2025-2026 city of sb cultural arts grant applications is closed
〰️
2025-2026 city of sb cultural arts grant applications is closed 〰️
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA CULTURAL ARTS Grants
Please subscribe to our newsletter for the most up to date opportunities.
2026 City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Recipients
Community Arts Grant Recipients: Gateway Educational Services, Hillside House Inc., Mental Wellness Center, MOXI – The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara Asian American Pacific Islander Solidarity Network, Santa Barbara Chamber Players, Santa Barbara Dance Institute, Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network (SBTAN), Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara Vocal Jazz Foundation, and Tomato Theatre Company
Community Events and Festivals Grant Recipients:
Brandwell Arts, Ceylon International Film Festival Foundation, eji event co. (Coffee Culture Fest), Elings Park Foundation, Grace Fisher Foundation, La Piazza Inc., Parks and Recreation Community Foundation (Arts in the Open at Plaza del Mar), Santa Barbara Chinese School, and Santa Barbara Police Activities League
Organizational Development Grant Recipients: ARTSPACE Inc. (Center Stage Theater), Children’s Creative Project, Creative Netwerk, Explore Ecology, Flamenco Arts Festival, Gunpowder Press, Notes for Notes, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Choral Society, and Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus
2025-2026 timeline
Applications Open
July 1, 2025
Grant Workshops
July 10, 2025 12:00-1:30 pm
August 5, 2025 3:30-5:00 pm
Applications Due
August 15, 2025 by 5:00pm
Award Notifications
October-November 2025
Revised Budgets Due
November 12, 2025
Grant Agreements Due
December 12, 2025 and prior to commencing grant project.
Grant Award Periods
CA: January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026
OD: January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027
EF: January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027
Cultural Arts Grant programs:
Funded by the City of Santa Barbara and administered by the Office of Arts & Culture, the Community Arts (CA), Organizational Development (OD), and Community Events and Festivals (EF) grant programs provide opportunities to support nonprofits producing or providing arts and culture programming within Santa Barbara city limits.
ALL applicants must attend a MANDATORY grant orientation workshop.
Please review the full City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grants Guidelines for detailed eligibility requirements.
GRANT WORKSHOPS
To be eligible to apply, all City Cultural Arts grant applicants are required to attend one of the scheduled grant workshops.
July 10, 2025 12-1:30 pm (In-Person)
David Gebhard Meeting Room
Click here to register
August 5, 2025 3:30-5:00 pm (Virtual)
Zoom
Click here to register
Community arts grant program
The City of Santa Barbara’s Community Arts (CA) grant program funds projects and programs for underserved communities and youth.
The Community Arts program aims to ensure accessibility to the arts for all members of Santa Barbara’s community.
CA Grant Maximum Grant Request: $6,000
Award Period: January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026
Organizational development grant program
The City of Santa Barbara’s Organizational Development (OD) grant program funds local arts organizations to improve organizational sustainability, capacity and performance, enhance audience reach, and increase earned income. Grants support operational, marketing, and promotional expenses. Applicants must indicate the impact that grant funds will have on audience development and earned income.
OD Grant Maximum Grant Request: $15,000
Award Period: January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027
