Have a unique placemaking or public art idea? Apply for a microgrant by May 31 to support and enhance the downtown area

Modern Kabuki Mural by JUURI - @juuriart83 on Instagram

Last year, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Oklahoma and the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership created a microgrant program to support placemaking and public art in the downtown OKC area. With the great success of last year’s program, which funded nearly $40,000 in projects, they decided to collaborate again and offer a second round of microgrants.

This round of $1,000-$3,000 microgrants will help fund ideas of individuals or organizations, welcoming our community back into downtown OKC through placemaking and public art and driving support of downtown districts and businesses. Applications are due by May 31 and can be submitted by nonprofits, local businesses, and individuals alike.

“The beauty is in the details. These projects are small in nature and I hope they bring a sort of delight to individuals as they return to the downtown area,” said Kristen Vails, Director of Placemaking for Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership.

The list of past microgrant recipients can be found here. Many of the projects you will recognize if you’ve spent time in Oklahoma City recently. The vibrant red structures on the steps of Frontline Church were created by a microgrant funded project to invite visitors to sit and work, eat, or relax outdoors. Additionally, the “Stronger Together” mural outside of Shop Good, the Japanese Kabuki-themed mural in Automobile Alley, and other unique projects were funded through the first round of programming. Check out the hashtag #micrOKC for more photos of successful past projects.

Community Steps by Frontline Church

What is placemaking?

Placemaking describes the creation of shared value within public spaces. It may encourage community creativity, sociability, economic development, pride, health, and a greater sense of belonging within a space. Placemaking allows public spaces to attain attractive qualities, making them more enjoyable for everyone who resides or travels to the location.

Some examples of placemaking include:

• Installation of trashcans, bike racks, and park benches
• Creation of bike routes, sidewalks, and other pedestrianization support structures
• Addition of public parks, recreational spaces, and landscaping
• Implementation of public art

What is the overall goal of the microgrants?

“The goal of the first round of #micrOKC grants in 2020 was to safely spread joy/cheer throughout downtown OKC during the early days of the pandemic closures. With the second round of community action grants, both ULI Oklahoma and Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership are excited to launch placemaking and public art projects that help welcome back the community to downtown,” said Michelle McBeath, ULI Oklahoma’s District Council Manager. “As re-opening continues successfully, we hope to drive support to the many downtown districts and businesses.”

How many micro-grant projects will be selected this round?

Kristen Vails from DOKC believes they will be able to fund between five and seven projects in this round of microgrants, depending on the proposed budgets of applicants. After the selected grantees are notified, they must complete a grant acceptance agreement, a media release consent form, and ensure all permitting and other project requirements are in place before they can receive funding.

 Hope Flags by Jarica Walsh

What else should applicants know?

Unique ideas are valued, and applicants are encouraged to think broadly in terms of what they could do with one to three thousand dollars of funding. Walk around the downtown area and ponder: what could make this space more inviting?

“Last year, there were so many different types of projects submitted. It was a pretty open-minded process. We don’t want five murals. A variety of different types of experiences would be good,” said Kristen Vail. “Ultimately we’d like opportunities to activate public space and welcome people back downtown.”

Each applicant is encouraged to have property owner approval before applying for a #micrOKC grant. This ensures all parties are on the same page prior to completing the application. In order to figure out who has ownership over a particular area, visit the Oklahoma County Assessor’s website and use their interactive map. When you click on an area of the map, you’ll be provided with information about the owners.

If you have questions about the application, DOKC staff can help project leaders navigate the correct channels to make sure all projects are properly approved and permitted before installation.

The selection committee is comprised of volunteer ULI Members and DOKC Staff and DOKC Initiatives Board Members. They will meet shortly after the deadline to determine awardees. Selected grantees will have until September 30th to complete the grant.

How did the idea for the microgrant program in OKC begin?

In spring of 2020, Ashley Terry, a long-time ULI Oklahoma member and incoming Chair, spotted an innovative project from a sister organization based in Tulsa.. ULI Oklahoma reached out to the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership to see if they would like to work together to implement community-led small scale projects and the micrOKC grant program began! 

Funding was provided by the DOKC Initiatives Board, and nine projects were ultimately implemented in 2020 to lift the spirits of the community through placemaking and public art, driving support of downtown districts and businesses.