Eligibility and Criteria

The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Grable Foundation are partnering with Ashoka’s Changemakers to build a movement that will use public art to capture the creativity and activism of youth in Pittsburgh. We’re looking for projects that empower youth to demonstrate what’s important to them through well-designed, sustainable public art. The most inspired projects will be publicly recognized and two winners will receive $25,000 grants to fund their projects.

We are looking for artists and those who love art to create a new type of innovative public art in the greater Pittsburgh area. Most of the public art in our region does not reflect the experiences of young people and their responses to the issues they care about. If you believe in the power of art to transform public spaces, engage youth, and inspire social change in our community, it’s time to get involved.

Eligibility Criteria

This challenge is open to individuals, teams, and organizations. We will consider all entries that:

• Reflect the theme of the competition: Art in Public: Expressing Youth Voices in Pittsburgh. We are searching for innovative ideas that use public art to represent and express youth voices, especially those that engage youth in the creative process.
• Are located in or will take place in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Service Area: We are looking for individuals, teams or organizations that are located in Allegheny County or one of the five surrounding counties (Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington or Westmoreland). Individuals or organizations from outside of this area must work with youth or organizations within this region to be eligible.
• Are at idea stage: We’re looking for new ideas or early stage projects that have not yet been launched or built. These may be entirely new ideas or new projects from existing organizations.
• Include a partner who is 18 years or older if the individuals or team members are all youth under age 18: All teams must include an adult 18 years or older who will serve as a supervisor or mentor.
• Complete the entry form: Entries must be fully completed and submitted before the deadline of June 1, 2009.
• Are submitted in English.

There are three categories of eligible applicants:

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.

Community-based groups that are not incorporated but serve a particular cultural, ethnic or geographic population and that are willing to partner with an existing 501(c)(3) organization to carry out the project.

Individuals not connected to any particular organization, but who are willing to partner with an existing 501(c)(3) organization in order to carry out the proposed project.

Assessment Criteria

The winners of this Changemakers collaborative competition will be those entries that best meet the following criteria:

• Innovation: Is this idea innovative? Does it describe an original art project? Does it represent a new way of working with public art, particularly as expressed through the voices of youth? This is the knock-out test. The innovation should be distinct from other public art projects or initiatives in the field. The best projects will articulate a unique model of change in which youth are empowered to express their voices, exercise their creativity and have a positive social impact in the public arena. While winners will not be expected to expand their project beyond the Pittsburgh and five-county region, we are looking for ideas that could be universally applicable. We are looking for entrants that use technology in new and unexpected ways to carry out the project and/or ensure youth participation.
• Social Impact : What is the social impact of the project on youth and the community? How does it help build empathy, stimulate citizenship, raise awareness, influence public policy, or deepen a community’s understanding of youth? Does this idea present a solution for increasing access, knowledge or community engagement? Beyond aesthetic appeal, we are looking for entries that use public art to influence or change systems within the region. Entrants should also indicate how they would evaluate the project’s success. It will also be important that the idea does not have a negative environmental impact.
• Sustainability: Will the innovator or team be able to implement the project? Will they be able to secure widespread community support and ensure youth participation? Entrants should describe how they would they use up to $25,000 in grant funding to finance the work and how the project would be sustained once completed. The most successful entrants or teams will go beyond a general description and will detail the “road map” or specific steps needed to implement the project. We will also consider the experience and capacity of the innovator or team as they will be expected to launch the idea. In terms of community support, each entrant or team should describe how they would connect directly with young people and actively involve them throughout the implementation of the project. Lastly, the strongest entrants or teams will clearly demonstrate how they will engage diverse voices and perspectives from the Metropolitan Pittsburgh Area.



Challenge Deadlines, Procedures, and Rules




Art in Public: Expressing Youth Voices in Pittsburgh entries will be accepted until June 1, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time. Individuals and teams are encouraged to submit ideas early so they can receive comments, questions, and insights from the Changemakers and Pittsburgh Foundation communities, which can be used to improve their entries before the final deadline.

Here’s how the Challenge will work:

• Entry Stage, April 8 – June 1, 2009:: Entries can be submitted until June 1, 2009, 6:00 p.m. US Eastern Standard Time. Entries may be submitted by teams or individuals. Supporters are encouraged to nominate entrants, add comments and participate in the online review discussion with the entrants.
• Online Review and Judging, June 2 – July 17, 2009: Online review and discussion continue during this phase. Simultaneously, a panel of experts and community members from the Pittsburgh region will select between 5-10 Finalists. Finalists will be announced on July 17, 2009.
• Online Voting, July 20 – August 5, 2009: The Changemakers community votes online to select the 2 grant-winners from the slate of Finalists. Anyone who registers with Changemakers online is eligible to vote and Finalists will be encouraged to mobilize their supporters within the Pittsburgh region. Winners announced on August 12, 2009.

Everyone who enters the challenge will receive increased exposure to the Pittsburgh Foundation, regional grantmakers and others who are interested in public art and youth expression. Participation in the competition offers the opportunity to receive feedback on your idea from fellow entrants, Changemakers and Pittsburgh Foundation staff, judges, and the Changemakers community.




Funding Awards




Art in Public: Expressing Youth Voices in Pittsburgh $25,000 Grants: Once the judges have selected the 5 Finalists from the field of entries, the Changemakers online community will vote for 2 winners from the slate of finalists. Each member of the Changemakers community will be able to vote for one entry. The top 2 vote-getters will each receive up to $25,000 in grant funding to turn their ideas into action. The grant should only be used to implement the winning projects unless otherwise expressly approved by the Pittsburgh Foundation.






Disclaimer—Compliance with Legal Restrictions

Ashoka complies fully with all U.S. laws and regulations, including Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations, export control, and anti-money laundering laws. All grants will be awarded subject to compliance with such laws. Ashoka will not make any grant if it finds that to do so would be unlawful. This may prohibit awards in certain countries and/or to certain individuals or entities. All recipients will comply with these laws to the extent they are applicable to such recipients. No recipient will take any action that would cause Ashoka to violate any laws. Additionally, Ashoka will not make any grant to a company involved in the promotion of tobacco use.