You are here: Grants > About the Grant Review Panels
What is a Commission grant review panel? Each year, the
Oregon Arts Commission uses the services of volunteer panelists who review
grant applications, conduct site visits, make funding recommendations,
advise the Commission on policies and select artwork for purchase or
commission at public building sites.
Panels are made up of artists, arts professionals, community members and
others actively involved in the arts. Panelists are appointed by the
Commission, based on Commission staff recommendations, for one-year terms.
Commission rules allow reappointment to the same panel for up to three
consecutive years but must spend one year off the panel before being
re-appointed.
Panelists are reimbursed for travel and expenses, but are not compensated
for their services. The Commission actively solicits and accepts nominations
for panelists and committee members from constituents and private citizens
in an open nomination process. Panel meetings are open to the public.
Commission Panelist Profile
Nominees should be at least 18 years of age, and have experience in one or
more of the following areas:
An artistic discipline;
Arts education;
Aesthetic decision-making;
Financial or organizational management for nonprofit organizations;
Public art issues and acquisition procedures; or
Community-based arts projects.
The Oregon Arts Commission seeks panelists with outstanding knowledge and
professional qualifications in the arts, familiarity with Oregon's arts
community, and the ability to work well in a group. In addition, the
Commission looks for panelists who are willing to commit time and energy to
the review process and who exhibit sensitivity in making constructive
critical judgments. To help reflect the diversity of the state on all panels
and committees, the Commission considers gender, geographic representation,
and cultural background when appointing panelists. In addition, the agency
seeks balance among the professional groups encompassed by the arts, such as
practitioners, administrators, and educators.
How Much Time Does Panelist Service Take? Much depends
on the particular panel or committee. Most program panel meetings span a
full day, and involve several hours of reading orientation materials and
grant applications prior to the meeting.
The Percent for Art in Public Places program convenes a Site Selection
Committee for each state building project involved in the program.
Committees generally meet from three to five times over the course of a
one-year period. Meetings are held in the communities where the state
buildings are being constructed, and average three hours in length. Members
are asked to study orientation materials including a Panel Handbook.
What About Conflicts of Interest? The Commission has
strict rules governing conflict of interest to ensure fairness in the grant
review process. Panelists must declare conflicts prior to any discussion.
Declaring a conflict does not mean that a panelist cannot serve; it merely
means that the panelist may not discuss or vote on applications with which a
conflict exists.
Nominees who have affiliations that may constitute a conflict of interest
must inform Commission staff of those affiliations prior to discussing
applications during the panel meeting.
Affiliations which determine a conflict of interest include:
Receipt of direct financial benefit from an applicant organization or
project being reviewed;
Serving as an employee or governing board member of an applicant
organization being reviewed;
Serving with or without payment as a consultant to an applicant on the
application being reviewed;
Familial relationship with an applicant or a staff or board member of an
applicant organization;
If panelists feel unduly biased or have a personal affiliation with an
applicant, they should declare an "apparent conflict of interest" and
withdraw themselves from discussing or voting on that application.
Nomination Instructions Use the information below to
nominate yourself or another person as a Commission panelist. The
information provided will be used to evaluate qualifications of potential
panelists, to contact the nominee, and if the nominee is appointed, to
update the Commission's administrative records. To submit a nomination,
please follow these instructions:
Alternate Submission Methods: To nominate someone by
U.S. mail: Call the Oregon Arts Commission at 503-986-0082 to request a
form, or request a form via e-mail: oregon.artscomm@state.or.us . Complete the information requested; be
sure to include correct phone numbers. Attach nominee's current resume
(required for consideration). Fax or mail the form and nominee resume to
fax number or address provided on the form.
Grants Panel Handbook
Grants Panel Handbook as MSWord (432Kb .doc)document
