City of Wichita Activation Grant Program

The Activation Grant Opportunity is administered by the City of Wichita’s Division of Arts and Cultural Services as part of its Cultural Arts Strategic Plan for 2024–2028. This new program consolidates and replaces the former Developing Arts and Artist Access Grant opportunities. It is designed to strengthen Wichita’s creative ecosystem by providing one-time funding to artists and organizations engaged in artistic creation or professional development that directly serves Wichita residents. Activation Grants offer support in two main areas: programmatic funding and capacity building. Programmatic funding is available to both individuals and organizations creating art in any medium, including exhibitions, performances, and public art that benefit the Wichita community. Capacity building grants are offered to support professional or organizational development. For individuals, this might include participation in workshops or residencies, website development, or presentation preparation. Organizations can apply for support in areas such as strategic planning, board development, financial audits, marketing, and technology acquisition. Applicants may request funding between $500 and $10,000. There is no requirement for applicants to match the grant funds, and the grant may represent any percentage of the total project budget. For-profit partners may be included in the project proposal, but they must serve only as collaborators; the individual or nonprofit must remain the primary applicant. Individuals employed full-time by the City of Wichita and organizations already receiving a 2026 Operational Grant or designated as a Cultural Institution are ineligible. Nonprofit status is required for organizational applicants, while individuals need not hold any business designation. All projects must align with at least one goal or strategy within the 2024–2028 Cultural Arts Strategic Plan. These include increasing access to cultural arts, providing citywide opportunities, promoting affordability, attracting artists, and fostering paid opportunities for mid-career professionals. All funding must be spent within 2026. Selected applicants will enter into a contract with the City and are required to maintain records of all expenditures, submit a final report, and provide documentation such as invoices, receipts, and proof of project completion. The application window for the current cycle opened on September 8, 2025, and will close on November 4, 2025, at 11:30 AM. Two grant information sessions are scheduled for September 16 and 23, with rec

Attend grant information sessions for insights on applying and aligning projects with the Cultural Arts Strategic Plan.