Request for Proposals: Creative Catalyst Program – United States

This program provides opportunities for independent artists to engage the public in critical issues impacting Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country. They will consider a variety of art forms, such as music, video, visual arts, performing arts, poetry, and more.

Themes

• Solidarity:
  • The fates are linked; when they support the Black struggle for liberation, they are supporting the collective liberation. They seek a re-envisioning of solidarity that simultaneously recognizes the AAPI experience with racism and oppression and how AAPIs have benefited from anti-Blackness. This theme is inspired by the importance of disrupting stereotypic tropes that limit and/or undermine authentic solidarity and offering an alternative vision.
• Belonging:
  • Belonging is about a sense of home, being seen, and the mere but essential right to exist. Belonging is a counterweight to hate and violence and can advance a vision for the profound inclusion of communities.
• Voting Together:
  • They lead by caring about each other. This theme is inspired by the importance of advocacy, voting, and becoming engaged in the issues that impact the lives of AAPIs and are of particular importance in the 2024 election. How will your vote show how you are caring for your community?

Funding Information

• They will be funding one-year contracts of up to $30,000 each to hire five artists to produce work with the potential to break through mainstream media and catalyze conversations around the themes.

Additional Offerings

• They will coordinate publicity and promote the distribution of final projects in furtherance of the charitable purpose. This toolbox is subject to availability and relevance and may include:
  • An accomplished communications consultant to assist in creating local and national earned media stories about the work in connection with the work of the AAPI Fund
  • Digital advertising to help promote the final products and the AAPI Fund
  • Introductions to AAPI organizations that may want to use the work for charitable purposes
  • Support with placement in galleries, shows, or other venues, with a priority on venues with experience in presenting art with a social justice theme to promote the work of the AAPI Fund
  • Development and distribution of replicas of the final products (e.g. posters, calendars, stickers, etc.) to promote the work of the AAPI Fund

Timeline

• Artists are selected: Late September, 2023
• Program start date: October 1, 2023
• Creative content completed and promotion begins: Spring of 2024
• Program ends with final report: November 30, 2024
• Additionally, artists will be expected to attend the AAPI Fund’s 2024 annual grantee gathering (date and location TBD) and attend 1-2 virtual presentations, as requested.

For more information, visit AAPI Civic Engagement Fund.