Individual Artist Projects Grant

The Civic Arts Program of the City of Berkeley administers the Individual Artist Projects Grant to support a thriving and diverse arts ecosystem within Berkeley. This grant program is tailored to individual artists residing in the City of Berkeley and aims to encourage the creation and public presentation of original work that engages the local community. Administered by the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts Division, the program represents a broader commitment to equity, cultural representation, and public access to the arts across the city. This competitive grant opportunity is open to individual artists, not collectives or organizations, working in specific artistic disciplines that rotate each fiscal year. For the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) cycle, eligible disciplines include dance, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, music, and theater. Each applicant must be a resident of Berkeley, 18 years of age or older, and not currently enrolled as a full-time student or employed by the City of Berkeley. In addition, artists who previously received Individual Artist Project funding in the last two grant cycles or applied during FY26 are not eligible to apply in FY27. Grant awards total $5,000 per recipient, and up to ten grants will be awarded, depending on budget allocations approved by the Berkeley City Council. This equates to an anticipated $50,000 in total grant funding for the program. Funds are intended to support original artistic projects that culminate in a public presentation within the City of Berkeley. Eligible uses for the grant funds include artist fees, studio or venue rental, equipment rentals, project-related supplies, stipends for collaborators, and living expenses such as rent and utilities during the grant activity period. Ineligible uses include projects staged outside Berkeley, lobbying or political activity, or work focused primarily on curation or journalism. Applications are submitted electronically via Submittable and must include proof of Berkeley residency, a resume or CV, work samples, and narrative responses. The application window opens on January 5, 2026, and closes on March 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The evaluation process includes review by a Grant Review Panel composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds in the arts, followed by funding recommendations from the Grants Subcommittee and final approval by the Civic Arts Commission. Applicants are evaluated on four criteria: artistic practice and experience (30%), project narrative (30%), cultural equity (30%), and community impact (10%). Public presentations must be meaningful, accessible to Berkeley audiences, and comply with guidelines, including temporary installation requirements for art on city property. The grant activity period spans from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Grantees are required to submit a final report by July 30, 2027, and participate in a culminating Artist Showcase to share their projects. All awarded projects must be completed within the grant period, and applicants must plan for city permitting and approval processes for public installations, if applicable. Grant recipients must acknowledge City support in promotional materials and adhere to reporting and accountability requirements. Failure to complete the project or reporting obligations may result in forfeiture and return of funds.

Emphasize community engagement, clear project goals, and alignment with cultural equity.