San Jose Creative Ambassador Program

The Creative Ambassador Program connects San Jose residents across communities through creative participatory experiences. Up to four Creative Ambassadors will be selected for the 2023 term, each receiving a $9,500 stipend to develop and implement an approved creative expression project. Funds will be released upon meeting deliverables as set forth in the contract between the Ambassador and the Office of Cultural Affairs. The stipend may be received on behalf of the Ambassador by an organization with which they are closely affiliated or a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. If recommended as an Ambassador, the applicant or applicant's fiscal sponsor must have a valid business license on file with the City of San Jose and provide proof of current liability insurance and auto insurance in order for payment to be issued.

Eligibility requirements include: current business or residential address within San Jose with a professional presence in the city for at least three years; practicing artist in performing, visual, literary, and/or media arts with at least five years of exhibiting, performing, publishing, or otherwise sharing artwork with the public; availability to fulfill Creative Ambassador duties between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023; and good standing with respect to prior grants from the City of San Jose. Not eligible: full-time students, artists who have previously served as Creative Ambassadors, current San Jose Arts Commissioners and City of San Jose staff, or incomplete applications.

Creative Ambassadors will serve a one-year term completing the following: promote creative expression through active social media presence using #408Creates and @sjculture, partner with the Office of Cultural Affairs in promoting the WeCreate408 challenge, contribute an article on creative expression to the Office of Cultural Affairs newsletter, participate in media interviews as requested, and act as a representative of cultural expression at local events and meetings (up to 5 events, may be virtual or in-person); produce a creative hands-on project in San Jose that engages the public in creative expression and is open to the public and participatory in nature; and attend quarterly Creative Ambassador meetings. All projects must comply with Santa Clara County Public Health orders.