American Rescue Plan Reminders & Updates. Highlights include:

Read the newsletter here.

To better tell the story of the importance of non-profits in our community, COCA, INIE, and UPHS are 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. Please 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!)

Your feedback is vital as COCA, INIE, and UPHS will share these results with business and government officials about the strain this pandemic has created in the nonprofit sector. This survey can be completed in fewer than 10 minutes.

All survey participants will be entered to win a COCA Swag Bag that includes a t-shirt, mug, water bottle, and baseball cap (valued at over $75), $50 INIE Money to use toward a class of your choice, and one (1) UPHS Annual Conference Registration (valued at $100).

Connect with the nonprofit sector on the Facebook Group Collaborate Big Bend here.

Take the survey here.

The APAP 10/20/30 Pledge aims to eliminate barriers to leadership, a pledge to steward the work, and a pledge to support cultural workers who identify as Black, Native/Indigenous, People of Color, women, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+. It is a commitment to racial equity and gender justice. Join them for The Arts Are REDI: APAP and the 10/20/30 Pledge Roundtable Discussion on Thursday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) to learn more. Register for the roundtable here, and find a full list of advocacy resources here.

The arts and culture sector remains in crisis and everyone is needed at the table to make a difference. The National Arts Action Summit will equip advocates to share data and authentic stories about the impact of the arts in their communities to educate federal decision-makers about why supporting the arts and culture sector is essential. More info here.

The 2021 Sustainable Community Summit, a week-long series of online and limited in-person presentations and workshops hosted by Leon County, will highlight sustainability in action and give attendees an opportunity to hear from community leaders and organizations on a variety of topics related to sustainability, including a creating a sustainable action plan, composting, and saving money through energy conservation. More info here.

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.

UPDATE: Don't miss the APAP Reopening, Restarting and Resuming Live Performing Arts - Webinar: March 31st at 3 PM EST - more info here

On March 16th, a change was made to PPP deadlines.

Applications for 2nd draw organizations (organizations that have previously received PPP) are still due March 31st. Applications for 1st draw organizations are now due on May 31st, extended by two months.More info on these resource updates here.

The Leon County CARES Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program will launch on Monday March 29th at 8:30 a.m. and assist eligible residents impacted by COVID-19 with up to 12 months of past due rent and/or utilities as well as up to three (3) months of future rent and/or utilities. Residents can apply, and find more information, here.

More info on the program here.

Updated 3/24/21: The SVOG portal is set to open on April 8, 2021

More info here.

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is part of the December 27, 2020 Supplemental COVID-19 relief bill signed by Congress:

More info here.

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

Grants for Arts Projects – Deadline: July 8, 2021

Our Town – Deadline: August 6

More info here.

The USArtists International program (USAI) supports performances by U.S. artists at impactful international festivals and performing arts marketplaces outside the United States. USAI funds the engagements of exemplary solo artists and ensembles across all performing arts disciplines including dance, music, theater, multidisciplinary work, and folk/traditional arts. 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. They also award 2nd and 3rd place runners-up with $100 USD each. Runners-up may apply again in a future grant cycle. More info here.

The Mockingbird Foundation, Inc. offers competitive grants to schools and nonprofit organizations that effect improvements in areas of importance to the Phish fan community. Their programmatic focus is music education for children. More info here.

This new grant program replaces South Arts' previous Performing Arts Touring and Literary Arts Touring grants. Grants up to $7,500 for organizations to present a Southern artist for a performing arts, literary arts, visual arts, or film engagement. More info about grant guidelines as well as other South Arts grants here.

Artwork Archive’s Art Business Accelerator Grant provides visual artists with unrestricted funds, resources, and a curriculum to help establish, grow and manage their art careers. The grant is designed to arm artists with the necessary business skills to succeed as artists and entrepreneurs—and to make a living through their artwork. More info here.

General Program Support - Application available: April 1. Next deadline: June 1 at 5 PM

Specific Cultural Projects - Application available: April 1, Next deadline: June 1 at 5 PM

Cultural Facilities - Application available: April 1. Next deadline: June 1 at 5 PM

Fast Track Project - Next deadline: September 1

More info here.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has some key changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which will be available for a limited amount of time to ensure America’s small businesses get exclusive access. If you are a small business owner with fewer than 20 employees or are self-employed, there is new information for you. Click here to see the schedule for individual webinar slots.

Bonus PPP Update: Sole proprietors, gig workers, and independent contractors are now eligible for an increased loan thanks to recent changes enacted by President Biden. Effective March 3, any individual yet to be approved for a PPP loan in 2021 is now eligible to qualify for a larger loan amounted calculated from his or her gross income in 2019 or 2020. Previously, PPP loans for individuals were limited by a calculation based on net income.

The Guitarist/Song Leader is a part-time position. This person reports to the Music Program Coordinator with oversight by the Council President, the Pastor, and Worship and Music Committee. This position is responsible for providing worship through music by singing, playing the guitar, and leading other instrumentalists and vocalists during the Contemporary Service. 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.

Gadsden Arts seeks a versatile, creative thinker who is interested in exposing campers to a variety of art mediums and art styles. The ideal candidate has experience teaching art to children and is interested in creating a fun, welcoming, and flexible learning environment for young artists of all backgrounds and skill levels. More info here.

TheatreWorks Florida is now accepting applications for a Program Director for CultureWorks. They are seeking a skilled leader who is passionate about diversity, inclusion and equity in the theatre arts, who also believes that building inclusive cultures and creating career opportunities to advance diverse artists and professionals is essential for the industry. More info here.

Join Domi Station and Grow With Google for this free webinar, where you will earn about Google My Business, a free tool for local businesses who want to connect with customers on Google Search and Maps. More info here.

The Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence's knowledge-packed, one-day session will serve as your one-stop-shop for nonprofit operational knowledge. Your participation in any Nonprofit Boot Camp + program will also guarantee you a private consultation with each of the 6 subject instructors. More info here.

In this class, you will learn about the phases in an emergency and potential threats to your area, work on a template for building your plan with the assistance of their instructors, and you will learn tips, tools and know-how to prepare a plan for unforeseen circumstances. At the end of the workshop, you will have a mini-plan to establish additional policies and procedures to ensure your organization’s successful crisis response and help you reduce the impact of the unexpected. More info here.

The Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee) has developed a 2021 Arts Cooperative Advertising that was developed specifically for you! The Arts Co-op is designed exclusively for arts, culture, and heritage organizations to leverage Visit Tallahassee’s annual advertising buy and bring more visitors to your attraction or event. These multi-channel opportunities provide affordable, cost-effective means of reaching consumers in geographically targeted markets. More info here.

Florida’s reputation as the world’s premier vacation destination would not be possible without the vision and dedication of a select group of tourism industry superstars. These individuals are honored by Visit Florida with induction into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame. Qualified nominees are contemporary or historic figures whose work & achievements have made a significant impact on the state’s economy and residents. 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.

A cooperative program by the Florida Alliance for Arts Education and The Hermitage Artist Retreat, the State Teacher/Artist Residency (STAR) program is designed to honor and nourish the artist in the educator by providing five public school educators from Florida with the opportunity to pursue their artistic work in the inspiring environment of the prestigious Hermitage Artist Retreat. Four-week residencies will be offered to two visual artists; two writers (fiction/non-fiction/poetry/playwriting); and one composer. More info 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're looking for vendors for their Rose Fest Market at the Ritz. This brand new part of the annual Rose Show and Festival and will be held Saturday, April 24. It is an outdoor artisan market with food and music featuring several different family friendly activities. Vendors will be selected based on the needs of the event. More info here.

Want to expand your target audience? USA Dance has marketed their Florida Sunshine Dance & Symposium to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Alabama and is calling for vendors. Set up and break down will be on Sat., June 19 at the Days Inn & Conference Center. This is a dancing event with an anticipated group of 200+. 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.

I Like Your Work is excited to announce their Spring 2021 Juried Open Call. All artists are invited to submit their work for consideration to their Online Exhibition & Print Catalog juried by artist and curator Catherine Haggarty. The exhibition will go live in mid-May 2021. More info here.

Artwork is sought for a new building on the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) campus. The intent is that this artwork will reflect the mission and focus of this new facility. The Water School is founded in a holistic approach that focuses on the environmental sciences but also draws in the social sciences, health sciences, business and engineering. More info here.

The Wiregrass Gallery in downtown Thomasville, Georgia is re-opening at 130 N. Jackson Street. This is a prime time to join this artist-owned cooperative featuring paintings, jewelry, textiles, photography, prints, pottery, stained and fused glass, woodworks and other creative arts. The application is available on their website, or can be obtained from their membership chair by emailing a request for an application. More info here.

6x6x2021 is made of thousands of original artworks, made and donated by celebrities, international & local artists, designers, youth and you. Each artist may enter up to three artworks of any medium (2D or 3D). Artworks must be six inches square and signed only on the back, to be exhibited anonymously. Participation is free. All artworks will be exhibited and for sale to the public for $20 each to benefit RoCo. More info here.

New York Art Competitions are pleased to announce the opening of the 3rd Latin American Contemporary Fine Art Competition. Fine artists from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, the Latin American diaspora, and artists residing in any of the above, are invited to submit their works for a chance to be selected for promotional awards designed to boost their careers. More info here.

Up to 4 finalists (artist or artist team) will receive $1,000 to visit the UF Data Science and Information Technology Building, and create and present a site specific proposal. A separate travel stipend may also be awarded. The budget is $100,000 in total for a site-specific work of art. More info here.

Join Havana Main Street on May 12-15, 2021 for a Plein Aire painting event that will highlight the beauty and history of Havana, Florida. This inaugural event will provide: Artists Talks, “Wet” Gallery, Artist Meet & Great, Artist Happy Hour, Gala Sale Event, and a community Paint Out for locals to learn the art and joy of Plein Aire. More info here.

Artists living within 200 miles of Quincy, Florida, or former Gadsden County residents, are invited to apply to participate in the 33rd Art in Gadsden: Regional Exhibition of Fine Art. New and returning, established and emerging artists are welcome to apply. 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.

Vast Art Magazine is excited to announce the international open call for Issue n°03. See your work in print and published along side new, emerging, and established practices from around the world. Thirty (30) artists will be selected and profiled in full color print spread showcasing their work, artist biography, and artist statement. More info here.

CityWalk Shelter is seeking artists who would like to donate their skills to a good cause. They have lots of wall space and invite artists of all mediums to come in and decorate their walls with art/ Schedule an appointment with their volunteer coordinator to pick a wall space. More info here.

USA Dance is hosting a 2-day event, to include a live (in-person) Dance Talent Show. COVID guidelines will be enforced. Awards will be presented to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners. More info here.

CityWalk Shelter is seeking performance artists and musicians who would like to donate their skills to a good cause. They have plenty of room for concerts, plays and other events, so they invite dancers, actors, musicians, and performance artists of all types to put on a show in their community room. Schedule an appointment with their volunteer coordinator to discuss how you can use their space. More info here.

Throughout the month of March, submit your poem, short story memoir, or zine to be considered for a printed publication that will be added to the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library collection. More info about submission requirements 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.

From March 16th through April 16th, students in middle and high school, as well as adult/college aged individuals can enter their original sonnets into the 2021 Sonnet Contest for a chance to win prizes valued at over $1,000!

First, second, and third place winners will be announced at the 2021 Southern Shakespeare Festival the second weekend of May. More info here.

The Write Contest and Community is now accepting entries for their Short Story contest. Writers of any kind are welcome to enter. Early Registration ($25) ends April 1st and Registration ($35) ends April 22nd. In the Short Story Contest you are given a genre, a character prompt, and a location prompt. You write the best story you can, within the word count given. Story Criteria will be sent via e-mail to all registered contestants, who will then have 48 hours to complete and upload their story. More info here.

LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library invites you to participate in their recognition of Florida’s May 20th Emancipation Day. This day marks the anniversary of when the emancipation was proclaimed in Tallahassee on May 20, 1865. They are seeking poets to speak about freedom and invite you to create a video of you reading your original poetry to be featured on @LeonCountyLibrary’s instagram. More info here.

The Write Contest and Community is designed to hold space for creative expression. Their purpose is to provide a safe foundation for curiosity to grow and develop. More info about The Write Contest and Community and other writing contests here.

Since launching in January of 2019, Sunspot Literary Journal has amplified diverse multinational voices from around the world. New works have been published in their original language side-by-side with English translations. Visit their website to see Sunspot's calls to writers and artists. More info here.

The 621 Literary Reading Salon is a space for writers at every stage of their journey to gather, share, and connect. The Salon is hosted by 621 Gallery in Railroad Square on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm. They are always looking for new authors and audience members to strengthen Tallahassee’s writing community. Submissions are due a week prior to the Salon. More info here.

Searching for an agent? Poets & Writers is here to help. A collection of articles edited by the staff of Poets & Writers Magazine, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents includes straightforward advice from professionals in the literary field and additional resources with insider tips. 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.