PSYAH Guidelines

Create New, Site-Specific Work: Projects should propose original, site-specific ideas that bring new energy to a space or address a local challenge or filling a spatial need in a creative and artistic way. 

Engage Community: Where possible, applicants are encouraged to meaningfully involve community members in the design or implementation of the project, and to seek input from those directly impacted when appropriate. 

Reflect the Local Community: Proposals should demonstrate a connection to the neighborhood or community where the work will be located, thoughtfully incorporating local culture, history, and voices. 

Collaboration: Projects that build partnerships among artists, local businesses, organizations, and residents are encouraged and supported. 

DENVER CREATES Alignment: Projects must align with one or more of the commitments tied to DENVER CREATES: A Collective Commitment to the Arts, the city’s plan for a thriving arts and culture ecosystem: 

• Commitment #1: Broaden Access to Arts and Culture 

  • Advance equity and access in arts and culture funding 

  • Reduce barriers to audience engagement 

  • Support arts and culture in neighborhoods  

• Commitment #2: Cultivate the Cultural Community  

  • Amplify Denver’s Cultural Successes and Reputation 

  • Build Cross-Sector Collaborations 

  • Integrate Artists in Community Decision-Making 

  • Build Arts Leadership and Education  

• Commitment #3: Support the Economic Vtality of Denver’s Cultural Sector 

  • Increase access and affordability of spaces 

  • Expand arts and culture funding  

  • Retain local talent and resources 

• Applicant must be in good standing with Denver Arts & Venues to apply for awards or opportunities. Good standing includes (but is not limited to): 

  • Registered organizations and businesses must be able to produce a Certificate of Good Standing  

  • No outstanding payments or unpaid invoices with Denver Arts & Venues  

  • No outstanding documentation or reports for previously awarded grant-funded projects or programs 

• Projects must be located in an outdoor, public space within the City and County of Denver and be consistent with city policies and neighborhood plans. Projects may take place in multiple sites or spaces within the City and County of Denver. 

• Projects must be on display for a minimum of three months and up to one year (timelines may be flexible on a case-by-case basis). 

• Projects must be led by an individual, business, or organization that is connected to the neighborhood where the project will be implemented. 

• The following entities in the City of Denver are eligible to apply: 

  • Neighborhood-based groups, including but not limited to: 

    • Individuals, businesses, and organizations 

    • Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO)  

    • Business Improvement District (BID), Maintenance District, Business Association 

    • Cultural, Business, Historical, or Certified Creative District 

• Applicants should consider how their programs and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes access accommodations for both the project and programs. These design standards shall be based on the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and can be found at ada.gov. Assistance can also be found by contacting the Denver Office of Disability Rights: 720-913-8485. 

• Applicant must be in good standing with Denver Arts & Venues to apply for awards or opportunities. Good standing includes (but is not limited to): 

  • Registered organizations and businesses must be able to produce a Certificate of Good Standing (upon request)  

  • No outstanding payments or unpaid invoices with Denver Arts & Venues  

  • No outstanding documentation or reports for previously awarded grant funded projects or programs with Denver Arts & Venues 

All grant funds must be used for project expenses only. 

Planning & Personnel 

• Project management, administrative support

• Hired contractors 

• Volunteer coordinator, community organizer, etc. 

Professional Services 

• Permits (parks, construction, right of way, etc.) 

• Professional consultants (designer, engineer, artist, etc.) 

• Insurance (see toolkit for details) 

Materials, Supplies & Maintenance 

• Art supplies (paint, printing, etc.) 

• Building materials 

• Equipment rental (audio/visual, tents, tables, traffic control, etc.) 

• Landscaping (soil, sod, shrubs, plants, mulch, rocks, logs, etc.) 

• Installation / De-installation 

• Maintenance needs 

Funds may not be used for activities that are not tied directly to program objectives, including: 

• Projects that have restricted participation to public access on the basis of race, gender, religion, origin, age, or disability 

• Neighborhood entrance signage or wayfinding signage 

• Purchase of facilities 

• Maintenance, operation, or retroactive funding of existing projects 

• Fundraising activities 

• Festivals or general events 

• Surveys or studies 

• Cash reserves and endowments 

• Grant recipients will participate in an orientation onboarding meeting to receive guidance from the P.S. You Are Here team to support your implementation process. 

• Ongoing check-ins with DAV Program Manager, including site visits leading up to the implementation process. 

• Chosen projects may be subject to additional review and permitting by other city agencies, depending on the project site. Time for these reviews must be considered in the implementation plan. 

• Grantees must submit a Project Wrap-Up Form that will be provided by DAV. While we do not require comprehensive final reports, we would love to hear how your project went in your own words. We encourage you to share the impact of the program in one or more of the following ways: 

  • Photos and videos of the program 

  • Media mentions  

  • Attendance numbers 

  • Demographic information  

  • Testimonials 

  • Project wrap-up documentation 

The grant program is administered by Denver Arts & Venues. Submissions will be reviewed by designated representatives of the City and County of Denver, including Denver Arts & Venues, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Denver Parks & Recreation, the Risk Assessment Office, and representatives from the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs. This group will work with and offer guidance to all grantee partners on how to navigate City processes throughout the implementation of the selected projects. 

The final application score will be determined as a cumulative weighted total, reflecting the assigned percentage weight of each scored question (note: not all questions are scored). Evaluation will be based on Program Description, Alignment with PSYAH goals and DENVER CREATES, Program Impact and Relevance, Program Audience, and Feasibility and Planning as assessed according to the review criteria outlined below: 

• Program Description: Application contains a well-defined project overview, goals, and impact 

• Alignment with PSYAH Goals and the DENVER CREATES Cultural Plan: Application demonstrates strong alignment with goals, contains clear explanation of proposed location/s and site/s 

• Program Impact and Relevance: Application articulates an innovative and creative approach to the project, location/s, site/s, and community 

• Program Audience: Application contains well-defined project with clear description of connection to community and intended audience, as well as articulated plans for community engagement opportunities  

• Feasibility and Planning: Application demonstrates understanding of materials and site-specific creative practices, realistic timelines, thorough and realistic budget, strong partnerships that add value to the project or process, includes maintenance and stewardship plan  

Please note that scoring will be based on the quality of the responses to the application. Scoring options are: Very Good (4), Good (3), Fair (2), Poor (1). Applications that are incomplete will be considered ineligible; however, we realize that projects may be in the concept stage and applications that do not include finalized details such as site permissions, insurance, technical drawings, or permits will still be considered complete.  

In alignment with this program’s commitment to supporting neighborhood-based work across the entire city, we strive for equitable distribution of projects across all City Council districts. To help guide this effort, we review data from previous P.S. You Are Here grant cycles to assess where projects have historically been funded and where gaps remain. 

Through this analysis, we have identified Council districts with fewer past investments and a higher need for community-based cultural programming and projects. In response, we have developed a reference chart highlighting areas where we especially encourage new project proposals.  

The Denver Arts & Venues team will work with grant partners through the multiple phases of the project, including providing guidance on City processes related to permitting, construction, etc. The team will also provide marketing and promotional support to elevate the grant partners’ efforts and will collect project-related photographs, video, text and related press to document the project. 

The following insurance MAY be required, depending on the scope of work. Our team will help you navigate this process:

• Workers’ Compensation - State mandated coverage for employees injured on the job. Colorado Workers’ Compensation law requires any business with one or more employees to carry this type of insurance. Sole Proprietors (those with no employees) are not required to carry Workers’ Compensation. It is important to notify the City if this rule applies to you.
• Business Auto Liability - Coverage for liability (negligence) claims by a third party related to the operation of an automobile. Auto insurance is required of all contractors who will be operating a vehicle as part of their contractual duties for the City. The standard limit required is $1,000,000.  Contractors who use their personal vehicles can substitute their personal auto insurance for the business auto requirement.  It is important to notify the City if this rule applies to you.
• General Liability - Coverage for liability (negligence) claims by a third party related to bodily injury (injury to another person) or property damage (damage to another person’s property). Limits will vary depending on the scope of work. Minimum limit is generally $1,000,000.
• Professional Liability - Coverage for claims related to a "professional’s" error in judgment, planning or design. Examples of work requiring professional liability are architectural designs and engineering studies. NOTE: if a third party is hired to do such work, that third party is allowed to carry the insurance.

To determine what type of insurance is required, final grantees will need to provide a Project Risk Assessment Form on:

• What is the scope of work? (medium, materials, weight, size)
• How many people are part of the process from inception to completion?
• Are these people employees or all sole proprietors?
• Is specialized/certified knowledge required of the project such as engineering studies or architectural renderings?
• How will it be installed; where will it be installed; who will be installing it?
• Will the public have access to the space during the installation?
• What, if any, special equipment is necessary to install and who will be handling the equipment?

IMPORTANT: Your contract with the City includes indemnification. You are responsible for any claims that arise out of your work with the City. Even if insurance is waived, it is in your best interest to determine any exposures/risks and potentially purchase insurance to cover that exposure/risk.