The County of Santa Barbara offers grants that invest in our creative community and help expand access to the arts across the region. Our annual Arts Making Impact (AMI) Grant is a cornerstone of this support, with additional opportunities offered when funding is available.
Current County Grant Opportunities
County grant applications are currently closed.
The Santa Barbara County Arts & Culture grant programs and partnership opportunities vary throughout the year. When opportunities are available, this section will include application timelines, eligibility information, workshops, resources, and application links.
In the meantime, stay connected by signing up for our monthly newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook.
Arts Making Impact (AMI) Grant Program
Santa Barbara County’s primary grant program supporting arts and cultural projects that expand access to the arts and strengthen communities throughout the county. The AMI grant program is currently closed and generally opens after the new year; please check back for program updates.
Photo courtesy of Grace Fisher Foundation
AMI Grant Goals and Overview
- Expands access to arts and cultural opportunities for underserved communities
- Encourages equitable access to arts education, creative experiences, and community participation
- Annual countywide grant program
- Supports nonprofit organizations and community-based arts projects
- Grant requests between $500–$5,000
- Funded through the County Arts Commission and Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation
The Arts Making Impact (AMI) Grant Program is a partnership between the County Arts Commission and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, supporting artists and arts and culture organizations through projects and activities that enrich communities throughout Santa Barbara County.
AMI Grant Information & Materials
2026-27 AMI Grant Resources
These resources are for the 2026–27 AMI Grant Cycle. (Applications due in April of 2026 and a grant activity period of July 2026- June 2027.)
2026-27 AMI Grant Timeline
Application Opens:
January 20, 2026
Grant Workshops:
February 11, 2026 12:00-1:30 pm
March 11, 2026 3:30-5:00 pm
Applications Due:
April 20, 2026 by 4:00pm
Award Notifications:
June 2026
Grant Agreements Due:
July 1, 2026
Grant Activity Period:
July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027
*Please note: Grant activities and expenses may only be incurred during the grant activity period, and after the contract is fully executed. All activities must be completed and final reports and payment requests submitted no later than the end date of that period.
Guidelines, Reference Documents, and Templates
The reference application and final report are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All final applications and reports must be submitted through the grant portal.
Logo and Credit Guidelines
Grantees are required to acknowledge the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation as a funding sponsor in all materials related to their funded project. This recognition demonstrates the County’s investment in arts and culture.
Where to Include Credit (as applicable):
- Website pages
- Newsletters and email communications
- Event signage and printed programs
- Posters, flyers, ads, and social media posts
Logos and Credit Line
You can download the Santa Barbara Bowl, the official County seal, and the Office of Arts and Culture’s logos by clicking here.
As space allows, please include the following credit line in your materials:
“Funding support was provided by the Arts Making Impact Grant Program, a partnership between the Santa Barbara Bowl and the County Arts Commission.”
2025-2026 AMI Grant Resources
These resources are for the 2025–26 AMI Grant Cycle. (Applications due in April of 2025 and a grant activity period of July 2025- June 2026.)
2025-26 AMI Grant Timeline
Application Opens:
March 12, 2025
Grant Workshops:
March 26, 2025 4:00-5:30 pm
April 10, 2025 12:00-1:30 pm
Applications Due:
April 15, 2025 by 5:00pm
Award Notifications:
June 2025
Grant Agreements Due:
July 1, 2025
Grant Activity Period:
July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026
*Please note: Grant activities and expenses may only be incurred during the grant activity period, and after the contract is fully executed. All activities must be completed and final reports and payment requests submitted no later than the end date of that period.
Guidelines, Reference Documents, and Templates
The reference application and final report are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All final applications and reports must be submitted through the grant portal.
Logo and Credit Guidelines
Grantees are required to acknowledge the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation as a funding sponsor in all materials related to their funded project. This recognition demonstrates the County’s investment in arts and culture.
Where to Include Credit (as applicable):
- Website pages
- Newsletters and email communications
- Event signage and printed programs
- Posters, flyers, ads, and social media posts
Logos and Credit Line
You can download the Santa Barbara Bowl, the official County seal, and the Office of Arts and Culture’s logos by clicking here.
As space allows, please include the following credit line in your materials:
“Funding support was provided by the Arts Making Impact Grant Program, a partnership between the Santa Barbara Bowl and the County Arts Commission.”
Past AMI Grant Recipients
Arts Making Impact
The Arts Making Impact (AMI) Grant has a long history of supporting projects that strengthen our creative community and expand access to the arts across Santa Barbara County. Below is a listing of recent recipients from past grant cycles.
2026-27 Arts Making Impact Grant Recipients
ArtLabbé Santa Barbara, Boxtales Theatre Company, Goleta Education Foundation, Grace Fisher Foundation, Lompoc L.O.V.E. C.I.R.C.L.E, Lompoc Theatre Project, Masq(p)arade!, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Dance Institute, Selah Dance Collective, Viva Brazil and Youth Arts Alive.
2025-26 Arts Making Impact Grant Recipients
Alcazar Theatre, Boxtales Theatre Company, Carpinteria Skate Foundation, the Grace Fisher Foundation, the Lompoc Theatre Project, Move with Purpose, Pianos on State Masq(p)arade!, Santa Barbara Black Culture House, Santa Barbara Dance Institute, Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, Youth Arts Alive, and Solvang Danish Days Foundation.
2024-25 Arts Making Impact Grant Recipients
Be Momentum, Boxtales Theatre Company, Goleta Education Foundation, Grace Fisher Foundation, Lompoc Theatre Project, Orcutt Area Seniors in Service, Santa Barbara Black Culture House, Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network, Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, Viva Brazil, Youth Arts Alive
Past Special Grant Opportunities
Explore previous regional and statewide grant initiatives supported by the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture.
Central Coast Creative Corps
Central Coast Creative Corps was a California Arts Council initiative supporting artist-community partnerships across the Central Coast region. SBCOAC served as the regional administrator for Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Impact Highlights
- $4.75 million distributed regionally
- 23 funded partnerships
- $140,000 awarded to each partnership
- Including $100,000 dedicated directly to artist compensation
Support for projects advancing public health, civic engagement, climate resilience, and social connection
Photo credit Freedom 4 Youth
2023-24 Individual Artist Fellowship
The California Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) program supported artists and cultural practitioners through unrestricted grant awards recognizing artistic excellence, creative practice, and continued contribution to California’s cultural landscape. The program welcomed artists from all disciplines and aimed to support diverse communities and geographies across the state.
Fellowship Highlights
- Statewide California Arts Council fellowship initiative
- Regional partnership serving 17 Central California counties
- Local application support provided by SBCOAC
- Fellowship awards of $5,000, $10,000, and $50,000
The Central California Region program was administered by SVCREATES in partnership with regional county arts agencies. SBCOAC served as Lead Agency for Micro-Region 1, supporting artists in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Kern Counties.
Photo: Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, 2023–24 Legacy Fellow, Santa Barbara County
