Boulder Arts Commission Applicant FAQs

The process begins with submitting your application. Applicants meeting the minimum requirements will be scheduled for an interview with members of the Boulder City Council, who make the appointments to all the city’s boards and commissions. After City Council votes to appoint a candidate to the Arts Commission, that person typically is sworn in and begins serving at the next Arts Commission meeting. Questions about the appointment process should be directed to the Office of the City Clerk.

The standard term is five years.

Commissioners have five main responsibilities:

1. to advise City Council and staff on matters of arts and culture,
2. to serve as an ambassador of the Office of Arts and Culture to the community,
3. to approve the distribution of grant funding,
4. to advise the city manager on public art decisions, and
5. to serve on public art selection panels, Arts Commission subcommittees, several nonprofit boards, as liaisons to nonprofits, and occasional cross-departmental committees.

The Arts Commission also plays a role in implementing the Boulder Community Cultural Plan and its cultural vision: “Together, we will craft Boulder’s social, physical, and cultural environment to include creativity as an essential ingredient for the well-being, prosperity, and joy of everyone in the community.” Finally, the Arts Commission has adopted the Statement on Cultural Equity to galvanize their work in the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Boulder Arts Commission believes arts and culture are the foundation for a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible community. We work collaboratively with city staff, artists, arts and culture organizations, and the community to support artists and enrich Boulder’s quality of life and economic vitality and to help create a highly innovative, vibrant, and resilient city.

Many people are interested in giving back to their community, and this is a great way to be involved in a vital and creative aspect of life in Boulder. Some commissioners have received grants from the Arts Commission in the past, and now enjoy sitting on the other side of the table.

Most people choose to serve on the Arts Commission because they are passionate about arts and culture. Some are artists, some have had arts administration or teaching experience, some have served on the boards of local arts organizations, and some are patrons of the arts. Others have professions and expertise outside the arts that might be beneficial to the cultural community.

You, and the organization you work for, definitely can apply. You will be required to recuse yourself from any decision on grants or public art that might imply a direct financial benefit to you.

Commissioners must attend monthly meetings, held on the fourth Wednesday, that typically last two to three hours. The staff emails the commissioners an agenda packet five or six days ahead of each commission meeting. These meetings are hybrid virtual/in person and are recorded for online access. Most Arts Commission discussions and decisions are conducted during these monthly public meetings.

During the grant cycle, typically from February through June each year, commissioners take turns to join grant review panels. They are also recommended to review the grant applications. In sum, it can require between five and 10 hours per month. The number of applications can vary from a few to as many as 40, depending on the grant category. Commissioners are also required to review and approve grant reports, which can require an hour or two additionally each month.

Arts Commissioners also serve on public art selection panels, which can require a few hours to review applicants and meet with the panel over several months. The commission has several subcommittees that can require time between meetings (see below). Commission members participate in annual training as well as a retreat, which is usually held during the October meeting. Arts commissioners also serve on the boards of three nonprofit cultural organizations and as liaisons to organizations that have received general operating fund grants, which requires occasional emails, phone calls, or meetings with community arts leaders.

Commissioners also attend special events held by the Office of Arts and Culture such as cultural summits, grant information sessions, and equity training. Members may choose to attend art openings and performances as representatives of the Arts Commission.

The Arts Commission currently has subcommittees to address sponsorships and the Public Art Standing Selection Panel. Commissioners volunteer for subcommittee work as needed throughout the year.

Meetings are currently being held hybrid virtual/in person. They are open to public observation and always include an opportunity for public comment. Typically, the agenda includes approvals for grants, grant reports, and selection processes for public art. Commissioners may work with staff and the chair to add other discussions to the agenda. Staff also makes presentations on important work plan items. Each year, the Arts Commission holds a retreat in October to conduct detailed reviews and revisions of the grants and public art programs, give advice on the staff work plan and budget, discuss their priorities for the next year, and draft an annual letter to City Council.

All commissioners will receive comprehensive training by Office of Arts and Culture staff for grant making, public art approval, and other processes. New commissioners learn about transparency rules, recusal guidelines, the Statement on Cultural Equity, and more.

Staff provides comprehensive training at the beginning of each grants cycle. A scoring system and the community priorities listed in the Community Cultural Plan provide guidance to help commissioners figure out how to score grants that will engage and benefit the community.

The commission tries to represent diversity within the community and among arts disciplines. Since commissioners come and go based on their terms, the Arts Commission welcomes experience from all art genres, including (but not limited to) public art and social practice, performing arts (music, dance, theater), visual arts (painting, sculpture, photography), hand crafts, literature and poetry, immersive and time-based media (animation, film, video), design and architecture, history and heritage, installations, and the contemplative arts. Applicants who have relevant experiences outside of arts and culture are also encouraged to apply.

Try and try again! There are more great art leaders in Boulder than can be appointed each year. We encourage unsuccessful applicants to consider applying in future years. And, there are many opportunities to participate in the commission’s process including serving on public art selection panels, providing input on policy at commission meetings, joining advisory teams, and more. We welcome you to stay engaged!