Cultural Art and Arts Programming

The City of Alameda is offering a funding opportunity through its Public Art Commission, inviting qualified non-profit arts organizations, public agencies, and fiscally sponsored entities to submit proposals for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming. The total available funding is $60,000, which will be distributed across four separate grants. These funds are intended to support a wide array of artistic expressions within Alameda, including but not limited to performance arts (theater, music, dance), literary arts, film and video installations, arts education, and artist-in-residence programs. All proposed events or programs must be located within the City of Alameda and be accessible to the public at no charge. This initiative is designed to enhance cultural equity, diversity, inclusion, and community enrichment by supporting the arts in various public spaces throughout the city. The funding is made possible through the Alameda Public Art Fund, established under the City’s Public Art Ordinance adopted in 2003. This ordinance allows developers of qualifying projects to either install on-site public art or contribute equivalent funding to the Public Art Fund. In 2023, the City Council adopted a comprehensive Public Art Master Plan that includes a five-year action strategy to guide public art investments, with one of its early priorities being the release of grant opportunities like this one for cultural and arts programming. The Public Art Commission is especially interested in proposals that provide broad community benefits, foster a unique sense of place, and contribute to Alameda’s economic and cultural vitality. Applicants are required to submit their proposals via Submittable no later than 5:00 PM on March 19, 2026. To assist potential applicants, the City hosted a grant writing webinar on February 4, 2026, and will also host an RFP Orientation on February 11, 2026, via Zoom. The grants will support programming that takes place between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Applications must include proof of non-profit or fiscal sponsor status, organizational background, project summary, timeline, roles of personnel, a clear budget including a mandatory 10% contingency, and a plan for evaluating program success. Eligibility is broad, covering non-profit organizations, public agencies, and fiscally sponsored projects, but local Alameda-based applicants will receive a scoring preference in the evaluation. All events or programs must be open to the public free of charge. Ineligible expenses include costs related to events outside Alameda, social events, receptions, food and beverages, and out-of-state travel. The funding can be used for materials, artistic and administrative compensation, rental space, insurance, supplies, and promotional expenses directly tied to the proposed program. Proposals will undergo a pre-screening by City staff to ensure eligibility and completeness. Qualified applications will then be evaluated by the Public Art Commission based on criteria such as program benefit to the community (35%), organizational capacity (25%), reasonableness of the budget (10%), program schedule (10%), leveraged funds (5%), cultural equity (5%), accessibility (5%), and local presence (5%). Final recommendations may be forwarded to the Alameda City Council for final approval in May or June 2026. Awarded projects must be completed within 12 months of agreement execution. Contact for this grant opportunity is Jackie Keliiaa, Development Manager, who can be reached at [email protected]. The full RFP is available in PDF format through the City's official website. Insurance coverage, including general liability and workers' compensation, will be required, although some insurance provisions may be adjusted depending on the scope and scale of each awarded project. The City reserves the right to modify, cancel, or reissue the RFP as needed, and all proposals submitted become subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act.

Focus on equity, realistic budget with contingency, and community impact. Preference given to Alameda-based applicants.