Call to Artists: Peoria Utility Box Art Wraps 2026

 

 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 11:59PM, March 2, 2026 

 

OVERVIEW

The City of Peoria Arts and Culture Department is seeking designs created by area artists to cover traffic signal boxes throughout the City of Peoria. Selected artist designs will be printed on vinyl and wrapped around the boxes by a third-party design fabricator. The intent of the project is to beautify the utility boxes, bringing art to otherwise utilitarian surfaces and giving artists an opportunity to develop public art experience. This opportunity is open to artists, illustrators, designers, students, and creative community members residing in the Peoria area, working in any medium, as long as the final artwork can be translated and digitally reproduced on a 2-dimensional vinyl wrap. Artists may submit up to 2 designs. Utility box sites will be located throughout the City of Peoria and will be installed in Spring 2026.

 

AWARD 

Selected artists will receive a $400.00 honorarium. 

 

ELIGIBILITY

• Submitted designs must be original works of the artist and in compliance with all existing copyright laws. 
• The art may be a new original piece or an existing work of the artist, but may not be on display in other public art programs.
• Designs must be appropriate for display in public spaces and viewing by a general audience.
• Designs cannot include political or religious content; any breach of intellectual property; trademarks; images of illegal activity; advertisements; logos; signage; promotion of any business, organization, individual, or product; or involve the attachment of objects to the boxes.
• Please submit finalized artwork; concepts will not be considered.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Artist designs will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Artistic quality of submitted designs
• Appropriateness of artwork and visual effectiveness on public utility boxes
• Ability to successfully translate original artwork to a digital file for a 2-dimensional surface

 

 

WRAP DESIGN GUIDELINES

• Submitted artwork must be a high-resolution digital file due to enlarging process for printing. Original photography and digital artwork are welcome. Artists using non-digital mediums must scan or photograph original artwork to create a high-resolution digital image. 
• Files must be 300 dpi minimum and created to the actual size to wrap the utility boxes: 101 in. x 75.5 in. 
• All designs will be subject to review and approval by Arts Program staff, and the City reserves the right to crop the artwork, or elements of the artwork, as needed to fit the dimensions of different sized utility boxes.

 Download the provided template (available in 2 file types):

• PDF
• EPS

 

DURATION

Utility box artwork wraps are selected and displayed on a rotating basis as part of an ongoing citywide arts program. Wraps may be removed at any time for any reason at the discretion of the City of Peoria.

 

CITY OF PEORIA ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS

FY27 Grant Guidelines  

Activity Period: Sept. 1, 2026 to May 30, 2027

 

ARTS AND CULTURE GRANT PROGRAM PURPOSE 

The mission for the City of Peoria Arts and Culture Grant Program is to extend our reach activating Peoria as a place where arts, culture, and library services are distinctly inclusive, educational, and responsive within the community. 

The grant program is managed by the Arts & Culture Division. The grant program provides financial support to organizations, schools, and businesses for various projects through a competitive application and grant review process. These projects directly benefit the community and are aligned with the priorities of the Arts and Culture Plan, whose overarching vision is to support a creative, artistic, cultural community with activities that are accessible, inclusive, inspiring and support a high quality of life for all.

 

OVERVIEW  

The purpose of the Arts and Culture Grants Program is to inspire, enhance, and support new arts and event experiences for residents and visitors throughout the city. The City of Peoria sponsors it; facilitated by staff of the Arts, Culture and Library Services Department; assessed by community members; evaluated by the Arts and Culture Commission for recommendation; and then reviewed and approved by the Peoria City Council.

 

TYPES OF GRANTS AVAILABLE 

• ARTS PROJECTS: 

Programs or Performances

• COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Organizations who host a single Peoria based arts event, per fiscal year, are eligible to apply for the tier I funding level. Please be sure to detail the reach and impact of the event within your narrative that supports the funding request.

Organizations that host multiple Peoria based arts events are eligible to apply for tier II funding (for two events). Be sure to detail the reach and impact of each individual event within your narrative that supports the funding request.

• HOAs: 

Homeowner Associations events       

 

TIMELINE 

2026 

Jan. 30:             Grant cycle opens online   

Feb. 17-19:         Workshops – In-person and virtual    

Feb. 23 & 24:     Individual review sessions available by appointment  

Mar. 30:             Grant cycle closes  

May 27:              Arts and Culture Commission reviews the panels’ recommendations  

August 2026:    Peoria City Council reviews the funding recommendations  

Sept. 1, 2026:    Grant activity period begins     

 

2027 

May 30:              Grant activity period ends  

June 30:             Final Report deadline      

 

All grant expenditures must disclose specific costs within the budget, include public access and a well-defined public benefit as defined by the grant category. Inquiries should be directed to city staff who are available as a resource for best practices.

City staff may also assist with the grant application process through the following:

(New applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the following):

• Grant workshop February 19, 2026

• One-on-one sessions by appointment

To start the grant application process, please visit: cityofpeoriaaz.submittable.com

 

Questions? 

Please contact: Arts & Culture Supervisor    

Suzzanne Anicette suzzanne.anicette@peoriaaz.gov 

(623) 773-5254      

 

PLEASE NOTE 

For the FY27 grant cycle, an applicant may not apply for more than $20,000 in total funding within the Events category. If an Events grant application is submitted, the applicant may select only one additional category for grant application. Organizations applying to multiple Arts Projects / Programs / Performances categories may not apply for more than $20,000 in total funding within the combined categories. All applicants must strictly adhere to each category’s eligibility, including the essential requirement to identify and describe the specific community benefit of the program or event.   

 

ARTS PROJECTS 

All arts projects require the participation of an artist or qualified subject matter expert. However, art projects are not designed to fund the work of solo artists.

 

VISUAL ARTS 

• Painting

• Drawing

• Ceramics

• Fiber

• Sculpture

     o Metal

     o Wood

     o Glass

• Mixed media

• Photography

• Printmaking    

 

PERFORMING ARTS 

· Music  

· Instrumental 

· Voice  

· Dance  

· Theatre  

· Performance Art  

· Spoken Word

 

CREATIVE SECTOR

· Film & Media 

· Music & Entertainment  

· Culinary Arts  

· Fashion

 

Peoria-based Organization / Arts Projects

(May apply for one (1) grant up to $5,000)

The funding is for Peoria based organizations producing / presenting arts projects that will take place in Peoria. Recommended to have an established history of arts activity for five years or more. Creating new partnerships with other local nonprofit organizations or businesses for increased impact is encouraged but not required. The ultimate goal is to engage and or extend arts experiences within the Peoria community beyond the organization’s current programming. Applicants will need to respond to additional application questions including the following:

• How will the requested funding (and this partner relationship if applicable) advance the organization’s mission?

• How will the project further the organization’s arts engagement, relationship and service to the community?

• What are the merits of this new project

• How will this effort increase your artistic reach? Please identify your current patron base, i.e. families, general population, seniors, etc.

• How does the overall community benefit? What are the specific benefits being addressed by this collaboration if applicable?

• How does your organization support inclusiveness within the community?

 

Projects / Programs / Performances

(May apply for up to two (2) grants for different projects up to $7,500 each $15,000 total)

Programs, Performances, Gallery/Exhibits, and Workshops, arts project grants are available to qualified organizations of all sizes, whose primary mission is to produce, present, or serve the arts in the City of Peoria. Organizations may apply for up to two (2) funding grants by completing a separate application for each project. Special consideration will be given to programs requesting funding that include a direct impact on the audience or participants, such as talk-back sessions, special backstage tours, or enhanced experiences such as providing sign language interpreters at events or performances.   

 

EVENTS

(Tier I: May apply for one (1) grant for an individual event up to $20,000)

(Tier II: May apply for two (2) individual events grants $10,000 maximum each $20,000 maximum)

Peoria Arts and Culture is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the community by fostering and supporting event opportunities within the City of Peoria. The City of Peoria provides grants to assist with the direct costs connected to producing events within the community that are available for attendance by the general public. These funds are to be utilized to offset hard costs including, but not limited to, facility rental, permitting, traffic control, marketing, solid waste, and infrastructure costs. Grants are available to organizations of all sizes, whose primary mission is to produce, present, or offer events open to the general public. To be considered, an organization must hold the event within the City of Peoria boundaries, preferably on City property. Please note failure to host your event within the City of Peoria will impact future grant requests.    

 

HOAs 

(May apply for one (1) grant up to $3,000)

Grants to HOAs follow the guidelines for events with a maximum award of $3,000. These grants will be reviewed based on the value that they will provide to residents of the specific neighborhood. Priority will be given to projects that have a strong arts and culture component.  

 

SUBMISSION TIPS

• The strength of your narrative will be enhanced if you consistently tell your story in a dynamic way that advocates how your project or event is unique and the value it brings to the attendees’ experience and the greater community of Peoria.

• Closely aligning your project, program, event or performance outcomes to the submission guidelines will help your submission receive higher scores from reviewers.

• If you are planning to utilize space in a city-owned space or facility, it is highly recommended that you confirm potential availability, rental rates, and other related fees when configuring your budget and including the location in your narrative answers. 

 

GENERAL GRANT INFORMATION

Please note: Applicants must meet all the eligibility requirements for their category and submit a fully completed grant proposal application to be considered for funding. Applications must be concise, and state the purpose of the grant, time frame, and budget.

Supporting documents are encouraged to be submitted to assist the grant reviewers in better understanding the proposed activity.

 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR GRANT APPLICATION 

Submit the completed application and applicable attachments via Submittable.com by March 30, 2026.

 

HOW APPLICATION WILL BE EVALUATED AND SELECTED FOR FUNDING

The evaluation process will begin after the grant application due date with the following provisions:

• Each application will be reviewed first by Arts & Culture staff to ensure that it is eligible for funding based on compliance with the guidelines indicated in the grant application instructions.

• Applications that fail to meet requirements may be rejected and will not be further evaluated.

• If the grant application meets all eligibility requirements, it will be evaluated by an independent grant review panel based on the criteria outlined in the application instructions.

• The panel will review and score grant applications and recommend award amounts to the Arts and Culture Commission. Panel review recommendations will be reviewed by the Arts and Culture Commission in late May 2026.

• The recommendations will be forwarded to the Peoria City Council for their review and approval in Summer 2026; the exact date to be determined by city council scheduling and will be announced in conjunction with publication of city council meeting agenda.

• Award announcements will be made by the end of August 2026.    

 

WHAT’S THE TIMELINE  

The deadline for all grant applications is March 30, 2026. Grant awards will be announced by the end of August 2026. Final reports from awarded recipients are due 30 days after their projects but no later than June 30, 2027.  

 

WHO TO CONTACT  

If you have any questions about the application or granting procedures, please contact Suzzanne Anicette, Art & Culture Supervisor at suzzanne.anicette@peoriaaz.gov. For technical problems, please contact Submittable by email support@submittable.com. 

 

IMPORTANT CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD 

These grants extend the city’s commitment to promote the representation and participation of diverse groups of individuals, including but not limited to people of differing abilities, generations, ethnicities and races, gender identities, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientations, or veteran status. Each year the grant program emphasizes the identification and commitment of a specific benefit to the community as an essential element in each application, as well as activities or events that are accessible and affordable to the general public.

While grants were previously awarded on a rolling basis, applications must now be submitted during the grant cycle. No additional grant applications will be accepted after March 30, 2026 11:59pm.

The grant applicant agrees to the following contract conditions by accepting a grant award from the City of Peoria:

• No person shall be denied access to, or participation in, the performance or event based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability.

• Grants are awarded from the date of the executed contract through May 30, 2027. Programming can be extended through June 30, 2027, with an explanation letter sent to suzzanne.anicette@peoriaaz.gov on or before the Final Report deadline of June 30, 2027.

• An award does not guarantee or imply support in subsequent years.

• Non-school performances must be open to all residents of Peoria and held in Peoria. Grant funds cannot be used for private or exclusive showings.

• Organizations participating in a city-sponsored event must provide proof of insurance with the City of Peoria listed as Additionally Insured. Insurance is due one month prior to scheduled performance/ display project date.

• Grant funds may not be used for construction or renovation of facilities, basic operating support, other capital expenditures, or reductions of debts.

• Grant funds may not be used to support events that are exclusively religious \ worship services, or those whose sole purpose is to advance or promote a religion (evangelism). Cultural expressions housed within religious contexts are permitted; however, the cultural aspects must be the focal point.

• Grantees shall expend public awarded funds only for the purposes and uses specified in the approved grant application.

• Grantee must ensure public funds include access for diverse audiences, equitable access, and inclusive principles benefitting Peorians of diverse cultures, ethnicities, incomes abilities, genders, ages, orientations, and neighborhoods.

• Applicants must provide access to activities and/or events for site visits by Arts and Culture Commissioners and/or city staff upon request.

• Applicants receiving grant awards from the City of Peoria will acknowledge the city’s support in all programs, press releases, and advertisements for grant-supported activities with the following credit line: “(Name of organization/entity) is supported in part by an Arts and Culture grant from the City of Peoria.”

• Grantees are required to complete a final report on Submittable by the City of Peoria 30 days after their project or event but no later than June 30, 2027. This will include the following:

     o Project summary

     o Program achievements

     o A closing itemized financial report with receipts available (if requested) utilizing the budget form provided with the initial application

     o General observations including successes and lessons learned

• Failure to complete the final report and submit it by the deadline specified will impact future grant requests.

• The Grantees will be required to provide, in writing, a request for an extension of the final report if their programming extends beyond the deadline of June 30, 2027, to stay eligible for future grants.

• The City of Peoria will not consider applications for projects that promote, contain, or advance the following:

     o Political activities, candidates, or issues

     o Activities that have a religious purpose

     o Pornography or sexually explicit or suggestive materials

     o Substance abuse or the use of any illegal substance

     o Excessive violence

     o Material that advocates or implies the discrimination of, or degradation of any person because of that person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability

 

SCORING RUBRIC FOR ALL CATEGORIES  

Application scores will be based on the following criteria:

• How closely does the project or activity achieve the goals of each category?

• What are the merits or strengths of each application?

• What is the applicant’s likelihood for success as presented in the narrative and documentation?

• What is the artistic and/or experiential quality of the proposed activity?

• Please state the potential lifelong learning opportunities for all ages if applicable.

• How does the proposed activity or event fill an unserved need within the community or bring a new or unique experience?

• Pursuit of artistic and cultural experiences that are accessible for all residents and visitors?

• What is the specific community benefit of your program or event?

• What potential impact does the program or event have on enhancing the quality of life within Peoria?

• For projects or programs that have been previously funded, please share the following:

     o Why is continued funding essential to its value and impact within the community?

     o How has the previous funding fostered the project or program’s growth?

     o How do you determine success with an ongoing, multi-year project or program?

• Please provide a statement regarding the organization’s ability to continue with the activity or event if less than the requested grant funding is awarded.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Award amounts are determined by selected arts community members not City of Peoria Arts personnel. Additionally, a formula that takes into consideration the total amount of available funds, the average scores of the applicants, and the percentage of the requested award amount to be funded is utilized to maximize available funds for awards.

 

GRANT APPLICATION COMPONENTS

• Online Application to be completed at https://cityofpeoriaaz.submittable.com.

• A copy of the U.S. IRS letter documenting Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (if applicable) and or a City of Peoria Business License

• Grant Request Proposal

• City Grant Budget Form* (Required)

• Marketing Plan (Required)

• A minimum of five high-resolution digital photos, press coverage, or videos representative of the organization's past programming.

• If applicable, a letter of support from each institutional / organizational partner.

• Organization's mission statement

• A brief history of the organization (2-4 paragraphs) including the significant accomplishments, as well as the challenges facing your organization and how the requested funding will help to resolve those challenges, i.e., reaching new audiences, expanding community outreach, etc.

 

PROJECT OUTLINE

• What is the project or event to be presented between Sept. 1, 2026, and May 30, 2027?

• Include information about when and where the project or event occurs.

• What is the project or event details including the scope of operations and planning?

• How many people are served/engaged, and how they are engaged?

• Highlight the unique aspects of the program or event, with an emphasis on serving a specific population or filling a need currently not addressed in local arts and culture programming.

• What are the goals and objectives of the proposed project or event?

• Who are the artists, exhibitors, and consultants involved in your project or event?

• How does the project or event align with your organization’s mission, vision, and strategic plan?

• What is your organization’s experience with producing projects or events of similar scale and complexity?

• What resources, including potential partners, will your organization access to facilitate the production of the project or event (i.e. rehearsal space, location, or community partners)?