The City of West Hollywood, through its Arts Division, is seeking proposals from arts organizations to present Free Theatre in the Parks in September 2026 at Kings Road Park (1000 Kings Road, West Hollywood, CA 90069). Google Map
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:
A minimum of six (6) weekend performances will be presented outdoors in the park, in the late afternoon or early evening, and will feature material suitable for all audiences. If the City determines that outdoor events are not possible, all performances will move to an indoor venue at a City facility.
The performances could include a new production or a remount of a pervious production. All genres are welcome. Ideal performances will not require an intermission. Productions must feature original material and/or the presenter must secure all necessary licensing. Performances must be presented at no cost to the viewer, although donations may be accepted.
Performances with minimal stage settings, props, and costumes are encouraged. Applicants requiring lighting, sound, and/or a stage must be prepared to provide their own equipment. The City does not have secure overnight storage for costumes, lighting, or production equipment.
The City will provide a green room for day-of use and two days of rehearsal space (up to 10 hours) at a City facility, as well as one on-site technical rehearsal (up to 5 hours).
The selected producer will also be required to submit a Final Report following the conclusion of the project.
MARKETING RESPONSIBILITIES: The City views this program as a partnership with the producing organization. The selected organization will be primarily responsible for marketing and publicizing the performances (e.g., advertising, e‑blasts, social media, websites, press outreach, and similar platforms). All marketing and promotional materials must be professional and are subject to City approval. The City will provide limited support through a press release, the Arts Monthly newsletter, and social media.
ELIGIBILITY: Qualified arts organizations must have at least three (3) years of professional experience producing theatre performances. Applicants who live in West Hollywood and performers of color, women, performers with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ performers are encouraged to apply. City of West Hollywood elected and appointed officials, employees, and their immediate family members are not eligible.
BUDGET & COMPENSATION: The total project budget must not exceed $18,000 to include all production fees, artist fees, marketing, materials, and insurance. A Final Report must be submitted within two (2) weeks following the last performance. Failure to submit the report by the deadline will result in forfeiture of the final payment. Applicants are welcome to seek additional funding resources to support the production.
INSURANCE: The selected applicant is expected to maintain the insurance requirements listed in the agreement. See full RFP for detailed information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Interested parties should submit their complete proposal package through this online application. Incomplete and/or late proposals will not be considered. Please read all the information listed carefully.
All proposals shall include the following information, organized, and in order as listed below. The proposal should be concise, in an 8.5x11-inch format, submitted as a single PDF file.
- Applicant Information
Provide the Legal Name, Preferred Name (if applicable), Pronouns, Address Phone, Email and Business/Professional Website.
- Proposed Performance Information
Provide the title, author, director, a full description of the proposed production, and a brief description suitable for promotional use.
- Performance Samples
Provide publicly accessible links to at least three (3) performance samples from the past five years that best represent your experience. Include project name, location, brief description, an image, examples of marketing materials, and the client/organization contact information. Hyperlinks to videos are required.
- Audience Outreach
Detail the audience you aim to reach and the marketing strategies you plan to implement to promote the performances. Your plan should include specific promotional methods, social media platforms, and outreach activities you expect to use to support strong audience engagement.
- Proposal Cost
Provide a detailed outline of calculated project expenses, including artist fees, marketing and promotions, materials, and any additional costs.
SELECTION PROCESS & EVALUATION CRITERIA: The following criteria will be used in the evaluation of proposals submitted:
- Artist Qualifications and Experience - Experience, body of work, recognition, and alignment with the proposed project. To the extent applicable, the arts organization’s previous proven successful experience in creating, producing, or otherwise implementing projects like the one proposed.
- Aesthetics – Design quality, potential audience enjoyment, innovation/risk, technical approach, and social interaction.
- Diversity – All ranges of artistic styles, and diversity of artists (gender, race and culture) are encouraged to ensure a balanced and interesting program. The Commission is committed to providing opportunities to artists who have not yet exhibited with the city.
- Marketing & Audience Outreach Strategy - The clarity, specificity, and feasibility of the applicant’s proposed marketing and audience outreach plan, including the strategies, platforms, and partnerships they intend to use to promote the performances and engage the target audience.
- Proposed Budget – Proven ability to work within a defined budget and feasibility of the proposed costs.
CULTURAL EQUITY STATEMENT: The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division and Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission believe that all people in the City of West Hollywood have the right to celebrate and engage in meaningful and relevant arts and cultural experiences. Each member of the community should have access to the arts which reflect and nurture individual identities, affirm personal value, and foster belonging in the community.
The City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division and Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission adopted the Cultural Equity Statement in 2021. Read the full statement here: https://www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/cultural-equity-statement
Questions and related answers:
How detailed do the proposed programs have to be?
It is up to the applicant, but we recommend that your proposal be thorough, but concise.
Is there a preference in type of production?
No, we are open to all types of productions. However, because the setting will be outdoors in the park and must be suitable for all audiences, we tend to lean towards productions that are more lighthearted. Does not need to be for children specifically.
How much do you pay and when will we get payment?
The total project budget must not exceed $18,000. First payment (less $2000) will be paid once all paperwork has been completed and insurance requirement has been fulfilled. And the second and final payment will be paid once we receive the final report.
What is the selection process? Are there any guidelines about this?
The Arts Commission will select the producer based on our selection criteria (listed above).
Questions: Contact Joy Tribble, Arts Specialist, jtribble@weho.org or 323-848-6360.
To view the full RFP CLICK HERE
Please read the entire application before completion.
Please note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required responses.