Commissioners open Measure P Year 2 arts grant process; letter-of-intent deadline set for April 4

At a meeting of the Fresno Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (date not specified), commissioners and staff announced the Year 2 schedule for the Measure P expanded access to arts and culture grants, including a mandatory letter-of-intent (LOI) period that opened Friday, March 14 and closes Friday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.

Commissioners and Arts Council staff said passing the LOI is required for applicants to access the full grant application. The full application becomes available to applicants who complete the LOI; those applicants will have through Friday, June 6 at 11:59 p.m. to submit full proposals. An information session is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 6–7:30 p.m. at Fresno City Hall (Council Chambers) and will be livestreamed; a grant-writing workshop is scheduled for Monday, April 7, 6–8 p.m. at The Archive on Kern. Technical assistance will be offered to LOI submitters and links will be provided directly by the Fresno Arts Council.

Dr. Chavez, speaking for the Cultural Arts subcommittee, said the LOI process is intended to identify readiness early and to avoid issues that occurred last year, when some applicants failed to upload required documents or were later found ineligible and forfeited awards. "This letter-of-intent process is intended to help applicants identify early on whether or not they are ready to move forward with the application," Dr. Chavez said.

During unscheduled public comment, resident Jade McAfee of District 5 urged the commission and Arts Council to adjust eligibility rules that require applicants to have a specific nonprofit tax-exempt (NTE) designation linked to arts organizations. McAfee said that requirement disproportionately affects artists and community groups in districts with fewer arts institutions and recommended structural changes to encourage collaboration, for example allowing applicants to partner with a fiscal sponsor or requiring applications from an artist in conjunction with a non-arts organization.

Arts Council staff (identified in the meeting as Lilia/Lily) and city staff said they will provide outreach and technical assistance for prospective applicants. Commissioners asked staff to circulate a corrected summary of dates and instructions; staff said they would provide the corrected sheet to City staff (Sarah Gaeton) for distribution to commissioners in a way that complies with the Brown Act.

The commission closed the public hearing on the arts grant program and moved on to other agenda items.