Shape Philly: Idea CoLABs - Application Form
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Shape Philly: Idea CoLABs
A Creativity & Culture Prize for Creatives and Leaders in Our Neighborhoods
Creative Philadelphia, the City’s office of arts and culture, is piloting a new program to support creative ideas and help expand Mayor Cherelle Parker’s plan for a safer, cleaner, and greener Philadelphia with access to economic opportunity for all. Please complete all sections of this application. Submit it by September 11, 2025. Visit our website for more information.
We will pick 12 ideas —one from each City Council District, plus two ideas from youth teams (ages 13–24). Each idea will be matched by Creative Philadelphia with another idea from a different City District to create more collaboration and continuity across Philadelphia. If selected, the lead applicant for each idea receives a $2,000 award, and their partner organization or business receives a $1,000 award.
If You Are Chosen, You Will:
- Represent your City District
- Be part of a 10-week program with mentors and other project teams (Oct 1 – Dec 5)
- Learn from City leaders and creative experts
- Get training in storytelling, legal help, and building a support network for your project
- Share your idea with city leaders and funders
- Be matched (by Creative Philadelphia) to work with a similar or complementary idea in another City District.
Apply between August 5 and September 11, 2025.
Who Can be the Lead Applicant:
- Individual creative people or community-based leaders
- People who live in the City of Philadelphia, of all ages, backgrounds, and lived experiences
- We strongly encourage youth (13–24) to apply! Two spots are saved for youth/ young adult teams.
Your Application Must Include:
- A Lead Applicant (the main person with the idea)
- A Partner (a neighborhood-based nonprofit or small business) in the district that will be served
- A short project description that must be a combination of creativity, culture community, AND one of the four project themes listed below
- Contact information for the lead and partner
- A letter from your Partner saying how they will be engaged and how the Lead Applicant has worked with them in the past*
- A letter of support from someone in your community who knows your work**
* Download Partner Commitment Letter Template
** Download Community Support Letter Template
Optional:
- A short video (up to 3 minutes) about you and your idea
- Up to 2 extra letters of support
Project Themes:
Your project should combine creativity, culture, and community, AND at least one of these themes:
- Safer - like creative youth engagement and leadership development towards violence prevention, creative community, and building, creative conflict prevention
- Cleaner - like trash cleanup, neighborhood beautification, pollution prevention
- Greener - like ecological storytelling, sustainable art, climate resilience, and environmental justice
- Access to Economic Opportunities - like creative entrepreneurship, creative job development and training, professional development opportunities for creatives and cultural workers
During the 10-Week Program (Oct 1 - Dec 5) the Lead Applicant Will:
- Attend 3 in-person events (beginning, middle, end)
- Join weekly online check-ins with mentors and your team
- Take workshops (optional) on things like financial literacy, storytelling, and legal tips
- Share your plan with your community and city leaders
During the 10-Week Program the Partner Organization or Business Will:
- Attend at least one in-person event
- Participate in at least 3 weekly online check-in
- Support the Lead Applicant in the way described in the application
What You Get:
- $2,000 award for the lead applicant
- $1,000 award for the partner organization or business
- Professional development resources and mentorship
- Possibility of more funding later for pilot implementation if your idea is ready to be implemented and the funding is available
How We Will Choose the 12 Ideas
Each idea can earn up to 100 points (plus 10 bonus points for youth teams). Here’s what the reviewers are looking for: Selection Rubric