Citywide Arts & Culture Events and Pop-Up Markets

The City of New Haven, Department of Arts & Culture, is seeking proposals for the Citywide Arts & Cultural Events and Pop-Ups Grant Program, a competitive solicitation designed to support inclusive community events and neighborhood-centered pop-up markets across the city. The program aims to uplift New Haven's diverse cultural landscape, expand arts access, promote creative expression, and strengthen community connections by funding nonprofits, businesses, community groups, and creative practitioners. Selected applicants will be responsible for designing and executing high-quality, community-centered events featuring local artistic and cultural components, including event planning, collaboration with local artists and residents, ensuring accessibility, complying with permits and safety standards, and submitting final reports with attendance data. The procurement will evaluate proposals using a weighted scoring system: proposed solution clarity (20 points), proposed schedule (20 points), work plan addressing scope of work (20 points), budget (20 points), and organizational background and capacity (20 points). Key dates include a question submission deadline of January 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with electronic proposals due through the OpenGov portal by 11:00 AM on January 20, 2026. The contract duration is one year, with renewals at the City's sole discretion.

Respondents must submit a notarized Disclosure & Certification Affidavit, current workforce demographic forms, statement of qualifications, and an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. The opportunity appears to favor local businesses, with the City's procurement including local preference provisions that provide advantages to city-based businesses within specified bid percentages. Contractors must carry General Liability insurance with $1,000,000 minimum coverage per occurrence and $2,000,000 combined aggregate, name the City as an additional insured, and provide Abuse & Molestation coverage of $1,000,000 minimum. The solicitation is subject to equal employment opportunity requirements, including the City of New Haven Living Wage Ordinance for contracts with labor components exceeding $25,000 annually. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the Cost Formula document suggests that proposals will be evaluated using a "Reward Low Cost" methodology, which incentivizes cost-effective submissions. Minority-owned and small businesses are encouraged to apply, aligning with the City's commitment to diverse and inclusive community development.