Civic Arts

Artists, festivals, arts organizations invited to apply for grants by March 2023

Webinars on Jan 11, 13, and 18 will outline the grant guidelines, eligibility, review criteria, and how to apply.

Rainbow Study, Paper Collage, 12” x 12”, artwork and photo by Sonia Gill

Published:

January 10, 2023

Last Updated:

March 20, 2023

Artists, festivals, and arts organizations can apply for one-time grants of up to $4,000, $7,000, and $10,000, respectively, and use one of our webinars to help answer any questions.

The grants support individual artists creating new work, festivals creating an event that’s open to the public and has a free component, or arts organizations needing support for ongoing programming.

The separate webinars for each type of grant will cover guidelines, eligibility, and how to apply on the Submittable site, which requires you to create an account. You can also learn more about the grants on the artist, festival, or arts organization application portals.

Coordinated by our Civic Arts Program, these grants support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the City of Berkeley by funding artists, festivals, and arts organizations.

Grants to support artists’ new projects

Individual Artist Project grants support Berkeley artists in creating new work. The new work must include a public presentation that engages Berkeley residents in a meaningful way.

To be eligible, applicants must provide proof of a residential address in the City of Berkeley. Only individuals may apply; partnership, group, or collective applications are ineligible.

Grant request amount: $4,000
Webinar: January 11, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Application deadline: March 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Grant activity period: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

Apply on the artist grant portal.

Grants for Festivals and Special Events

Festival Grants support community festivals and events that honor and preserve a rich variety of culture. Grants support a range of events from small-scale and first-time events to large-scale and established festivals.

Events must be open to the entire public and have a free component. This grant is for festivals that are one- or multi-day events, but generally events that occur one time per year, and is not intended to fund ongoing programming.

501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations producing a festival in Berkeley are eligible to apply. Organizational entities without a nonprofit exempt status may use a 501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsor. Grantees are responsible for obtaining all necessary City permits.

Grant request amount: up to $7,000
Webinar: January 13, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Application deadline: March 8, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Grant activity period: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

Learn more and apply for community festivals and special events grant.

Grants for Arts Organizations

General Operating Support grants providing funding for operational and programming expenses to Berkeley arts and cultural nonprofit organizations. This grant operates on a two-year cycle; awardees will receive grant payments for two consecutive years.

501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations with an official Berkeley business address are eligible to apply. Organizational entities without a nonprofit exempt status may use a 501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsor. An arts organization is defined as an entity with a primary purpose of providing arts, creative, or cultural programming/services.

Grant request amount: up to $10,000
Webinar: January 18, 2023 at 11:00 am
Application deadline: March 13, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Grant activity period: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025

Learn more and apply for operating support grant.

Berkeley Civic Arts program supports cultural vibrancy

These grants provide a way to expand the reach and increase the vibrancy of Berkeley's arts, a core part of our community.

For questions about these grants, contact the Civic Arts Program at civicarts@cityofberkeley.info, (510) 981-7539, or schedule a virtual appointment with Civic Arts staff.

If you're an artist, nonprofit or festival organizer, or an arts organization seeking to enrich Berkeley's arts and culture, we hope you'll apply for one of our grants. If you know someone who might be interested, please spread the word!