Arts, Culture & Heritage Grant Program

The Napa County Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) administers an annual competitive grant program supporting nonprofit arts and cultural organizations based in Napa County, California. This program is designed to strengthen the local arts ecosystem, enrich the lives of Napa County residents, promote cultural diversity, and boost tourism through strategic investment in arts, culture, and heritage. Grant funding is made available through the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), with the Napa County Board of Supervisors designating a portion of these tourism-generated funds to support ACAC’s initiatives. Final award decisions rest with the Board of Supervisors, following recommendations from the ACAC. Eligible applicants must be local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a primary focus on arts, culture, or heritage, and in continuous operation for at least 12 months. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed for specific subcategories and must comply with administrative requirements. The 2026–2027 grant cycle runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with applications due by March 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. To be eligible, all applicants must attend or view a mandatory grant workshop recording and present a brief introduction of their proposal at the April 27, 2026 ACAC meeting. Applicants must choose one of two main categories based on their audience profile: Tourism Generating or General Arts and Culture. Within this selection, organizations may submit up to two grant requests from the following subcategories: Capacity Building, Special Programs & Projects, and Capital Improvement. Additional funding opportunities exist under Leadership & Professional Development (max $2,500) and Collaborative Grants (max $20,000, with $10,000 cap per organization), which do not count against the primary request limits. Grant awards are determined by an organization’s average annual operating expense budget over the prior two years, with maximum request amounts ranging from $7,500 to $27,500. All grants require adherence to County branding and acknowledgement protocols. The evaluation rubric assigns weighted scores across categories such as artistic and cultural merit, community impact, project design, budget clarity, and alignment with County priorities. Leadership & Professional Development applications are evaluated on learning quality and anticipated organizational impact. Applications must include the 2026–2027 grant form, tax documentation, detailed budgets, quotes, a statement of nondiscrimination, and letters of support for collaborative projects. If funded in 2023–2024, applicants must report on prior outcomes and metrics. Funding may not be used for individuals, for-profit entities, government agencies, standard operating expenses, religious programming, or fundraising activities. All applicants are expected to demonstrate the capacity to carry out proposed projects and deliver measurable community benefits. The program explicitly supports diversity in geography, population served, artistic genre, and cultural representation, aligning with Napa County’s Community Cultural Plan.

Applicants must attend or view the webinar and present at the committee meeting to be considered.