CAH values and emphasizes excellence in all grant programs within all disciplines. This section contains detailed information on CAH’s requirements and suggestions regarding content.
Arts and humanities content and/or merit is one of several criteria on which an application is reviewed. Other criteria include: District Impact and Engagement, Financial Capacity, Management and Sustainability, and others as dictated within the program guidelines and review criteria.
The arts content and merit are primarily demonstrated to the advisory review panel through:
Section 1 - Work sample(s)
Section 2 - Support material(s)
Section 3 - Résumé(s) of key personnel
Section 4 - General Suggestions from CAH staff (see below)
The work sample carries significant weight because it must contain the clearest depiction of the applicant’s best work(s) of art. All applicants must submit work samples of public art or public art projects created by organizations.
Tips for PABC Applicants:
- Write responses based on the grant criteria.
- Convey confidence and enthusiasm for the project.
- Propose ideas related to community wants or needs, Engage the community prior to starting the writing process and keep them included/involved throughout the process.
- Research site, history, community needs, etc.; know and anticipate the issues, questions, and controversies in the area.
- Take advantage of the technical assistance that CAH provides by:
- Attending one of the Live Chats/grant workshops.
- Requesting a meeting to discuss ideas for the proposal before beginning the process or,
- Requesting a meeting as soon as the proposal draft has been finalized.
- Carefully consider the funding request. Account for all aspects of the project (from start to finish) and ensure that the funding request supports the full scope of the project (i.e., materials, fabrication, installation, permit costs, equipment rental, insurance).
- Attain actual quotes for services/goods/rentals needed to complete the project.
- Investigate opportunities to collaborate with more experienced artists/contractors to fill gaps in the applicant’s own expertise and resources.
- Edit proposal and have someone review it.
- Prepare application early and submit it well before the deadline.
- If the applicant is not successful, request a debriefing from the PABC Program Coordinator to obtain panelist comments. This information can be useful for revising future applications.
- If there is a recurring or repeating theme from previous Public Art Projects in the grant application, discuss how the current request builds or innovates on the concept in the project description impact statement.
- In project description, identify and discuss any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the project.
Section 1 - Work Samples
Work samples are critical for each application and are carefully considered during application review. CAH strongly recommends that applicants pay close attention to the content of work sample submissions.
The guidelines on what to submit within a work sample submission depend on the grant application. Applicants must adhere to the work sample requirements below to be eligible for consideration.
Work samples must be no more than four (4) years old from the date of submission. Submitting older work samples will render the application ineligible for funding consideration.
Section 2 - Support Materials
Support materials are documents that strengthen the application and provide additional information that directly relate to the grant request. Support materials do not replace a work sample. It does, however, reinforce the quality of the applicant’s arts and humanities disciplines.
Examples of support material include:
- Project review(s)
- Exhibition reviews
- Letters of recommendation
- Certificates, commendations, or awards
- Assessments or work evaluation
Section 3 - Resumes of Key Personnel
Advisory review panelists may determine the capacity and sustainability of the proposed project by reviewing the résumés of the key artists, administrators, and facilitators involved in the grant activity.
Section 4 - General Work Sample Suggestions from CAH Staff
When creating and preparing work samples, support materials and résumés, CAH recommends that applicants consider the following:
- Applicants should test the functionality of viewing their work sample(s) in the application portal prior to final submission of their application. If the applicant cannot view a work sample, it is unlikely that panelists will be able to view it. For technical assistance, contact CAH with ample time to address the issue prior to the application deadline.
- Select recent, high-quality samples that relate as directly as possible to the application.
- Upload pictures as JPG files (less than 20MB) with a minimum resolution of 72 dpi.
- Exceeding the recommended number of work samples in an application may weaken the application.
- Carefully chosen work samples (pictures, renderings, etc.) tend to make the greatest impact and create a strong artistic impression.
- Advisory review panelists must review a work sample from all applicants. However, a review of all work samples of the same application is not compulsory for panelists.
- Label each work sample or document so it can be easily identified by the panelists.
- For project-based grants, such as PABC, including samples of similar completed projects help to illustrate the applicant’s ability to execute the proposed project.
- Application materials should demonstrate the skill level of the artist(s) involved in the creation of artwork.
- For online materials and website:
- A website is not a sufficient work sample. Only submit a website link that is an essential part of the project.
- Provide all passwords or include any necessary information required to view your work sample, such as plug-ins or navigation paths (hyperlinks).
Ensure that the website links or online materials are functional and accessible through, at minimum, September 30, 2026 (the grant funding period). An inoperative link to a website containing your work sample will negatively affect the application. CAH is not responsible for any material outside of the online grant portal.
View Application Checklist <— | —> View Addendum B: Community Engagement Fact Sheet