Operating Grants I & II

The Operating Grants I & II for FY 2025-2026 are administered by the Arts Council for Long Beach, an organization established by the City of Long Beach in 1976 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1982. The Council promotes participation in the arts throughout Long Beach by distributing public funds and raising support through private contributions, foundations, corporations, and contracts. Their mission focuses on enhancing the city's neighborhoods through the arts, emphasizing inclusion, collaboration, and accessibility. These Operating Grants provide unrestricted support for arts and cultural organizations based in Long Beach whose core mission includes collecting, preserving, presenting, or commissioning works of art that are regionally significant. Eligible organizations must contribute to public benefit through artistic presentations such as exhibitions, performances, and educational programming that deepens audience appreciation of the arts. Operating Grant I supports organizations with annual revenues between $250,000 and $1 million, while Operating Grant II is designed for organizations with annual revenues exceeding $1 million. All applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with at least three years of programmatic history in Long Beach. They must have secured venues, qualified professional staff, and maintain a local board of directors with at least 80% residing or working in Long Beach. Additionally, organizations are required to offer educational programs to local school districts and residents, be active members of professional arts associations, and demonstrate their impact through cultural tourism or audience development. Previous grantees must have fulfilled past requirements, and City-operated entities or those receiving direct municipal funding are ineligible. Grant awards range from $5,000 to $8,000 for Operating Grant I and $18,000 to $25,000 for Operating Grant II. A 1:1 cash match is required from non-municipal sources, and funds cannot be used for certain expenses like travel, art purchases, or capital costs. Applications are submitted online, with artistic documentation in a specific PDF format. All files must be properly named, and omissions or late submissions can disqualify applicants. The evaluation process includes panel scoring based on artistic merit, organizational management, and community impact, with a maximum score of 100 points and a minimum of 76 points needed for funding consideration. The application opens April 1, 2025, and the final deadline is June 13, 2025, by 5 PM. Technical assistance is available by appointment through June 6, 2025. Grant award notifications and disbursements are projected for January or February 2026, following the City’s budget approval in September 2025. Payments are made in three installments, contingent upon contract compliance and reporting. Staff support is available via email at grants@artslb.org or by phone at (562) 204-6104.