A Survey of Arts and Cultural Organizations and Creative Businesses: All types of arts and cultural organizations should participate in this survey.

Survey: This survey is designed to assess the creative and social, as well as financial and professional, impact of COVID-19 on artists and creative workers across disciplines and all over the country.

Find links to both surveys here.

APAP, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, has created an excellent summary of the Federal Arts Policy Actions recommended to the Biden-Harris Administration. View the PDF here.

Starting on February 12th and continuing through the month, Iowa Arts is sponsoring a series of events that bring arts and humanities together to explore a range of timely issues. The initiative, called “Art and the Pursuit of Social Justice,” includes work framed by discussions to place them in a social context. All events are available online and are free to the public. More info here.

Join Americans for the Arts, organizational partners, and hundreds of advocates virtually from April 5-9, 2021, for the National Arts Action Summit. Over these five days, advocates will gain a depth of knowledge from policy experts, leaders in the field, and members of Congress. The Summit is the largest collaborative effort by arts advocates to advance policy on Capitol Hill. More info here.

Highlights include:

Read the newsletter here.

The Junior League of Tallahassee (JLT), in celebration of its 60th anniversary, is seeking to commission a large-scale mural within city limits. The project is intended to be a permanent attraction for the public and visitors to enjoy for many years to come. Locations will be considered on a rolling basis until February 26, 2021. More info here.

The 56th Anniversary Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the largest annual civil rights event in the nation, is scheduled to take place March 5-7. This year’s theme is: Beyond the Bridge: People Power, Political Power, Economic Power. This epic undertaking is making history in a brand new way by going global and virtual for the first time ever. More info here.

The Expanded Cinema Lab, a mixed-media, cross-discipline projection arts lab seeks space for on-going work. Founded by Tra Bouscaren and Keith Roberson, faculty in College of Fine Arts at Florida State University, the Lab attracts students and faculty from different disciplines across the University and artists in the Tallahassee community. In operation since November 2019, the Lab is in need of space to continue its work.

The Lab’s space needs are modest. 1,000 sf (or more) of open, cavernous space with no light or windows is preferred. Warehouses and barns are suitable. Given the expedited timeframe for relocating the Lab, we are open to considering options. Unfortunately, we have few resources to expend on space – support of the Lab through space sponsorship or consideration of a barter to activate vacant space is appreciated. More info here.

This map shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location. The risk level is the estimated chance (0-100%) that at least 1 COVID-19 positive individual will be present at any given event in a county, given the size. This planning tool is a collaborative project led by professors at the Georgia Institute of Technology and researchers at Stanford University. More info here.

Updated 1/6/21 - Find a list of Venue Re-Opening guides from various organizations, including the Performing Arts Center Consortium, the Event Safety Alliance, The League of American Historic Theatre Venues, The International Association of Venue Managers, and more here.

Looking for the latest COVID-19 Emergency Information in Leon County? Be sure to check out Leon County's Emergency Information Portal for daily COVID-19 updates like available testing sites, vaccination information, information for businesses, and more here.

Lucia Fishburne shared a photo with us for our social media campaign called "A Shot in the Arm for the Arts!"

Keep up the good work wearing your masks, following social distancing protocols, and help the arts get back in business by getting your shot when you are able to do so. If you have gotten your COVID shot and want to share a photo with COCA, email it to info@tallahasseearts.org and tell us why you are getting your shot.

For more information on getting vaccinated, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Leon County or visit: http://leon.floridahealth.gov/.

This fellowship is a three-year term position. A Hewlett Foundation Fellowship allows an individual to enrich their understanding of philanthropy and of specific subject matter by engaging in all phases of program development and grantmaking. Fellows work closely with program staff to help implement projects and conduct ongoing grantmaking activities. More info here.

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

More info here.

VNG is a matching grant program that provides funds to neighborhood and homeowners’ associations to undertake small-scale neighborhood improvement and enrichment projects to enhance sense of place and build community connections. Qualified applicants can apply for grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 to fund projects within the city limits. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants. More info here.

The globalFEST Assist Fund was created to address the severe impact COVID has had on our community. The Assist Fund is an emergency fund open to artists and industry professionals. Made possible by a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Funds will be distributed as grants of $500. More info here.

Creative Capital helps visionary artists in all disciplines build thriving careers, and every year they review applications from artists ready to take the next step in their creative practices. The selected artists receive the Creative Capital Award, which includes up to $50,000 in funding for bold new projects, as well as a wide range of counsel, career development, and networking opportunities to make their work come to life. More info here.

General Program Support - Application Available: April 1; Next Deadline: June 1

Specific Cultural Projects - Application Available: April 1; Next Deadline: June 1

Fast Track Project - Next Deadline: March 1

Cultural Facilities - Application Available: April 1; Next Deadline: June 1

More info here.

Grants for Arts Projects – Deadline: July 8, 2021

Challenge America – Guidelines and dates TBA

Our Town – Guidelines and dates TBA

Creative Writing Fellowships – Deadline: March 10

More info here.

The 2021 Pérez Prize in Public Art & Civic Design will recognize an arts administrator with a track record of exemplary work in producing with the intention to advance community, civic, or social good by implementing art-based processes and/or projects that lead to positive change in the built environment of a local community. The Prize recipient will receive a $30,000 award that can be used to continue their pursuit of administrative work aligned with the goals of creative transformation of the built environment. More info here.

In collaboration with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Intercultural Leadership Institute partners, the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture’s 2021 Actos de Confianza relief effort will expand to support Latinx artists and arts organizations who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. NALAC will distribute $2,500 grants to Latinx artists and cultural workers and $5,000 grants to Latinx arts organizations facing critical financial emergencies. More info here.

Innovate Grant is now accepting submissions for the Winter 2021 Cycle. Innovate Grant awards (2) $550.00 grants each quarter to one Visual Artist and one Photographer. In addition to receiving a grant award, winners will be featured and recognized on their website and join a growing community of vibrant and talented artists. More info here.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation (MAAF) is committed to the presence of U.S. artists on international stages. The USArtists International program (USAI) supports performances by U.S. artists at impactful international festivals and performing arts marketplaces outside the United States and its territories. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2021, by 11:59 PM ET for projects taking place between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. More info here.

Artist Grant provides a $500 USD grant to one visual artist each grant cycle. Once an artist wins a grant, they may not apply again. We also award 2nd and 3rd place runners-up with $100 USD each. Runners-up may apply again in a future grant cycle. The deadline for the current grant cycle is April 15. More info here.

Some key responsibilities of the THOM Collective Internship (Thomasville, GA) are sending monthly e-blasts to members, updating information and platforms for new members, and website updates for members. This is a part-time, seasonal, unpaid internship with perks. Some applicants may be eligible for class credit from their college or university. More info here.

Thomasville Center for the Arts is looking for creative, self-motivated artists/visionaries with the desire to work on public art projects over several programs. This is an amazing learning experience for any person aspiring to work in the art field. Flexible on hours, but prefer a minimum of 2 days/week beginning February 2021 (flexible) or after. Some applicants may be eligible for class credit from their college or university. More info here.

All museum education professionals are welcome to apply for the 2021 Museum Education Mentoring Program (EdMEM), organized by American Alliance of Museums (AAM)’s Education Committee. Mentors with 3-5+ years in the field and mentees at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply. Program runs for 9 months, from March 2021 to November 2021. More info here.

Painting with a Twist in Tallahassee is looking for energetic, fun artists with teaching experience to work in a creative and exciting environment. Must be able to guide classes of up to 48 people to paint an acrylic painting in two to three hours. Other duties include setting up for class, clean-up, checking in customers and reconciling payment and attendance. Primarily evening and weekend classes. More info here.

Music Lessons Express, Tallahassee’s largest music school, is looking to hire a guitar instructor to teach in-home lessons and lessons at their studio on Apalachee Parkway.

Candidates should have at least one year of teaching experience and be comfortable teaching all ages and ability levels. More info here.

The Grants Manager performs advanced-level professional work to ensure alignment with COCA’s grant programs and overall mission and goals. Special focus of this full-time position includes converting to an automated application process and strengthening administrative practices. An ideal candidate for this position will be detail-oriented, service-focused, tech-savvy, community-minded, and enjoy working in a creative, unique, and collaborative environment. More info here.

Unapologetically Radical is a ONE-DAY virtual event created to address, amplify and activate anti-racism in arts and culture. This is a safe space for truth telling and groundbreaking conversations around dismantling systems of racial injustice and applying immediate and direct change.

Broken down in EP album style, two unique tracks will explore themes around hip-hop & culture as a tool for activism and social change, preservation of black and brown culture, truth and reconciliation and busting the myths around what allyship looks like, just to name a few. This day is designed for Black, Indigenous and People of Color, Community Activists, Community Artists, and Arts and Cultural Organizations doing anti-racism work. More info here.

Local nonprofit leaders from the Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE), Council On Culture & Arts (COCA), and United Partners For Human Services (UPHS) hosted this virtual town hall on 2/9 to reveal the findings of a recent local survey on the Big Bend community’s awareness of the significant role and impact that nonprofits have on our local economy. You can view a replay of the 2/9/21 Town Hall, as well as a press release and powerpoint about the survey results here.

This free online event will give you a chance to ask questions from three experts in the field: Erica Thaler from COCA, Scott Lindeman from Visit Tallahassee, and Jalicia Lewis from ESP Media. More info here; register here.

Learn surefire strategies to grow your brand in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. In this session, you will have a better understanding of how to create and publish click-worthy content that will deliver the right message, on the right channels, at the right time, to the right buyers. During this webinar, you will learn “paint-by-the-number” tactics that will attract and engage your target audiences with a consumer-focused approach to marketing. More info here.

This workshop is designed to help you get ready to do your 2020 taxes and to make prudent financial decisions in 2021. Creative Capital Awardee Amy Smith will provide an overview of our current pandemic economic conditions, expense tracking and taxes, credit, debt, emergency funds, and long-term savings. The workshop is appropriate for individual artists working in any genre and at any point in their careers. More info here.

This 2-day virtual workshop hosted by Tallahassee Community college (TCC) provides tips and techniques for creating persuasive grant proposals. An important but often overlooked aspect of proposal writing will also be covered – Building and maintaining relationships.Access links will be sent after registration via email. More info here.

Co-presented by South Arts and the National Consortium for Creative Placemaking (NCCP), the Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit: South + Appalachia is an annual gathering that explores how arts and cultural programming can be forces for connection and community resilience throughout the southeastern United States. More info here.

March 2 - Workshop: How to Write a Fund Development Plan feat. Alyce Lee Stansbury, 8AM-12:30 PM

March 4 - Faith Inc. Round Table Talk: Feeding the Hungry, 12-1 PM

March 11 - Virtual Board Recruitment Mixer, 5:30-7 PM

March 23 - Executive Director Round Table: Re-imagining our Nonprofits to Survive the Crisis facilitated by BJ Iacino, Epilepsy Agency, 1-2 PM

More info here.

"Mix and Mingle" on Zoom with Nonprofit Organizations that are seeking new board members. Participants will be placed in breakout rooms with nonprofit leaders to learn more about the organization and ask questions. In addition to the presentations and breakout rooms, this free mixer will include live entertainment and online photo contest. More info here.

This 2-day virtual workshop hosted by Tallahassee Community College (TCC) provides you with the tools needed to effectively manage grants. You will examine critical legal policies and focus on the tasks, responsibilities, practices and real-world situations that grant managers face every day. More info here.

Take your paintings to completion through this three-day workshop with, artist/instructor, Steven S. Walker in this intimate Zoom experience. Participants will learn techniques and those “little things” that will help take their paintings across the finish line. Each student will receive individual attention catered to his or her skill level. This workshop is open to all levels. More info here.

The Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee) is the official tourism marketing organization for Tallahassee and Leon County Florida, promoting tourism to the area through direct sales, advertising, public relations, sports, film, product development and visitor services. A partnership with Visit Tallahassee offers you opportunities for promoting your business or event in one of Southern Living’s Top 10 Cities in the South. Building strong relationships within the community helps Visit Tallahassee to achieve their mission – to enhance the region’s economic growth and quality of life by collaboratively inspiring the vitality of Tallahassee’s visitor economy. More info here.

If you're planning any type of event, be sure to post it on the Tallahassee Arts Guide - COCA's official interactive web calendar for arts and culture. 

"Behind the Scenes with COCA" photo albums showcase artists at work in their studios. We love to see the creative process and learn more about how our artists of all genres make their artistic magic happen. Enjoy these social media albums below, and submit your own album here.

View artist studio "Behind the Scenes with COCA" albums here.

COCA has created several RESOURCE GUIDES that aggregate ongoing and similar listings by subject. These can also be found on the sidebar of the COCA Classifieds webpage.

Thomasville’s Rose Show & Festival is celebrating 100 years, and they are looking for vendors for their Rose Fest Market. Rose Fest Market at The Ritz Amphitheater is a brand new part of the annual Rose Show and Festival and will be held Saturday, April 24 from 11:00am-5:00pm. It is an outdoor artisan market with food and music that features several different family friendly activities. More info here.

COCA’s Board of Directors currently has an opening for a finance seat (City appointment). If you’re interested in serving, applications will be accepted through May 31, 2021. COCA’s Board represents a diverse wealth of knowledge and includes citizens with expertise in the following areas: finance, marketing, volunteerism, history/heritage, practicing artist, tourism, and business. The COCA Board typically meets five times each year with occasional additional special meetings scheduled. More info here.

Submissions are open for the sixth annual Florida Animation Festival (FAF). Novice, student, independent, and professional animators including animation studios from Argentina to Japan and throughout the USA submitted projects in different categories: 2D/vector, CGI/3D, stop-motion, frame-by-frame/traditional, and mixed media/experimental. Two free categories are available for young animators, Debut for animators between 13-17 years old, and Debut Junior for under 12. More info here.

Cat Family is looking for actors and locations for a music video for bandanna’s “Fish Song.” The video follows the evolution of a mother-daughter relationship, from youth to adulthood, through the connection they share with an uncommon sweater. More info here.

Singer registration for Spring 2021 is now live. Tallahassee Community Chorus has planned a full schedule of virtual activities planned for this Spring. There will be musicianship classes and presentations, testimonials by current singers, break-out sessions for socializing and sectionals, and of course, more singing of favorite choral standards. Virtual rehearsals over Zoom will resume on Monday, January 25th from 7:30-8:30 PM and run weekly each Monday through March 29th, 2021. More info here.

This list is updated throughout the year, so be sure to bookmark the page and check back often for art opportunities, artist grants, and calls-for-entry. These opportunities are primarily for visual artists. More info here.

The Junior League of Tallahassee (JLT), in celebration of its 60th anniversary, is seeking to commission a large-scale mural within city limits. The project is intended to be a permanent attraction for the public and visitors to enjoy for many years to come. They are seeking a local/regional artist or artist team to design and install a mural that Celebrates the History of Women in Florida. The mural should have an interactive component for visitors. More info here.

Tallahassee Zine Fest is going virtual. This year they are holding their fest in three parts - a zine exchange, a livestream, and digital zines - all free to participate in or attend. More info here.

Black Box Gallery is excited to announce an open themed juried group photo show. Show them your favorite photographic shots. Open to all themes and ideas, all styles and genres, all perspectives on crafsmanship and photographic creativity. More info here.

The 2021 National Prize Show from the Cambridge Art Association will be presented as two (2) in-person exhibits in their Kathryn Schultz Gallery. The entirety of the exhibit will be featured online – and for sale – on CAA’s website for the duration of the exhibition timeline.This call is open to all artists 18 years and older in the US. More info here.

The Lyndon House Arts Foundation (LHAF) and the Lyndon House Arts Center (LHAC) are pleased to announce a project to expand their commitment to increase the visibility and contribution of Black/African American identifying artists. #NotAStereotype is an exhibition designed to give voice and space to artists with a focus on the black experience. The call for art will feature all mediums of art created by artists that identify as Black/African American to highlight positive images of Black culture and contribute to the legacy of Black artistry underrepresented in fine and contemporary art spaces. More info here.

The Packard Group National Exhibition will provide artists the opportunity to display their art in a virtual exhibition at No. 7 Center in Vermillion, SD. All entries that follow the guidelines will be included in the show. The drive-in movie art reception will take place on Friday, April 2nd, 2021, and an online gallery will be available. Any artist in the United States can submit artwork, and there is no entry fee this year. More info here.

Thru the Lens Photography Show celebrates how we all see the world filtered through a camera lens. Whether you are a professional, an amateur, an enthusiast, or just an occasional weekend photographer, The Joe invites photographers of all skill levels who celebrate what they see through a camera lens for jury consideration. More info here.

The Pines & Palms Photography Contest and Virtual Show, hosted by Alan Ross, Dan Burkholder, and Elizabeth Opalenik will take place from March 30 to May 30. Work must be submitted between March 6 and March 17 to their website, and prizes will be announced April 1. You do not have to be a member to enter and photos will be accepted until they have 100 photos entered. The entry fee is $20 per entry. More info here.

Creative Tallahassee, presented by the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), is an annual, fine art exhibition showcasing talented artists of the Big Bend area. Artwork must be original, current and not previously shown in a COCA exhibition. All media, 2D or 3D, is accepted including fine art, craft and photography, but excluding video and performance art. This exhibition will be on display in the main City Hall Art Gallery. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this exhibit will also be presented in COCA’s online, digital gallery. More info here.

Up to 4 finalists (artist or artist team) will receive $1,000 to visit the University of Florida Data Science and Information Technology Building and create and present a site specific proposal. The budget is $10,000 for a site-specific work of art. More info here.

Thomasville Center for the Arts is now taking submissions for their annual THOM Collective Exhibition. You must be an active THOM Collective member to participate. This year, they are thrilled to host their Thom Collective juried exhibition both online and in their Main Gallery at 600 E. Washington St., Thomasville, GA. More info here.

Located in Edmonds, WA, Write on the Sound (WOTS) is a small, affordable conference focused on the craft of writing. A broad variety of sessions, workshops and panel discussions are available for all levels and interests, including information regarding today’s writing and publishing industry. WOTS’ Call for Presenters is open to writing and publishing industry professionals throughout North America. More info here.

Sunspot Lit is launching Geminga: $500 for Tiny Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, or Art to honor the power of the small. No restrictions on theme or category. Word limit is 100 for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Visual art entries should be paintings, drawings, or sketches no larger than 25 inches square. Sculptural forms should be no larger than 25 inches in any dimension. Entry fee is $6, and the prize is $500 and publication for the winner. More info here.

Click here to submit information for the weekly COCA Classifieds email. Deadline for submission is 5:00 pm on the Wednesday of each week. COCA reserves the right to include or exclude any listing at its discretion and to determine the content and placement of all listings. Items may be listed for a maximum of two editions.

COCA does not endorse any artists, organizations, or programs listed herein, nor imply stature through their inclusion in this newsletter. While we have made every effort to ensure that this information is correct, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information.