For Grantseekers
Haz clic aquí para información sobre nuestro programa de becas en español.
Cultivate Grant deadline extended for CZU Lightning Fire Victims
Fund Your Next Dream
Unlock thousands of dollars in grant funding for your next artistic project. When artists and organizations get the support they need, Santa Cruz County becomes a stronger place to live.
When to Prepare Your Application
Our fall grant cycle opens September 2, 2020. Apply through our online portal here. See below for guidelines, orientations, and eligibility. Applications are due by October 2, 2020.
Find the Right Grant For You
Every year, we distribute $200,000+ directly back into our community’s artists, arts organizations, and creative projects in Santa Cruz County. There are three grant types; scan below and find the right opportunity for you.
Virtual Grants Orientations
We recently hosted live gatherings on Zoom to introduce our Grants program, give an overview of the application process and answer all of your questions. If you weren’t able to join us, don’t worry! You can access the presentation slides and recorded video for the sessions below.
Virtual Orientation for Organizations (English)
Fall 2020 Grants Orientation for Organizations (English) from Arts Council Santa Cruz County on Vimeo.
Presentation Slides: 2020 Fall Grants Orientation for Organizations (English)
Virtual Orientation for Artists (English)
Fall 2020 Grants Orientation for Artists (English) from Arts Council Santa Cruz County on Vimeo.
Presentation Slides: 2020 Fall Grants Orientation for Artists (English)
Orientación virtual para organizaciones (en Español)
Orientación virtual de becas para organizaciones (Español) – Otoño 2020 from Arts Council Santa Cruz County on Vimeo.
Diapositivas de PowerPoint: Orientación virtual de becas para organizaciones (Español) – Otoño 2020
Orientación virtual para artistas (en Español)
Diapositivas de PowerPoint: Orientación virtual para artistas (Español)
Orientación virtual para artistas (Español) – Otoño 2020 from Arts Council Santa Cruz County on Vimeo.
Fuel Your Work With a Cultivate Grant
Make your creative dream a reality. Tackle your professional development goals or fuel your next arts or cultural project in Santa Cruz County. This grant funds up to $3,000, and is open to all Santa Cruz County artists and arts organizations.
Looking for Create or Develop Grants? You’re in the right place! We have combined these two grants into the new Cultivate Grant.
Get the guidelines here: 2020 Fall Cultivate Grant Guidelines (English) / 2020 Otoño Guía del Programa de Becas Cultivadoras (Español)
Download the application questions list here: Cultivate Grant Application Question List_Fall 2020 / Lista de Preguntas par Solicitar Becas Cultivadoras_Otoño 2020 (español)
Download the budget template here: Cultivate Grant Budget Template
Log in to the application portal.
Applications open: September 2, 2020.
Application deadline*: October 2, 2020.
*The deadline has been extended to October 16, 2020 for artist and organizations affected by the recent local fires. See below for information on our workshop to help you apply for funds to help replace lost supplies and equipment.
Cultivate Grant Workshop for CZU Lightning Fire Complex Victims:
Join Grant Program Manager Nallely Martinez on Zoom for a virtual workshop intended to support you through the application process with the goal of having a completed application ready to submit at the end of the workshop.
It would be helpful for you to have the following items accessible on your computer or online during the workshop:
- 4-8 samples of your work (this could include images, written text, audio clips, videos, etc.)
- Your artist resume or bio (one page).
Sustain Your Organization with a Support Grant
Get the operating support you need for your 501c3 or fiscally-sponsored arts organization in Santa Cruz County. Open to all arts organizations, regardless of budget size. This grant awards up to $7,000.
Get the guidelines here: Fall 2020 Support Grant Guidelines
Download the application questions list here: Support Grant Application Question List_Fall 2020
Log in to the application portal.
Applications open: September 2, 2020.
Application deadline: October 2, 2020.
Flexible deadline available for organizations affected by the recent local fires. Please contact Grants Program Manager Nallely Martinez.
Get Emergency Support with a Community Relief Grant
Bridge the gap with emergency support for unanticipated and emerging needs as a result of COVID-19. Open to all Santa Cruz County artists and arts organizations, grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded until no more funds are available. A portion of these funds will be granted to individual Watsonville-based artists to support increased access to creative and artistic space.
Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting January 2021.
Please contact Grants Program Manager Nallely Martinez to determine if you are eligible.
How Grants Are Reviewed
Proposals are reviewed and scored by staff, board members and volunteers with subject area expertise. The Grants Committee considers these scores and makes funding recommendations to the Arts Council Board of Directors for approval.
Why We Fuel the Arts
We believe a stronger Santa Cruz County comes from a thriving creative community. Our objectives of the Grants Program are to:
- support the creation and presentation of artistically excellent work
- increase the success of artists and the sustainability of arts organizations
- engage new audiences in the arts
- expand equitable access to the arts (improvement of disparities in representation and access in the arts)
- increase social impact through art (advancement of social and racial justice issues in our community)
Connect With Us
If you’re curious about something you didn’t see answered above, contact Nallely Martinez, Grants Program Manager, at 831-475-9600 x16 or nallely@artscouncilsc.org.
