The Fresno Arts Council has released its 2025 Request for Proposals for the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture (EAAC) Fund, a competitive grant opportunity funded by City of Fresno tax revenue through Measure P. This grant supports both general operating needs and specific projects for arts and cultural organizations within the city. Four categories of grants are available: Established Organization General Operating Support (up to $400,000), Emerging Organization General Operating Support (up to $50,000), Established Organization Project-Specific Support (up to $150,000), and Emerging Organization Project-Specific Support (up to $50,000).
General Operating Support grants are aimed at providing core funding to stabilize and strengthen arts organizations. These funds can be used for expenses such as rent, utilities, and staff salaries, as long as the costs are incurred within the territorial limits of the City of Fresno. This support is intended to help organizations that reflect the city’s demographic, cultural, and geographic diversity, with priority given to those enhancing diverse community or youth engagement and promoting equity.
Project-Specific Support grants are designed for clearly defined projects that align with the goals of Fresno's Cultural Plan. These funds may be used for artist fees, project-specific supplies, necessary equipment, venue costs, or technical needs associated with completing the project. These awards aim to increase access to diverse cultural opportunities throughout the Fresno area.
A Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted by April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible to submit a full application. Once LOIs are reviewed for eligibility, selected applicants will receive a link to access the grant portal. Final applications are due by June 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. The grant activity period will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Awards will be disbursed between August and September 2025, following a review process conducted in June and July by a diverse adjudication panel comprising community members, artists, and nonprofit administrators.
To support applicants, the Fresno Arts Council will provide webinars, office hours, and instructional resources during the spring of 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin early and submit at least five days before the deadline to avoid technical issues. Applications are accepted and managed through Submittable at https://fresnoartscouncil.submittable.com. Detailed information, guidelines, and support resources are available at https://www.fresnoartscouncil.org/artsandculturegrants.
For questions, applicants can contact Executive Director Lilia Gonzáles Chávez at eaacgrants@fresnoartscouncil.org or call 559-237-9734 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Language assistance is available in Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi by contacting the Fresno Arts Council.
