The Film Sacramento Internship Program offers a hands-on experience working with the Entertainment Services Division of the City of Sacramento. Interns will gain insight into film permitting, office coordination, and on-set film production support while contributing to Sacramento’s vibrant film scene.

Program Overview

Sacramento Film + Media is committed to sustaining and growing film and television production in the City of Sacramento. Sacramento Film + Media Rebate Program supports this goal by subsidizing permit fees, reimbursing the costs of city personnel assigned to a film location, and reimbursing qualified expenses for production companies when these activities occur in the City of Sacramento.

Sacramento Film + Media will reimburse up to $250,000 in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26. Once available funds are depleted, funding for the rebate program will no longer be available. Rebate funds that have not been distributed in FY 2025/26 and remain available due to a lack of eligible or qualifying applicants will be rolled over to the next fiscal year. Rebates include:

1. 100% reimbursement of required services and fees by the City of Sacramento, including Sacramento Police Department (limited up to 8 officers per day, each for a maximum of 12 hours per day), Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Film + Media permit fees, permit fees from other city departments, and/or Parking Services fees;

after all City of Sacramento required services are paid out, an additional rebate of:

2. 25% reimbursement of qualified expenditures which occur within the City of Sacramento (e.g., hotel nights, rental cars, rental equipment, location fees, catering, local hires, wardrobe purchases, dry cleaning, local security, per diem payments, gasoline, etc.). The full list of qualified expenditures can be found here. Sacramento Qualified Expenditure Chart

Eligibility

• Feature film and television projects with a City of Sacramento budget over $1,000,000.
• Eligible productions include feature films; television films, pilots, series, and unscripted; and documentaries. See a list of ineligible productions below.
• City of Sacramento shoot days must be at least five (5) or 20% of total shoot days.
• Evidence of 80% financing for the total budget is required.
• Applications for film and television projects must be submitted prior to the beginning of principal photography in the City of Sacramento to be considered eligible.
• Applicants MUST be scheduled to begin principal photography on the qualified project within 60 days of the Film + Media Office issuing a Certificate Letter of Conditional Eligibility.
• Applications submitted MORE THAN 60 DAYS prior to the start of principal photography will be considered but not be certified. 
• Production companies may only apply for one rebate per calendar year.
• An independent, third-party Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) Report is required and shall be paid by awardee.

Funding support may be revoked at any time if it is determined that the production does not fit within the criteria of the Film + Media Program Rebate Guidelines, or the applicant provided false or misleading information to the City.

Read the full Guidelines here.

The Office of Arts and Culture utilizes the expertise of review panels to evaluate applications 

submitted for consideration to our funding programs. Review panelists play a critical role in the 

government grantmaking process by providing expert evaluation of grant applications, ensuring 

a fair and transparent assessment based on established criteria, and promoting accountability 

and responsible allocation of public funds.

PANELIST CRITERIA

Panelists must meet the following criteria: 

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

• Have computer access and a reliable internet connection.

• Have the ability to carry out all tasks outlined under the Panelist Duties section in the guidelines.

• Have the ability to maintain the standards outlined in the Panelist Code of Conduct in the guidelines.

• If chosen to serve on a panel, panelist must register as a supplier with the City, or update their account if they have done business with the City before. They may also be required to obtain a Business Operations Tax Certificate which must be paid up front and may be reimbursed. A staff member will reach out with further details on these two requirements, and step by step instructions, once an applicant is confirmed to serve on a panel. 

All prospective panelists MUST read the full guidelines before applying. For full guidelines please CLICK HERE or visit our Website.

CONTACT US:

Please contact staff with any questions.  

• Email: saccityarts@cityofsacramento.org

ACCOMMODATIONS

Large print materials are available upon request.
 

artlook® Sacramento

artlook® is your one-stop-shop for information on arts education in our city. With thousands of data points, artlook® provides the information you need to make strategic decisions about expanding the arts in Sacramento County Schools.
Developed in close coordination with Sacramento's arts educators, this platform can show you everything from which art teachers and arts partners are in which schools to what arts programming, coursework, and minutes of instruction is happening where.
Start exploring artlook® today, and help us expand arts education access, quality, and equity for every child, in every grade, in every school.

If you would like to be added as an artlook partner in arts education, please submit an application.

CALL TO ARTISTS

Funded through a State of California grant allocated to City Council District 3 in combination with Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) city funds, and in partnership with Slow Down Sacramento, the Sacramento Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with management of a new creative crosswalks project, District 3 Creative Crosswalks, involving two local elementary schools (Garden Valley Elementary and Smythe Academy) in the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood of Sacramento, and important and historic area of Council District 3 and South Natomas. 

In an effort to work with students and community members around the issue of traffic safety and traffic calming measures in this neighborhood, the project will install two (2) creative crosswalks, one in front or near to each partner elementary school.  Data shows that these types of creative efforts along with better education on traffic safety can have a significant positive effect on reducing auto fatalities and injuries in neighborhoods. This project brings together artists, traffic engineers, schools, community members, and traffic safety advocates to explore in a creative way the safety of our streets and the people in our neighborhoods.  

APP will work with selected artists, Slow Down Sacramento, and the City of Sacramento Public Works Department to follow and adhere to the “Criteria and Guidance for Creative Crosswalks” as approved by City Council in 2021. 

ART BUDGET

APP will cover all materials costs for classroom teaching, community workshops, and the Community Paint Day event. APP will also cover all costs related to the contractor installation of the crosswalks including materials required for installation. APP will discuss materials options for the crosswalks with the artists and will determine the final materials for the crosswalks in consultation with the artists. 

Two (2) Design Artists will receive a total of $6000 total compensation each for their work, half of which is recorded as “Contact Hours” described in the “Requirements for Selected Artists” section below. Two (2) Teaching Artists will receive a total of $6000 total compensation each for their work half of which is recorded as “Contact Hours” described in the “Requirements for Selected Artists” section below. One (1) Design Artist will be paired with one (1) Teaching Artist at one of the two schools, Garden Valley Elementary or Smythe Academy. 

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The critical 2.42-mile Northgate Blvd. corridor in South Natomas runs north-south through the Gardenland Northgate neighborhood. This historic neighborhood with deep community connections is increasingly used as a transit route between the growing populations in North Natomas and Downtown Sacramento. 

Used as an alternative to I-5, commuters have raised average speeds and decreased pedestrian safety, despite the proximity of two schools with nearly 1,500 students.  There is also a general lack of awareness of pedestrian and bicycle travel amongst residents. Data from the city’s Department of Public Works recent Northgate Transportation Plan shows there are several KSI (killed or seriously injured) crash profiles that occur more frequently on Northgate Blvd than occur city-wide. For example, drivers making left or right turns are involved in collisions involving a bicycle or pedestrian because drivers are not seeing or paying attention to non-vehicular uses of the public right of way. These KSI’s and collisions highlight important areas of focus including infrastructure improvements, awareness, and education along the corridor.  Creative crosswalks have been shown nationally to improve awareness and remind drivers about the people who inhabit these neighborhoods and also use these corridors for pedestrian and bicycle travel. 

This project will install a creative crosswalk in front of or near each school. Two crosswalks won’t solve the traffic issues along Northgate Blvd, but they will help to start a larger conversation with community members and other participants around traffic safety in our Sacramento neighborhoods. Partnering with the campaign Slow Down Sacramento, our goal is to calm commuter and neighborhood traffic, increase the public perception of safety, and improve livability along the Northgate neighborhoods. We also hope to improve the usability of the commercial corridor for residents and increase the number and size of community events held in these neighborhoods. 

These are priorities articulated in the 2040 General Plan for Sacramento regarding Northgate Boulevard Placemaking: "The City shall incentivize and encourage activities that strengthen the sense of place along Northgate Boulevard by working with developers, landowners, local community groups, and the Arts Culture and Creative Economy Commission to promote murals and other public art, wayfinding, landscaping and tree planting, and outdoor gathering spaces to enhance pedestrian experiences, support local businesses, and enhance the sense of place in South Natomas."

DESIGN ARTIST AND TEACHING ARTIST: REQUIREMENTS FOR SELECTED ARTISTS

This project is designed to bring awareness to traffic speeds and safety, especially around schools. However, the campaign takes a creative approach to use art making as a vehicle for conversations and awareness. To this end, the project will hire four (4) artists to work with 4th Grade students at two (2) schools to create artwork around a theme the artists will develop with the participating teachers and students. An intentional amount of freedom and flexibility is given to the artists to explore, develop, and share their creative approach with the participating schools.  

For each school, the project allows for hiring both a Design Artist and a Teaching Artist. While the artists each have their own project requirements, they are tasked to work together, collaborate, and learn from one another and the project participants. While each artist will assist the other, the specific tasks for each artist type are outlined below:

A. Design Artist: One (1) Design Artist will be partnered with each school and each receives $6000 total compensation for their participation. Separate from the Design Artist, APP will hire a licensed contractor for the installation of the crosswalk and cover all paint and fabrication costs for the crosswalk. The requirements for the Design Artist are as follows:

1. Final Design: Design Artist will be in charge of and make final decisions on the final crosswalk design for the school site. Artist must make sure the design is prepared in a format acceptable for the contractor and responsive to the dialogue and creative process with the participating classroom. Artist will present the final design to the classroom and stakeholders for comments. APP will have authority to ask the artist for design changes, if necessary, until a final acceptable design is agreed upon. 

2. Assisting Teaching Artist: Design Artist will assist the Teaching Artist with a mutually agreed upon schedule for classroom or community workshops. As the process is meant to be collaborative, Design Artist will support the Teaching Artist with ideas, motifs, or themes that may be used to inform the teaching or lesson plan development process.

3. Required Contact Time: Design Artist will spend at least 60 hours of contact time engaging with community members (meetings, Exhibition, and Paint Day), assisting the Teaching Artist, and working with classroom students and teachers. Hourly rate is estimated at $50 per hour resulting in half of the artist’s fee attributed to the required contact time for a total of $3000. Contact time will be recorded on a provided time sheet and submitted for approval to APP prior to project completion. The other half of the artist’s fee ($3000) is for artist’s creative time in design development, studio work, and planning for which no time sheet is required. 

4. Community Paint Day and Meetings: Design Artist and Teaching Artist teams will hold at least three (3) public in-person meetings to present their artwork to the community, discuss safety issues with Slow Down Sacramento and attendees, and brainstorm ideas for the creative crosswalks.  Creative approaches to meeting formats are encouraged. Both Design Artists will also work with both Teaching Artists to plan and execute one (1) Community Paint Day event open to the public either on school grounds or at the Taco Plaza off Northgate Blvd. Artists will work with APP and project stakeholders to coordinate exact location, activities, and date for the Paint Day event. Paint Day must last at least three (3) hours excluding necessary time for set-up and clean-up. APP will cover all costs for materials and support for the Paint Day event. 

5. Exhibition: Work with Teaching artist to hang a show of students’ artwork at the school or other agreed upon location in the neighborhood. APP will assist with finding a location and with hanging of the artwork, if necessary. APP will coordinate with artists an “Opening” event for the students to share their artwork with parents and community members. 

B. Teaching Artist: One (1) teaching artist will be partnered with each school and each receive $6000 total compensation for their work. APP covers all materials costs for work with the students up to $1000 in materials. Artist must have written approval from APP for any requested reimbursements. Unless otherwise authorized in writing, Artist will give APP at least one week to purchase any requested materials for work with the students. The requirements for the Teaching Artist are as follows:

1. Classroom Lessons: Teaching Artist will be in charge of and make final decisions on all lesson plans and teaching at the assigned school and classroom(s). Artist must make sure to be prepared with lesson plans for working with the students and discuss the intended lessons with the teacher in advance of arrival to the classroom. Artist should work to develop an artwork for each student or a collaborative project that can be exhibited. APP and school / classroom teacher will have authority to ask the artist for lesson plan changes or updates, if necessary. 

2. Assisting Design Artist: Teaching Artist will assist Design Artist with a mutually agreed upon schedule for discussions on design development. As the process is meant to be collaborative, Teaching Artist will support the Design Artist with ideas, motifs, or themes in lesson plans and classroom work that may be used to inform the design process. 

3. Required Contact Time: Teaching Artist will spend at least 60 hours of contact time engaging with community members (meetings, Exhibition, and Paint Day), assisting the Design Artist, and working with classroom students and teachers. Hourly rate is estimated at $50 per hour resulting in half of the artist’s fee attributed to the required contact time for a total of $3000. Contact time will be recorded on a provided time sheet and submitted for approval to APP prior to project completion. The other half of the artist’s fee ($3000) is for artist’s creative time in workshop or lesson development, studio work, and planning for which no time sheet is required. 

4. Community Paint Day and Meetings: Teaching Artist and Design Artist teams will hold at least three public in-person meetings to present their artwork to the community, discuss safety issues with Slow Down Sacramento and attendees, and brainstorm ideas for the creative crosswalks. Creative approaches to meeting formats are encouraged.  Both Design Artists will also work with both Teaching Artists to plan and execute one Community Paint Day event open to the public either on school grounds or at the Taco Plaza off Northgate Blvd. Artists will work with APP to coordinate exact location, activities, and date for the Paint Day event. Paint Day must last at least three hours excluding necessary time for set-up and clean-up. APP will cover all costs for materials and support for the Paint Day event. 

5. Exhibition: Work with Design Artist to hang a show of student’s artwork at the school or other agreed upon location in the neighborhood.  APP will assist with finding a location and with hanging of the artwork, if necessary. APP will coordinate an “Opening” event with artists for the students to share their artwork with parents and community members. 

ELIGIBILITY 

All eligible applicants must be 18 years old or older and be experienced professional artists. Applicants understand that they must be available to meet and work with students / teachers during the school day and with community members generally in evenings and weekends.  Artists may only apply individually. Teams are not allowed for either of the positions in this opportunity. There are no geographic limitations on who may apply; however, there are no additional funds for travel or lodging. Given the requirements for collaboration and interaction with assigned schools, other artists, and surrounding communities, artists who reside in or show a cultural, familial, or historic connection to the Sacramento Valley region generally or Northgate Gardenland / South Natomas neighborhoods specifically will be provided some preference in the selection criteria. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Artists may apply for the District 3 Creative Crosswalks by filling out the online application on Submittable at https://saccityarts.submittable.com/submit and submitting it online with required supporting materials. City staff will review the applications for eligibility and advance eligible applications to a diverse panel of community members, artists, art administrators, and curators who will review all complete submissions and interview at least three finalists prior to choosing an artist for the commission. APP staff will facilitate the panel’s review. 

Within the application materials, artists will be required to submit an up to 250-word statement of interest about their thoughts on how they might approach the District 3 Creative Crosswalks commission either as a Teaching Artist or a Design Artist. Artists may apply as either a Teaching Artist or Design Artist, but not both.  Artists will submit up to 10 image files of their past artwork that the panel will review along with their statement and other application materials. While not required, applying Teaching Artists may submit student work in combination with their personal artwork, if helpful to better share their portfolio of skills to the selection panel. 

PROJECT GUIDELINES 

Artists must meet all guidelines as detailed below to be considered for the District 3 Creative Crosswalks commission.   APP staff are available to discuss projects and provide support for applying artists by appointment.  APP will conduct one information session after the launch of the RFQ to assist artists with application questions and provide guidance as to the project goals, who should apply, evaluation rubric, and technical support for applying artists. The information session will be recorded and will be made available online afterwards for the public.   Artists apply through the Submittable online platform.  No other submission formats are accepted.  After artists are selected, APP will work with artists to prepare all necessary tax and contract documents before any work begins.  Examples of the requirements for project submission all done through the Submittable platform are: 

· Online Application submitted through Submittable

· Artist Statement (1-page maximum) 

· 10 files of artist’s original work  

· Support Description List 

· Resume (2-page maximum) 

· Statement of interest (250 word maximum)

· Location Statement (150 word maximum)

· 3 Professional References (name, phone, address, email) 

PANEL REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS

The selection panel will review applications based on a series of criteria that will help them decide which artist will receive the commission. Panelists will evaluate artists based on the criterion shown below (60 Points Total) as evidenced by subcategory questions described in the Scoring Rubric provided to applicants in the included Information Packet link. Panelists are only reviewing past artwork and qualifications. No proposed designs for this project are to be submitted or reviewed during the RFQ application process. The areas of panel review of artists’ past work samples are: 

· Originality (20 points)

· Technical Skill (20 points)

· Public Art or Engagement Experience (20 points)

INFORMATION PACKET AND INFORMATION SESSION

The information packet may be downloaded HERE and includes some basic information about the project participants as well as the Scoring Rubric that the selection panel will use to score all qualified applicants. It is expected that artists will engage in some of their own research and are not limited to these materials provided. During this RFQ process, the information packet includes the following; although, additional items may be added as they become available:

· Scoring Rubric for Applicants

· 2023 Northgate Blvd Transportation Plan

· District 3 Creative Crosswalks RFQ

· City of Sacramento Creative Crosswalks Policy

· Information Session Recording (to be added after live session 8/6/25)

An online information session will be held on Wednesday August 6th from 530-630 pm. Register here to receive the zoom link HERE. This will be an opportunity to ask questions about the overall project, the application process, the goals for the project, and hear more about the project from city staff and project stakeholders. The session will be recorded and will be uploaded to the Information packet folder. 

PRELIMINARY PROJECT TIMELINE 

July 2025                            Launch RFQ

August 6th , 2025               Information Session via Zoom (Recorded)

August 18th,  2025              Deadline for submission to RFQ

September 15th,  2025       Selection Panel meets to select artists

September 22nd, 2025      Artists notified 

October 2025                      Contract and supplier paperwork completed 

October 2025                      Artists begin meetings with teachers and design development

February 2026                     Design Artists present design concepts

March 2026                          Student Exhibition and Public Design display  

April 2026                             Community Paint Day Event 

May 2026                              Crosswalk Installation  

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTACT 

Donald Gensler, APP Manager, dgensler@cityofsacramento.org, 916-808-8493