The Economic Development Department (EDD) has announced several adjustments to its pilot programs for cultural arts grants in response to criticisms and feedback received from past program applicants. The tweaks aim to streamline and clarify the application and funding process for the Nexus, Elevate, Thrive and separate arts education programs. These revisions include simplifying application language, adding additional scoring options, and making the application process more accessible for non-English speakers.

Program-related changes include increasing the Elevate budget by $3 million so as to expand the number of awards and individual award amounts bestowed upon artists and arts nonprofits. The changes to award amounts for nonprofits, which entail a new minimum of $40,000 and maximum of $80,000, aim to let recipients make a larger impact within the arts community. Additionally, applications for Thrive and Elevate programs will be linked by an extra question to allow applicants to qualify for both, should they fail in their initial applications.

Moving forward, the EDD will launch a public survey to collect feedback on these program alterations. The EDD is also awaiting recommendations from several outside consultants, which were hired to review the technical aspects of the application portal, evaluate user experience, and determine if the programs align with the department’s equity goals. The results of these evaluations will likely result in additional changes.

For those seeking assistance, the EDD customer service is available to provide guidance throughout the application process. Part of the department’s role is to ensure applications are clear and helpful to prospective applicants. Potential artists and organizations are advised to contact EDD via their website eddcaller.com for further support and to make inquiries related to the application process. Clear explanation and guidance will be available in different languages for the ease of non-English speakers.