2025-2026 city of sb cultural arts grant applications open july 1, 2025

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2025-2026 city of sb cultural arts grant applications open july 1, 2025 〰️

CITY OF SANTA BARBARA CULTURAL ARTS Grants

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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

community events & festivals grant program

The City of Santa Barbara Community Events & Festivals (EF) grant program funds local organizations for promotional development and event production. Applicants to this program must demonstrate the ability to produce events and festivals which contribute to the cultural vitality and promotion of the City. Learn more here.

EF Grant Maximum Grant Request: $15,000
Award Period: January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027

2025 City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Recipients

Community Arts Grant Recipients: AHA!, Foundation for the Arts, Gateway Educational Services, Music Academy of the West, Notes for Notes, Performing and Visual Arts Camp, Santa Barbara Asian Pacific Islander Solidarity Network, Santa Barbara Chamber Players Santa Barbara Dance Institute, The Arts Fund

Community Events and Festivals Grant Recipients:
Ensemble Theatre Company, Foundation for Santa Barbara City College, Lobero Theatre Foundation, Pacific Pride Foundation, Santa Barbara Blues Society, Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, Santa Barbara Revels, The Brazilian Cultural Arts Center of Santa Barbara, UCSB Arts & Lectures

Organizational Development Grant Recipients: American Dance and Music, Amplify Arts Project, Boxtales Theatre Company, NewGrit, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Youth Performing Arts Center (Marjorie Luke Theater), Slingshot/Alpha Art Studio, State Street Ballet

staff contact

Hannah Rubalcava, Grants & Contracts Manager
hannah@sbac.ca.gov
805-568-3990