The City of Tacoma is now accepting Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) funding applications from eligible individual artists. The application deadline is Jan. 26, 2009.

TAIP funding ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 and supports the generation or completion of new artwork as well as a public component in which the artist shares their talents with the citizens of Tacoma. Past funding has supported the creation of a short film, the choreography of a new dance, exploration into a new body of paintings, time to write and publish poetry and fiction works, the assembly of multi-media installations and much more. Public components include, but are not limited to, a public exhibition of artwork, a public reading, a free workshop or artist talk, a free performance and a public screening of a film.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a free workshop, which explains the application process and addresses questions. The workshop will be held on Jan. 7, 2009, from 5:30 — 7 p.m. at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Room 1444. All artists funded by the commission must complete their funded project and public component by Dec. 15, 2010.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the City of Tacoma, a practicing artist who is dedicated to producing artwork on a regular basis, at least 18 years old, and not a full time undergraduate or graduate student in an arts-related degree program. Artists who have received TAIP funding between 2004 and 2008 are not eligible to apply. Other eligibility requirements are listed in the TAIP guidelines.

Artists interested in applying for TAIP funding can read about past funded artists and download the guidelines and application form should visit http://www.tacomaculture.org .