Learn more about applying, guidelines, and eligibility through webinars, which start on Jan. 10. Deadlines range from February 21 to March 13, depending on the grant.
Artists, festival organizers, nonprofits seeking to make arts part of their programs, and arts nonprofits can apply for one-time grants.
These different grants can fund new individual work, put on events, create arts programs for non-arts nonprofits, or fund capital projects for arts nonprofits.
Applicants can attend separate webinars for each type of grant to learn about guidelines, eligibility, and how to apply.
- Individual artists in Berkeley can receive $4,000 to create original work and a public presentation to engage Berkeleyans.
- Festival organizers can apply for up to $7,000 to put on events that may be new and small in scale or be an established festival.
- Berkeley nonprofits and Bay Area arts organizations can apply for grants of up to $5,000, to facilitate arts programming collaborations and cultural activities in Berkeley.
- Berkeley-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofits seeking to fund capital projects – especially to increase accessibility – can apply for between $2,000 and $150,000.
The online applications for artists, festivals, nonprofits creating arts programs, or arts nonprofits funding capital projects provide more information and require creation of an account to apply.
Coordinated by the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts Program, these grants are part of the unit’s work to support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem.
Grants to support artists’ new projects
Only individuals who provide proof of a residential address in Berkeley may apply. Partnership, group, or collective applications are ineligible.
- Grant request amount: fixed amount of $4,000
- Webinar: January 10, 2024 at 5:30 pm
- Application deadline: February 28, 2024 at 11:59 pm
- Grant activity period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Apply on the artist grant portal.
Grants for Festivals and Special Events
Festival Grants can be used to support community festivals and events that honor or preserve a wide variety of cultures.
Events must be open to the public in Berkeley 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. This grant 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. Additionally, organizations without a nonprofit exempt status can team up with an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor to apply. Grantees are responsible for obtaining all necessary event permits.
- Grant request amount: up to $7,000
- Webinar: January 12, 2024 at 11:00 am
- Application deadline: March 6, 2024 at 11:59 pm
- Grant activity period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Learn more and apply for community festivals and special events grants.
Grants for Non-Arts Berkeley Nonprofit Organizations or Bay-Area Arts Organizations
Local nonprofits who do not have arts programming can use grants to start some. To do so, they can partner with a Berkeley-based arts organization or a Bay Area arts organization doing cultural events in Berkeley. They can also work with a teaching artist.
Arts nonprofits located in the Greater Bay Area, outside Berkeley, can use this funding to work together with different kinds of organizations when they want to create cultural events in Berkeley.
These grants encourage non-arts groups to team up with Berkeley-based arts organizations or hire cultural workers, such as teaching artists or performers. Additionally, they give Berkeley residents opportunities to participate in arts activities organized by nonprofits from the Greater Bay Area.
Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. Fiscally sponsored organizations are not eligible.
Organizations seeking funding in other Civic Arts grant opportunities are not eligible for this grant. This grant is made possible in part with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. It is intended to expand access to arts and cultural activities within the City of Berkeley.
- Grant request amount: up to $5,000
- Total funding available in this grant category: $60,000
- Webinar 1: January 17, 2024, at 11:00 am
- Webinar 2: January 17, 2024, at 5:30 pm
- Application deadline: March 13, 2024 at 11:59 pm
- Grant activity period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
Learn more and apply for an arts programs grant.
Grants for arts organizations capital projects or building purchases in Berkeley
Berkeley-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofits can apply for grants to maintain, improve, or add to the physical space required for their work.
The grants prioritize organizations with total cash revenues under $1,000,000.
The City encourages this funding to be spent on improving access for people with physical disabilities, such as installing accessible signage, constructing wheelchair-accessible features, and buying assistive listening systems.
- Grant request amount: $2,000 - $150,000
- Total funding available in this grant category: $300,000
- Webinar: January 19, 2024, 2024 at 11:00 am
- Application deadline: February 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm
- Grant activity period: Jun 1, 2024 to July 30, 2025
Learn more and apply for Capital Projects 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@berkeleyca.gov, (510) 981-7539, or schedule a virtual appointment.
If you're an artist, a nonprofit organization, a festival organizer, or anyone looking to promote arts and culture in Berkeley's communities, we encourage you to apply for one of our grants. And if you know someone who might be interested, please feel free to spread the word!
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