Durango Creates! Grant Application 

Creative community projects that enhance Durango’s unique sense of place

 

Notices

• Applicants can no longer receive funding from both Durango Creates! and Lodgers Tax Arts and Culture Grants.
• Marketing expenses are no longer eligible under this grant.

Goals

1. Invest in small-scale community-driven projects focused on placemaking and community engagement.
2. Catalyze and enhance the connection between arts and culture and local businesses. 
3. Support creative professionals and encourage cross-industry relationships.
4. Provide cultural experiences that are free and open to the public

 

Overview

This program is designed to encourage creative projects that can be enjoyed by the public based on a concept called creative placemaking. Creative placemaking capitalizes on the community’s assets, inspiration and potential with the intention of creating public spaces that promote health, happiness and well-being. The purpose of the grant is to increase interest and engagement in areas across all of Durango.

 

Examples of Eligible Projects

• Public Art
• Murals
• Sculptures
• Temporary Installations
• Parklets
• Plazas
• Public Seating
• Free Public Events
• Beautification
• Projects within Durango City Limits
• First Friday performance and artist fees (if free and publicly accessible)
• Performance Art and Experiences

This grant originated to encourage a concentration of creative projects in the North Main and Camino character districts, increasing interest and engagement in these areas. While the grant still encourages creative projects in character districts, it is available for experiences across all of Durango city limits. Projects must be publicly accessible and free to the public. This grant is open to individuals, businesses, neighborhood groups and non-profits.

The first application deadline is Monday, March 31, with awardees notified by Friday, May 9, 2025. The second application deadline is Tuesday, July 15, with awardees notified by Friday, August 22, 2025.
 

Funding

The Durango Creates! Grant offers funding up to $5000 for materials, artist fees, supplies, and more. This is a reimbursement grant, and funds will be distributed following the completion of the approved project.

 

Process

• Step 1: Identify the project, location, and partners
• Step 2: Ensure all projects have necessary permits and preliminary approvals 
• Step 3: Complete and submit Durango Creates! application
• Step 4: Durango Creative District staff reviews application for eligibility and completion
• Step 5: Durango Creative District review committee evaluates and awards funding
• Step 6: Implement Project
• Step 7: Submit appropriate paperwork for reimbursement no later than December 1, 2025.

Applicants with questions are encouraged to contact Durango Creative District Executive Director Kathryn Waggener at director@durangocreativedistrict.org. 

 

Evaluation Guidelines

1. Quality of project – were you happy with the quality of the project?
2. Creativity – is this a new event or a continuing project?
3. DEI components – is the project created by/for, available, accessible, marketed to, and attended by multiple cultures, age demographics, and communities?
4. Community Engagement – how will this project engage various cohorts of our community?
5. Collaboration – who did you partner with for this event?
6. Off-Season impact – does the project take place outside of the summer months?
7. Duration – is this a one-time event, permanent, or temporary project? How will it be maintained?
8. Environmental sustainability – does the project abide by, and respect community efforts for environmentally sustainable activities?
9. Quality of proposal – does the proposal meet all requirements and include all necessary supplementary documents?

 

Each category will be scored on a 1 – 9 scale (1 = poor, 9 = exceptional). Evaluations with the highest cumulative score are likely to receive funding closer to their requested amount. Certain categories may not apply to certain projects, and that will be considered during the evaluation.

 

Below is the rubric used by application reviewers to assist with the review process:

 

Category: Creativity

Weight: 20%

Criteria Overview: Project brings imagination, originality, inventiveness, cleverness, sustainability.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Project is clearly tied, and strengthens, arts and culture in Durango.
• Imagination is central to this project.
• Project is an original work.
• Engages nearly all of the senses of the viewer in various ways.
• Project stretches organizational thinking and artistic imagination.
• Celebrates and enriches cultural heritage.
• Significant contribution to broadening conversation around arts and culture in Durango.

 

Category: DEI Components

Weight: 20%

Criteria Overview: Project is created by/for, available, accessible, marketed to, and attended by multiple cultures, ages, demographics, and communities.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Project has multiple DEI and accessibility components.
• Project has no cost to access and/or has price or scholarship options for all to access.
• Language ability and access is not a problem for anyone to participate.
• Project invites, includes, and amplifies voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, undocumented immigrants, disabled, houseless, those with mental illness, seniors, and other underrepresented communities.
• Younger and older community members can easily access the project.
• Individuals of all ages are encouraged and readily able to participate.

 

Category: Community Engagement

Weight: 15%

Criteria Overview: Project engages various cohorts of Durango community.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Community outreach is central in the project.
• Participation from across multiple areas of Durango's community is central to project.
• Wide variety of opportunities for community members to have meaningful arts and culture experiences.
• Clear and widespread evidence of support for this project from project partners and the communities served.

 

Category: Collaboration

Weight: 10%

Criteria Overview: Multiple organizations brought together to partner and support the project.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Multiple outside organizations, individuals and artists contributed to the project.
• Feedback was widely sought out and incorporated into the project and helped shape the outcome.
• The project serves multiple individuals and organizations outside of the organization leading the project.

 

Category: Off-Season Impact

Weight: 10%

Criteria Overview: Project takes place outside of the summer months (November - April)

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Project takes place in the off-season.
• Flexibility was shown to intentionally host project during off-season.

 

Category: Quality of project

Weight: 10%

Criteria Overview: Project is well thought out and clearly has ability to succeed.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Clear efforts made to ensure project is a fit for Durango.
• Requested funding amount is appropriate and fitting for proposed project.

 

Category: Duration

Weight: 5%

Criteria Overview: One time event, permanent, annual, potential for sustainability, or temporary project.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Project has an established impact on Durango and a known local or regional reputation for the event.
• Extended viewing and good visibility.
• Project is, or can easily be, sustained.
• Project has long term impact (if applicable).

 

Category: Environmental Sustainability

Weight: 5%

Criteria Overview: Project abides by and respects community efforts for environmentally sustainable activities.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Project has no impact or positive environmental impact.
• Project is in line and respectful of community's environmental resources.
• Project generates no or limited waste.
• Project does not cause harm to local environment.

 

Category: Quality of Proposal

Weight: 5%

Criteria Overview: Proposal should meet all requirements and include all necessary supplementary documents.

Elements of a High Scored Project:

• Application provides engaging, clear overview of organizational history, mission, programming, public value, planning and evaluation.
• Public value clearly stated and communicated through the entire narrative.
• Clear and concise budgetary/financial information provided.
• Very confident about the organization’s ability to carry out the proposal.
• Supporting material enhances the application and the reader's understanding of the applicant.