2026 Individual Artist Projects Grant

The FY26 Individual Artist Projects Grant is offered by the City of Berkeley Civic Arts Program to support a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the city. This grant provides project-based funding for individual artists residing in Berkeley, enabling them to create original work during the grant activity period and publicly present their work in a way that engages the local community. The grant is intended to support artists working in film and new media, multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary arts, social practice, and visual arts. Future grant cycles will cover other artistic disciplines such as dance, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, music, and theater. The grant provides $5,000 per selected artist, with ten total awards available, amounting to a total allocation of $50,000. Funds may be used for various eligible expenses, including artist fees, equipment rentals, living expenses, stipends for collaborators, supplies, and venue or studio fees. However, funds cannot be used for expenses incurred outside the grant period, joint projects funded by multiple awards, political advocacy, activities outside Berkeley, or projects focused primarily on curation, archiving, or journalism. To be eligible, applicants must be individual artists living in Berkeley and working in one of the designated disciplines. They must be at least 18 years old and cannot apply as a group or partnership. Those ineligible include City of Berkeley employees, full-time students, past awardees from the previous two cycles, artists whose work falls outside the designated disciplines, and organizations. The grant particularly encourages applications from artists representing systemically marginalized identities. The application process requires proof of Berkeley residency, a resume or curriculum vitae, work samples, and responses to narrative questions. Applications must be submitted electronically through Submittable. Technical assistance is available via email, phone, or virtual appointments. The application opens on January 6, 2025, and closes on February 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Following the review process, funding recommendations will be made in June, and final approvals will be granted by the Civic Arts Commission on June 25, 2025. The grant activity period runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with a final report due by July 30, 2026. Applications are reviewed by a grant panel based on artistic practice and experience (30%), project narrative (30%), cultural equity (30%), and community impact (10%). Applicants will be scored on a scale from 0 to 5 for each criterion. The review panel is composed of cultural sector professionals from the Bay Area, and applicants can attend the public review meeting. Final funding decisions are made by the Civic Arts Commission, and applicants can appeal if there is evidence of misconduct or technical error in the review process. Grantees are required to submit a final report within 30 days of the grant period ending and participate in an artist showcase. They must acknowledge City of Berkeley support in promotional materials and secure any necessary permits for their projects. Failure to complete the funded project or final reporting may result in forfeiture of grant funds and future ineligibility.