To better tell the story of the importance of non-profits in our community, COCA, INIE, and UPHS will begin sharing short animated graphics and copy on our social media accounts beginning Monday, March 1, with a new graphic and message every week.

You may follow along with our timeline if you wish for a coordinated approach. We will be sharing this graphic on the left on March 1 (it's animated when you download it from the toolkit) and there is suggested text too - download it all here - or follow along on our Facebook page and other social media accounts to share. (Thanks to Sachs Media for the toolkit!)

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.

Highlights include:

Read the newsletter here.

Local marketing and communications firm ESPMedia has partnered with the Zimmerman Agency and Visit Tallahassee to spotlight local artists of color to uplift their work and their stories. If you would like to submit photos, background information, and other completed projects for consideration, please contact Project Coordinator Jalicia Lewis at jalica@espmedia.net. 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.

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.

Rick Oppenheim 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/.

The Friends of the Leon County Public Library is now accepting donations at it’s store located inside the LeRoy Collins Library downtown. All proceeds benefit the library and all proceeds stay local. 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.

Note: On January 20, 2021, SBA updated the proposed plan for issuing Shuttered Venue Operators Grants during the first and second priority periods. To clarify, priority awardees will not need to satisfy the small employer set-aside. During the first 59 days of opening the SVO Grants, SBA will reserve no less than $2 billion of program funding for grants to entities that have no more than 50 employees. Please click the link to determine your priority period.

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 – Deadline: April 22 (Preliminary SAM registration due by March 30, Grants.gov registration due by April 13)

Our Town – Deadline: August 6

Creative Writing Fellowships – Deadline: March 10 (Preliminary SAM registration due by June 16, Grants.gov registration due by June 29)

Research Awards – Next Deadline: March 29 (Preliminary SAM registration due by March 8, Grants.gov registration due by March 19)

More info here.

NEA Challenge America guidelines include important new details on eligibility requirements, as well as the program description, project types, and what we mean by “underserved”. Please register in advance to attend. More info here.

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative is an energy and climate granting program launched by Helen Frankenthaler Foundation and is the largest private national grant-making program to address climate change through cultural institutions. Museums of all sizes that have a significant visual arts component are encouraged to apply. More info here.

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 COVID-19. 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.

The Hopper Prize is now accepting entries for their Spring 2021 artist grants. They are offering 2 grants in the amount of $3,500 and 4 grants in the amount of $1,000. Grants will be awarded through an open call art competition juried by leading contemporary curators. 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.

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.

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.

This year-long program is an extension of the main Leadership Tallahassee program for adults, bringing together a diverse group of high school juniors from public & private schools in Tallahassee who have demonstrated leadership potential in formal & informal situations, and preparing them to become ethical leaders committed to active community involvement. More info 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.

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.

Led by fundraising expert, Alyce Lee Stansbury, CFRE, this program by The Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence is designed to provide Executive Directors and Development staff with step-by-step guidance to help you determine the most effective fundraising strategies for your organization. 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.

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.

Calling all dancers, acrobats, aerial artists, novelty acts, singers/musicians, comedians/actors, and performance groups - The River Cabaret at Warrior on the River is now casting for 2021 performances. The River Cabaret shows feature a variety of performances that play between the lines of risqué and elegance with brilliant choreography and talented performers. 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.

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.

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.

The applications for Florida Luxe Arts Festival (FLLUXE for short) are now open to create chalk art, busk at the festival with music or another act, or sell your art and artisan goods. This is family-friendly, free public event that will feature national and local chalk artists. FLLUXE Arts Festival will be on Saturday, March 27th in Downtown Panama City, FL. More info here.

Fine Craft artists are invited to submit work to this exhibition which will be held at the Florida CraftArt Gallery located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The theme of Epicurean Delights includes images and objects featuring food, cooking, and dining. This exhibition showcases the finest contemporary ceramics, glass, jewelry, fiber, metals, mixed media, and wood. 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.

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.

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.