The Cultural Venues Grant program, administered by the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts & Culture, is providing grants to support independent cultural venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This second round of funding is designed to offer financial assistance to for-profit venues, including music venues, art galleries, and bookstores, to preserve Sacramento's cultural vibrancy.
Key Information:
Application Period: October 4 - October 28, 2024
Application Deadline: October 28, 2024, by 11:59 PM PDT
Grant Amounts:
$10,000 for independent bookstores and art galleries.
$20,000 for live music, performance, and comedy venues.
Grants may not exceed 50% of the venue’s annual operating budget.
Recipients of Round 1 funding are not eligible to apply for this round.
Eligibility:
For-profit businesses such as corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), partnerships, or sole proprietorships.
Venues must be located in Sacramento, have been fully operational for at least one year (or eight months for bookstores and galleries), and be currently open.
Live music, performance, and comedy venues must demonstrate professional operation (e.g., paid staff, ticket sales, and local artist programming).
Bookstores and art galleries must actively support local artists and writers through public programming (e.g., author readings, art classes).
Eligible Activities:
Funds can be used for:
Website development and maintenance.
Ticketing systems.
Event permitting and security fees.
Payment to artists for public events.
Marketing and communications.
Rent and insurance costs.
Application Process:
Applicants must submit their application via the City of Sacramento’s Submittable link by the deadline. Required materials include a narrative description of business activities, proposed use of funds, event schedules, financial documentation, and a budget that aligns with the requested grant amount.
Timeline:
Grant Term: 12 months (project funding must be spent by December 31, 2025).
Payment: 50% upon execution of the grant agreement, 40% upon proof of eligible expenses, and 10% upon submission of final documentation.
