Onondaga County Small Festivals Fund

The Onondaga County Small Festivals Fund is a local grant initiative administered by CNY Arts and made possible through funding from the County of Onondaga. This grant program was established to support small-scale arts and cultural festivals taking place within Onondaga County. It aims to strengthen community engagement through accessible and diverse arts programming. CNY Arts, a regional arts council, serves as the grant administrator, handling the application and award process on behalf of the county. The program emphasizes supporting festivals that celebrate community heritage, artistic diversity, and cultural expression. The primary goal of this fund is to provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations based in Onondaga County that organize small arts and cultural festivals. Eligible festivals should demonstrate strong artistic or cultural merit and be held in public spaces, with free or low-cost access to the general public. The program encourages events that highlight local culture, arts, heritage, or history and explicitly excludes commercial, religious, or recreational-only events. Types of eligible events include but are not limited to music festivals, cultural celebrations, open studio tours, film and book festivals, and seasonal fairs with an arts component. The total amount available through this fund is $143,662, with individual awards up to $7,500. Funds may be used to cover festival-specific expenses such as artist fees, marketing and publicity, direct administrative costs, project-related travel (within state limits), equipment and space rentals, and technical support. However, funds may not be used for general operating expenses, food or drink, hospitality, galas, or any programming deemed therapeutic, religious, or entertainment-based (e.g., clowns, magicians). The grant requires no matching funds, making it highly accessible for small organizations with limited budgets. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a permanent address in Onondaga County and a total festival budget of $100,000 or less. Educational institutions, media outlets, organizations focused solely on property restoration, and applicants with outstanding prior grant reports are ineligible. Applications are submitted exclusively through the Submittable portal. A mandatory seminar—either live or via recording—is required for all applicants. The live webinar is scheduled for January 23, 2026, and the recording becomes available by January 26, 2026. Applications open on January 13, 2026, and close on February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Awards will be announced by April 10, 2026. The project period spans from January 1 to December 31, 2026, and organizations with early 2026 festivals may apply for reimbursement. All grantees must submit a final report by January 30, 2027. Additional requirements include event notification, crediting language, submission of publicity materials, and maintaining an updated organizational profile in the CNY Arts directory. Applications are evaluated on three weighted criteria: artistic and cultural merit (40%), public service and engagement (40%), and capacity and feasibility (20%). A peer review panel made up of Onondaga County-based arts professionals, administrators, and community leaders conducts the scoring. Recommendations are submitted to the CNY Arts Board and then the County Executive for final approval. Contact points for the grant include Jeremy Stoller (Program Manager) and Katherine Nikolau (Marketing and Grants Associate), both reachable via email or phone for applicant support. One-on-one consultations and various accommodations such as translation and technical support are available to applicants through February 20, 2026.

Focus on artistic and cultural merit, audience accessibility, and community relevance. Strong budgeting and clarity are essential.