OVERVIEW

Under this Call for Artists (“CFA”), the Library, Arts & Culture Department (“Library”) of the City of Glendale (“City”)— on behalf of the City’s Arts and Culture Commission (“ACC”)— are accepting proposals from qualified candidates who would like to participate in its Performance Series Program (“Program”). A successful applicant will be required to adhere to the Program requirements set forth herein below.

 

ELIGIBILITY

​Performance groups must be made of trios or larger. Performers of all musical genres based within the Southern California region may submit proposals.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Performance Series is comprised of two concert series of musical performances that are supported by the City and the ACC. These series provide Glendale with diverse and engaging free performances.

 

The Brand Summer Music Series is an outdoor concert series located on the hillside area behind the Brand Library & Art Center. The Brand Summer Music Series began in 2014 and is supported by the City and the ACC, with funding from the Urban Art Program. Performances for the Brand Summer Music Series are scheduled for Fridays in Summer 2026 from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Each performance must be one (1) set of 1 hour and 30 minutes in duration. The ACC will fund selected performance groups a stipend of up to $2,000 per performance. 

 

The Jewel City Concert Series is a festive outdoor concert series at the Artsakh Paseo located in the Glendale Downtown Arts & Entertainment District. The Jewel City Concert Series began in 2017 to celebrate the renovation and reopening of Glendale's Downtown Central Library. The series is supported by the City and the ACC, with funding from the Urban Art Program. Performances for the Jewel City Concert Series are scheduled for Saturdays in Fall 2026 from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Each performance must be one (1) set of 60 minutes in duration The ACC will fund selected performance groups a stipend of up to $1,500 per performance.

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HOW TO APPLY​

Interested artists must complete the application online which can be found at the ACC website: https://www.glendaleartsandculture.org/performanceseries. Hard copy applications will not be accepted. The application includes the following information which will need to be completed:

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A. Performer/Performance Group Name

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B. Street Address, City, State, Zip Code

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C. Contact Person

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D. Email and Phone

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E. Have you performed for any Glendale Arts & Culture Commission sponsored series or for any City other than Glendale? If yes, please list them.

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F. Please list no more than three (3) links to recent performances on YouTube, Soundcloud, etc.

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G. Please upload a high-resolution portrait photo of 300 dpi of your performance group.

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H. Please upload a high-resolution landscape photo of 300 dpi of your performance group.

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I. Please list the social media and usernames used by your performance group.

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J. Have you or your group ever cancelled a scheduled performance? If yes, please explain.

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K. Proposed performance information

• Please indicate type of performance and expected audience.

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L. Performers

• Please list names and instrumentation of performers.

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M. How did you hear about this Call for Artists?

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INELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS

Applications are ineligible, for any one or more of the following reasons, if the submitted samples:

• Are plagiarized, stolen, or copied from another source;

• Defame or invade the rights of any person, living or dead;

• Are likely to:

  • Incite or produce an imminent lawless act;​

  • Disrupt the orderly operation of the facilities hosting the performances;

• Are integral to criminal conduct or violate the law;

• Are not family friendly, suitable for public performance, or suitable for attendance by all ages; or

• May reasonably be construed as:

  • False or fraudulent;​

  • Obscene matter, as defined in California Penal Code Section 311 or any successor legislation;

  • Harmful matter for minors as defined in California Penal Code Section 313 or any successor legislation; or

  • Child pornography, as defined in California Penal Code Section 311.1(a) or 311.2(b), or any successor legislation.

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Important: Applications not adhering to these guidelines will not be considered.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

Submissions will be reviewed in a two-step review process. The initial review of applications (Step #1) will consist of City of Glendale representatives who will review all submissions and score the applications. The secondary review of applications (Step #2) will consist of City of Glendale representatives and Arts & Culture Commissioners who will discuss the top 20 applications and select 13 performance groups to perform at the Brand Summer Music Series and Jewel City Concert Series.  City of Glendale representatives will send a notification by email and formal letter and the selected performance groups will be assigned to a concert series. Selected performance groups will be notified approximately two months after the submission deadline.

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SELECTION CRITERIA

The following criteria will be considered in evaluating all applications: 

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• Artist Experience (35%)

        The artist's originality, creativity, skill, samples, and career experience will be considered.

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• Appropriateness for the Site (25%)

        The committee will review to ensure the proposed performance information will not pose a threat to public safety or

        create a hostile environment.

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• Audience (25%)

        The artwork’s versatility; sensitivity to social, environmental, historical, and/or relevant contexts; and suitability for all

        ages will be considered. 

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• Local Preference (15%)

        Preference may be given to local artists, if all other factors are equal. Local artist is defined as an artist whose

        primary residence studio or business is located in Glendale.

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PERFORMANCES

The selected performance groups will be responsible for sending a detailed stage plot (prior to their concert date) to the City’s hired audio engineering company.

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NOTIFICATION / CONTRACT

Selected finalists will be notified by email and formal letter. If the application is approved, the contact person listed on the application must sign a Performer’s Live Music Performance Agreement (“Agreement”).

 

The Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”. Please review the Agreement and submit any questions and/or concerns you may have regarding the Agreement before or at the time you submit your application.

 

Artists submitting an application expressly acknowledge and agree that the artist has read this PERFORMANCE SERIES PROGRAM - CALL FOR ARTISTS, and has read, understands and is able to enter into the Agreement.

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MARKETING / PUBLICITY

The artwork may be exhibited on the City web site, social media, Glendale government television GTV6, and more regionally with press releases and postings on www.glendaleartsandculture.org. By submitting a proposal, the Proposer irrevocably grants City, its officers, agents, and employees (“City and its representatives”) the unconditional right and permission to photograph, record (audio, or video, or both), broadcast, distribute, reproduce, copy, sell, exhibit, publish, and use the photographs and recordings of the artwork or performance, in whole or in part, in any medium now or later developed, for any purpose, without charge to the City and without payment to the Proposer of any compensation, fee, royalty, or damages (now or later).

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When the City uses the artist’s images or the artwork for promoting arts programming, the City will endeavor to identify the artist and give credit to the artist, whenever possible, but the City will not be liable to the artist for an error in or omission of the artist’s identification or the artist’s credit for the artwork.