Power is amplifying the commitment to “Love Life” is to manifest a future where we can create tangible solutions rooted in the practice of love for all. By leading with the value of love we are deepening our investment to equity, justice, inclusion, and safety for all–so we can all live in abundance. 

KEY DATES (subject to change)

• Application Opens: Monday, March 1st
• Last day to submit questions: Friday, April 21st, 3:00PM PST
• Application deadline: Friday, April 21st, 11:59PM PST
• Application Review: April 24th to May 12th
• Award Announcement: May 15th
• Project Period: May 2023 to May 2024

ELIGIBILITY

1. Artist Disruptors and/or Culture Bearers must live or work in one of the Oakland HPI 25% Quartile zip codes listed in this spreadsheet. To see if your zip code is eligible use the “search function” (macOS: ⌘+f / windowsOS: ctrl+shift+f) and type your zip code. If your zip code appears, you live in an eligible zip code. 
2. Applications are open to all Artist Disruptors and/or Culture Bearers, regardless of immigration status, that are at least 18 years of age. 
3. Artist Disruptors and/or Culture Bearers must demonstrate experience collaborating with the communities in the Oakland HPI 25% Quartile zip codes.
4. Proposed projects uplifts “OaklandLoveLife” cultural motto and will be experienced by the community.
5. Proposed projects must address at least one of the four state-mandated focus areas:
   • Public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19
   • Public awareness related to water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery
   • Civic engagement, including election participation
   • Social justice and community engagement

Projects that do not meet the above eligibility requirements will be disqualified.

APPLICATION & SCORE CRITERIA

Applications must be submitted through our online form. Written (500 word maximum) or video (2 minute maximum) responses to each question will be accepted. All applications will be reviewed by a community panel of at least three people. 

1. (10 points) Provide a biography or tell us about yourself and your work.
2. Select ONE or more focus areas your project best aligns with:
   • Public health awareness messages to stop the spread of COVID-19
   • Public awareness related to water and energy conservation, climate mitigation, and emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery
   • Civic engagement, including election participation
   • Social justice and community engagement
3. (30 points) Tell us about your proposed project and how it aligns with the focus areas you selected in question 2.
4. (30 points) How does or will your artistic content uplift “OaklandLoveLife” cultural motto and how will the community encounter and/or experience your work?
5. (30 points) How would these funds support you to create and/or complete your proposed project?
6. Work Samples: Proposers will be expected to submit at least three work samples of past or current projects that give the evaluators a sense of your work.

Total points possible: 100

Application reviewers will use the following scale to assist with the scoring process. Only the top ten scores will be awarded.

POST AWARD EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Throughout the project period from May 2023 to May 2024, the awardees will be expected to utilize the award for their personal sustainability and to advance the proposed project.

The following are requirements that must be fulfilled by the awardees in a timely manner as outlined by the program manager:

1. Sign an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
2. Draft a budget which includes funds to document the project;
3. Draft a timeline for the proposed project that includes a plan on how the project will reach community; 
4. Be fully present during the cohort orientation, mid-point check-in, and final check-in;

Optional but highly recommended: Awardees will have the option to attend any available Artist Leadership workshops and our workshop series The Creative Entrepreneur Suite for their professional development. This information will be communicated to the awardee by the program manager.

QUESTIONS

Questions can be submitted via an online form. A public FAQ document will be updated weekly every Monday to respond to questions received. Individual responses to questions will be limited.  

DEFINITIONS

Artist Disruptors are artists who are rooted in community, who inspire action, and who are working at the intersection of art and social justice. Culture Bearers are artists and carriers of indigenous, ancestral and/or traditional knowledge who weave past, present, and future stewardship of land, culture, community, and spirit. Artist Disruptors are able to powerfully manifest narratives into stories and visuals that speak directly to their audiences and communities. They help us question our assumptions, envision alternative futures, and inspire us to work toward the future we need. 

Culture Bearers are embodiments of narrative, connecting our past to our future. “They represent an embedded presence in place, community trust and mutual support.” They are cultural stewards and help us understand traditional ways of knowing and creating as paths to community health and healing.