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CARD Spring Update

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05/02/22

CARD Spring Update

<p>If the phrase “CARD program” hasn’t entered your lexicon yet, you might as well adopt it now, since you’re about to hear about it all over town. </p> <p>CARD, which stands for City Arts Recovery and Design, is a pilot grant program that was launched by the Santa Cruz City Arts Commission in collaboration with Arts Council Santa Cruz back in the spring of 2021. Modeled after a similar program implemented by the City of Santa Monica, the CARD Program’s main objective is to identify and support art initiatives that contribute to the city’s economic recovery efforts. The COVID pandemic, the CZU fires, and an increased recognition of the effects of institutionalized racism have all combined to take their toll on our community. Resources from the City’s Percent for Arts and General Funds were allocated to encourage artists of all kinds to tackle our current challenges through their creative work while also beautifying our community and highlighting its resilient character. </p> <p>In response to its initial call for project proposals, the Arts Commission received 60 LOI’s (letters of intent). A _28-member panel reviewed these applications and recommended twenty of them for further development. Each of these twenty artists received a $1500 stipend to develop full applications and resubmit their projects for funding consideration.</p> <p>Earlier this year, an ad-hoc committee made up of three Arts Commissioners and several City Staff began evaluating these detailed proposals, based not just on feasibility and artist qualifications, but also on how well the projects addressed the three established CARD themes: Economic Recovery, Restorative Justice, and Public Health and Safety.</p> <p>The reason you’ll soon be hearing the phrase “CARD Program” around town is because the funding process has begun! At their March meeting, the City Arts Commission recommended nine projects for funding. One more was added at the April meeting. </p> <p><br /></p>
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