City of Falls Church Arts & Humanities Project Grant 2026

The City of Falls Church Arts and Humanities Grant Program is designed to foster a thriving arts, history, and cultural education environment within the City of Falls Church, Virginia. The program aims to encourage initiatives that not only enrich the local community but also serve as a catalyst for broader community engagement. Its overarching goal is to stimulate excellence in areas such as the arts, theatre, culture, and history; promote cultural and ethnic diversity; enhance the quality of life; support economic development; advance educational opportunities; broaden audience appeal; and make cultural activities accessible to all. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or must have a fiscal agent with such status. Fiscal agents must be located within Northern Virginia Planning District 8. The applying organization’s core mission must involve the research, production, presentation, exhibition, education, or performance of arts, culture, theatre, or history. Additionally, the organization must be based in the City of Falls Church, with at least seventy-five percent of its programming conducted within the city. All prior grants must be closed out with all reports and funds accounted for before a new grant can be awarded. Project grants will only be reimbursed if the project is completed and accessible to the public by the end of the fiscal year. Projects eligible for funding must align with the goals of the grant program and benefit both the organization and the broader Falls Church community. Political activities and lobbying efforts are explicitly excluded from funding. Public art projects require prior review by the Arts and Humanities Council before application submission. Projects located on city property must include written approval from the City with the grant application. The maximum grant amount is $5,000 per project, with $2,000 reserved annually for heritage grants. These heritage grants aim to preserve the city's history through initiatives such as historic markers, trail maps, and the collection of historical photographs. Applications will be evaluated based on appropriateness to program goals, project merit, financial need, organizational capacity, and service to the community. The application process opens on May 23, 2025, and closes on July 25, 2025, with the final submission deadline requiring either a postmark by that date or receipt via email by 5 p.m. Applicants submitting early may request feedback prior to final submission. Contact Holly Irwin at hirwin@fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5171 for questions. Following an initial eligibility review by the Recreation and Parks Department, the Arts and Humanities Grant Review Committee will evaluate applications and submit funding recommendations to the City Council, which will make the final funding decisions. Award notifications will be sent via email after the City Council meeting, including terms and conditions of the award. Grant payments are issued on a reimbursement basis, contingent on submission of itemized receipts and expenditures aligned with the project description. The city reserves the right to release payments in advance under special circumstances. The reimbursement window runs from October 2025 through May 15, 2026, with all receipts due by the reimbursement deadline.