Project Support: Events, Festivals, Series Grants

The Project Support: Events, Festivals, Series grant program is administered by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), an organization committed to championing and elevating the arts and cultural expression in Greater Columbus. GCAC provides funding opportunities to support arts programming, engage diverse audiences, and empower nonprofit creative organizations to contribute to the cultural fabric of the city. This specific grant program is tailored to support a wide range of public-facing arts projects in Columbus, Ohio, including performances, exhibitions, locally produced film presentations, and arts-focused events or series. The primary goal of this grant is to support nonprofit organizations that place the arts at the center of their programming, particularly through community-facing events such as festivals, performances, or exhibitions. The focus is on projects that demonstrate artistic value, promote community engagement, and offer meaningful experiences to the public. All proposed projects must involve the significant participation of professional artists, be open to the general public, and take place primarily within the geographic limits of the City of Columbus—at least 75% of activities must be within city boundaries. Only events open to the general public, whether free or ticketed, are eligible. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Franklin County whose primary mission is centered on arts and culture. Organizations with a broader mission may be considered if they operate a comprehensive arts program but must receive pre-approval before applying. Organizations currently receiving General or Operating Support from GCAC are not eligible, and individual artists or informal artist groups should apply under a separate funding program tailored for artist-led projects. Additionally, only one type of GCAC event-related grant may be awarded to a single organization per year—applicants cannot receive both Project Support and Cultural Festival Funding in the same calendar year. Most awards granted through this program fall in the $3,000 to $8,000 range, with a maximum allowable request of $25,000. Full funding of project budgets is not provided; applicants are expected to secure additional revenue sources. New in 2026, all applicants must demonstrate a 20% cash match. This match may come from earned income, contributions, or internal funds, but in-kind donations do not count toward the match requirement. Project budgets must be uploaded in the application portal and must not include in-kind income or expenses. Required uploads also include current fiscal year financials and staff/board lists, with additional materials optional for context and enhancement. The application opens on January 16, 2026, and closes on February 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications will be reviewed by a national panel of nonprofit administrators, community arts leaders, and experts in various disciplines, with scoring across four categories: Access to the Arts for All, Artistic Innovation and Engagement, Project Management, and Budget. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by May 29, 2026. Upon award, grantees must sign a digital grant agreement and will receive 50% of the funds upfront, with the remaining 50% disbursed upon submission and approval of a final report. GCAC may request complimentary event tickets for monitoring and engagement purposes. Final reports are due within 30 days of the project’s conclusion. To assist with access and transparency, GCAC encourages applicants to engage with staff prior to submission. The primary contact for this opportunity is Khaila Carr, who can be reached at [email protected]. The program reflects GCAC’s broader commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, and all applicants are encouraged to incorporate these values into their programming and internal operations.

Highlight artist compensation and public accessibility to strengthen evaluation scores.