Apply to be a Panelist

In 2021-22, the Sacramento Office of Arts & Culture will be investing more than $2 million in the Creative Economy through grant programs that will serve individual artists, creative businesses, and nonprofit organizations. To achieve this goal, we are seeking qualified individuals to review applications from their peers in an array of creative disciplines.

We rely on panels composed of individuals who represent a broad range of artistic and cultural viewpoints, as well as geographic and ethnic diversity, to provide advice about the artistic excellence and programmatic alignment of proposals in a variety of funding categories.

We are seeking panelists who:

• Are arts professionals, cultural workers and practitioners who are qualified by their activities, training, skills, and/or experience in one or more artform
• Have a strong understanding of the history that has shaped the communities in which they work (particularly from the lens of race) as well as an understanding of the disparities in the creative economy and the forces driving them
• Have the time and ability to thoroughly and thoughtfully review and score every application in advance of panel meetings

Panelists are chosen based on the following criteria:

• Ability to assess and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of up to 60 applications based on a grant program’s published review criteria
  Capacity to take part in two to three virtual group meetings with up to 10 panelists
  Are limited in their conflicts of interests with our potential applicant pool

Diversity of panel pool will include diversity of:

• Intersectional backgrounds – gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status and disability, reflecting Sacramento’s overall demographics
• Geographic distribution representing various regions of CA and the country
• Experience in a wide range of artistic, cultural, and social fields, including but not limited to:
  • Artists and cultural practitioners of all disciplines
  • Arts learning for youth/Creative Youth Development
  • Cultural placekeeping/creative placemaking
  • Nonprofit management
  • Creative businesses
  • Social justice and community building

2021-22 orientations and panel meetings will all be virtual. Panelists will be paid an honorarium for both initial review of applications and public panel meetings.

If you are interested in applying to become a panelist, please click here for the form.

You will be contacted if your qualifications match the needs of an upcoming panel.