Project Support Grants

The Salt Lake City Arts Council offers the Project Support Grant as part of its City Arts Grants Program to support specific arts projects that provide meaningful community value within Salt Lake City. This opportunity is available to individual artists, groups, nonprofit organizations, and community councils seeking support for concerts, performances, festivals, workshops, murals, readings, and other artistic endeavors. The Council emphasizes community engagement, requiring that all projects except murals include a component that actively involves or benefits the broader community. The Arts Council operates under the Department of Community and Neighborhoods of Salt Lake City and also maintains its own nonprofit arm, the Salt Lake City Arts Council Foundation. The program anticipates distributing approximately $70,000 during the FY26 grant cycle, with individual awards of either $2,000 or $4,000. Projects funded by the $4,000 award must include a 50% cash match, whereas matching is encouraged but not required for the $2,000 level. Funds must be used for arts-based programs that are publicly accessible and must be completed within the specified funding period. Round 1 of the FY26 grant supports projects occurring between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, while Round 2 funds projects running from February 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The eligibility criteria are broad but targeted. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, individual artists, or groups of artists. All project activities must occur within Salt Lake City boundaries. Murals, which are exempt from the community engagement requirement, must meet specific standards including high public visibility and adherence to local codes and permitting processes. Murals may receive a portion of the available funds, but no more than $15,000 will be distributed to mural projects during a single grant cycle. The application process is structured into two rounds per year. Round 1 opens April 7, 2025, and closes June 1, 2025. Notifications and grant agreements follow in September, with an initial 50% distribution in October and final payments upon satisfactory submission of the final report. Round 2 begins on September 15, 2025, and closes in October. Notifications are sent in January 2026, with funding distributions scheduled for February and post-project completion. Applications are evaluated on three core criteria: programming (40%), community impact (40%), and budget (20%). A detailed budget template must be submitted with all applications and include both income and expense estimates directly tied to the proposed project. The Arts Council encourages applicants to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and pay artists fair, professional wages. Letters of support, evidence of community interest, and previous project success also strengthen an application. For questions, applicants should refer to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact the Grants Program via email at ArtsGrants@SLC.gov. Office hours are available during the application period for one-on-one support. Phone inquiries may be directed to (801) 596-5000. All application materials and communications will be handled electronically. Interested applicants can visit the Salt Lake City Arts Council at 54 Finch Lane, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 for in-person queries or utilize the online portal to submit applications and view scoring rubrics.