Project Overview

The performing arts are a distinguishing part of our public history and our culture. Theatre, music, dance, and opera create and enhance neighborhood and community identity. These live performances and the companies that produce them add to the cultural landscape and character of the city. They add entertainment, beauty, and culture that enrich our community and promote diverse dialogue. Art Spotlight CDA is looking for performing arts companies that produce work that brings a vibrance to our city and involves community members as participants and audiences. We are interested in fostering high quality, thoughtful performance arts works with an emphasis on excellent craftsmanship, skill, and talent.

Located on the shore of one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, Coeur d’Alene is one of the West’s premier four-season destinations for business meetings, leisure travel, and special events. Coeur d’Alene is proud of its rich history of performing arts organizations and seeks to aid in sustaining and broadening these programs for the enrichment of the community and support of programming that draws audiences both locally and nationwide. Throughout the year, Coeur d’Alene attracts thousands of visitors; a rich offering of performing arts increases what the city has to offer.  

Performing arts companies submit applications for funds that will contribute to the creation of theatre, dance, music, and opera productions and related programming. Applications must include a letter that describes in detail the project, program, or production to be funded and how it will enhance the community.  From the submissions, a committee will select the projects, programs, and/or productions to receive the funding.  The first- year period will run from the beginning of November 2025, through the end of October 2026 with a second-year option running from November 2026 through the end of October 2027.

The Application Process

The Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission is encouraging performing arts organizations to submit a one (1) - three (3) page letter describing in detail the project, program, or production to be funded and how it will enhance both the company/organization and the community. The letter should include how the funding will be utilized and how the Arts Commission and City will be recognized as a sponsor.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be based in Kootenai County, Idaho
• Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Applicants must be in good standing with the city and the community
• Applicant companies must have completed at least five (5) years of performing arts programming prior to the application deadline date
• Applicants may submit one (1) application per grant cycle year
• Applicants must be from an organization that regularly schedules and engages performing artists to perform before general audiences in the community and manages the related performance logistics as an ongoing and significant component of their organization’s activity

Budget and Payment Schedule 

Art Spotlight CDA will offer a total funding of $15,000 annually. The selected companies will be funded in the amount of $5,000 or $7,500 for the first year (three (3) companies at $5,000 each or two (2) companies at $7,500 each) at the discretion of the Selection Committee, Arts Commission, and City Council. A second fund of the same amount may be paid to the companies at the start of the second year for the same project, program, production, or one that contains the same criteria as the work funded in the first year, should the companies be chosen to repeat the program funding.

Selection Process

Responses to this call for applications from performing arts organizations will be evaluated by a selection committee consisting of local arts professionals, local citizens, a council member, and other members as determined by the Arts Commission. Selection criteria to be used for consideration shall include, but not be limited to the following: community impact, artistic quality, context, sustainability, appeal, content, creativity, and feasibility.

Timeline

These dates are subject to change

August 15, 2025         Application submission deadline

August 16 - 25, 2025 Projects/programs/productions selected by Selection Committee

August 26, 2025         Arts Commission approval of selected projects/programs/productions

Sept. 2 or 16, 2025    City Council approval of projects/programs/productions

October 22, 2025        Recipients announced at Coeur d’Alene Arts Awards

Submission Requirements

Applications must be received by email to Jo Anne Mateski, City Staff Support to the Arts Commission ([email protected]) no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on Friday, August 15, 2025 with the subject line: “Art Spotlight CDA 2025 Application Submission”

The City of Coeur d’Alene reserves the right to change the dates of the project timeline, to modify this solicitation, to request additional information or proposals from any or all participating organizations, to re-open the submission process and/or to accept or reject submissions, at any time prior to announcement of recipients. #