Community Arts Development Grants

The Community Arts Development Grants program, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA), is a funding opportunity designed to support small nonprofit organizations in Alaska. The grant seeks to bolster arts programming and arts administration particularly in underserved geographic areas and disciplines. The initiative is part of the state’s broader effort to expand access to the arts across all regions of Alaska, especially in communities with limited existing resources or professional staffing. The Council gives preference to organizations operating entirely on a volunteer basis, encouraging grassroots efforts that promote cultural enrichment and artistic expression. Eligible projects include a range of public-facing and community-based arts programming. Examples include exhibits, concerts, dance performances, festivals, workshops, readings, and theater productions. The grants can also fund initiatives aimed at strengthening internal administrative capacities such as board development, accounting systems, and budget planning. This dual focus ensures that both program delivery and organizational infrastructure receive attention and support, which is particularly crucial for small and emerging arts organizations. Funding under this grant category is capped at $5,000 per award. This ceiling allows for a modest but meaningful level of support, facilitating projects that are impactful within their communities while remaining feasible for organizations with limited operational capacity. The grant does not specify a minimum award amount, and there is no mention of matching fund requirements. Applications are reviewed and awards are decided following quarterly meetings of the Council Trustees, aligning with a clearly defined and predictable review cycle. Applications are accepted on a quarterly basis, with four deadlines each year: June 1, September 1, December 1, and March 1. These deadlines correspond to project start dates of July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1 respectively, with all funded activities required to be completed by June 30 of the following year. The quarterly cadence allows applicants to plan effectively a