Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Seeks Volunteers for Grant Review Panels 

MARCH 11, 2024

The City of Dubuque’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs is seeking volunteer grant reviewers to read and score applications for its Arts Operating Support and Capacity Building grant programs. 

Volunteer reviewers are also utilized to review annual competitive granting programs supporting the arts and culture sector, and a forthcoming grant opportunity for individual artists.

Volunteers will be asked to review submitted grants in either or both of two upcoming time periods: 

• Arts Operating Support Program (May 13-June 18, 2024)
• Capacity Building (May 20-June 18, 2024)

Grant reviewers from the community are an integral part of the City’s Arts and Culture grant programs, providing an objective review of applications to maintain equitable practices in allocating funding. This virtual service opportunity is a chance for community volunteers to apply their multiple areas of expertise to assist in driving a broader agenda for change, growth, and transformation in the community by helping ensure diverse arts and cultural experiences are accessible and representative of all in Dubuque. 

Volunteer grant reviewers will participate in the following:

• An informational orientation
• Independent review and scoring of applications based on an established rubric
• Discussion to confirm grant scoring and comments

No previous grant reviewing or grant writing experience is necessary. Staff with the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs provide support in navigating the online grant management system, instruction on the grant evaluation and feedback process, and scoring tools.

Becoming a volunteer grant reviewer is an excellent way to:

• Lend academic and lived experience perspectives to inform funding decisions in the arts and culture sector
• Apply multiple areas of expertise to drive a broader agenda for change, growth, and transformation in the community
• Gain practical knowledge of the City grant review and funding process as mechanisms for transformation
• Build a network and meet new people
• Learn more about the organizations and their impact on the community

More information on what it takes to be a volunteer grant reviewer is available on the City’s website at https://www.cityofdubuque.org/2517/Become-a-Virtual-Grant-Reviewer.

Volunteers from various professions and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Parties interested in serving the community and empowering Dubuque’s arts and culture sector as volunteer grant reviewers are asked to submit a short form.

For additional information, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/artsandculture or contact the City of Dubuque Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager Bonnie Spurling at bspurlin@cityofdubuque.org or by phone at 563.690.6059.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager
bspurlin@cityofdubuque.org, 563.690.6059