On March 2, the Chula Vista Public Library announced the Create Chula Vista Arts Grant opportunity, for artists, art groups, and local businesses to develop art projects in Chula Vista. The grant is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act to support local artists impacted by the loss of the annual Performing and Visual Arts Grant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approved by the city council at its March 1 meeting, the resolution adopted $400,000 in funds to be utilized in the CCVAG.
Chula Vista individual artists, arts organizations, and small businesses are encouraged to apply for award amounts of up to $10,000 per project through an ongoing competitive application process while funds last.
Staff reported that the loss of revenue in arts due to the pandemic, based on the California Arts Council 2020 state survey, art organizations estimated an average loss of revenue of $193,000 with 66% of those organizations cancelling events that could not be rescheduled. Average personal income loss for individual artists was $23,857 each, and 85% had to cancel gigs, appearances, and shows.
Chula Vista mayor Mary Casillas Salas said this is a great opportunity and that she just purchased an art piece by a young artist that was on show at City Hall.
“It is young people like that are developing their skills in art that need this kind of encouragement,” she said.
Council member Jill Galvez said murals are popular in west Chula Vista and asked if certain blighted walls that are highly visible to residents would qualify for grant.
“I am thinking of the rest of the walls in the SDG&E Park, where we just did a mural across from the country club which has a frequently tagged big retaining wall,” she said. “And any other special projects that could be considered such as speakers, or sound system at the Memorial Park Amphitheatre.”
Salas said the County Administration Building has beautiful murals in its building.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had this beautiful mural against that wall (City Hall west side), but make sure that it is quality art, not something trendy, but something that would last for many years,” she said.
Staff said all those recommendations would fit under the qualifications for the CCVAG.
The CCVAG guidelines and application can be found on the library website at www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/library/cultural-arts/cultural-arts-grant-application. For more information, please contact Erwin Magbanua, Principal Librarian and Cultural Arts Manager, at (619) 691-5138, or emagbanua@chulavistaca.gov.
