City of Lafayette Arts in Community Grant

The Lafayette Cultural Arts Board (LCAB), based in Lafayette, Colorado, administers the Arts in Community (AinC) Grant to support arts and culture-related projects that provide direct benefit to the local community. LCAB operates under the guidance of the Lafayette City Council and upholds values such as accessibility, inclusivity, resilience, and multiculturalism. LCAB’s mission is to promote, nurture, and celebrate diverse artistic expression within Lafayette by connecting artists, fostering partnerships, and supporting historically underserved communities. The organization aligns its programming with its IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) framework, emphasizing equity, cultural representation, and public accessibility. The AinC Grant is designed to fund projects that occur within Lafayette and are accessible to the public. Grants may support a broad range of activities, provided the work enhances local cultural life and demonstrates a tangible benefit to community members. Applications that center on an individual artist's practice must clearly articulate the project's public impact to be considered. LCAB is especially interested in projects that highlight social justice, multiculturalism, and equitable access to the arts, including in artist representation, audience engagement, and thematic content. The grant application process for the 2026 cycle opens on July 3, 2025, and closes on August 28, 2025. Funded projects must take place within the calendar year 2026, specifically between January 1 and December 16. All applications must be submitted through the designated online platform, and applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to submit a W-9. Funded projects must occur within Lafayette city limits. Final reports detailing project outcomes are required within 30 days of project completion. Grant awards typically do not exceed $2,000. While higher amounts may occasionally be awarded, this depends on the number of applicants and availability of funds. Funding cannot be used for projects that occurred prior to 2026, nor for capital improvements, fundraising activities, receptions, refreshments, salaries for organizational staff, or deficit reduction. Project promotion must credit LCAB using the official logo. Grantees are expected to adhere to LCAB’s non-discrimination policy, which protects participants and volunteers regardless of age, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background. Evaluation criteria include project quality, impact, and alignment with LCAB's mission. Specific factors assessed include the completeness of the application, a detailed and reasonable budget, the scale and depth of the project’s community impact, support for underserved populations, and consistency with the IDEA framework. The evaluation also considers the variety and quality of arts services provided, the need for funding, and the anticipated accessibility for Lafayette residents. Applicants are encouraged to review the full grant guidelines and the LCAB IDEA framework available on the City of Lafayette’s website. Any questions regarding the application process can be directed to Arts and Cultural Resources at arts.grants@lafayetteco.gov or by calling 303-661-1261. All necessary documents, including the Grant Overview, Grant Timeline, and IDEA Framework, should be downloaded and reviewed prior to submission to ensure compliance and strengthen the application.

Review LCAB’s mission and IDEA framework to enhance application alignment with goals.