The Community Arts Grants, administered by the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, are intended to support the creation and presentation of arts in Winnebago County, Green Lake County, Waushara County, and the City of Ripon in Wisconsin. This initiative is made possible through an annual grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board, matched with local donations to the Fund for the Arts, and subsequently re-granted to local arts organizations and nonprofits offering innovative arts programming.
The grants prioritize projects that demonstrate innovation and originality, artistic excellence, significant community and artistic impact, engagement of underrepresented audiences, and collaboration across artists, venues, and community groups. Funded projects must enhance local arts programming, be open to the public, and must not request grant funding exceeding 50% of the total project costs. Activities must be held in accessible venues and can include exhibitions, performances, workshops, residencies, publications, or festivals.
Grants are typically less than $5,000, and the application deadline for the 2025 cycle is May 10, 2025. Award decisions will be announced in June 2025. Only nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply, and projects must serve one of the specified counties or the City of Ripon. Certain activities are ineligible for funding, such as grants to individual artists, travel outside the Oshkosh area, hospitality expenses, fundraising events, religious activities, or projects held by organizations that discriminate.
Applicants must submit their applications through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal before the deadline. If requested, additional supporting documentation may be required after an initial review. For questions, applicants may contact Amy Putzer, Director of Programs, at (920) 426-3993 or info@oshkoshareacf.org.
