Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Project Support Grant Program

The Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Project Support Grant provides targeted funding for specific arts-related projects that deliver meaningful community engagement within Salt Lake City. This competitive funding opportunity is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives proposing public-facing projects such as concerts, murals, festivals, performances, workshops, or readings. A unique component of the program is its requirement that all projects, with the exception of murals, incorporate some form of community engagement or outreach. Project Support Grants are issued in two fixed amounts: $2,000 or $4,000. Applications requesting $4,000 must include a minimum 50% cash match (i.e., $2,000), while $2,000 grants do not require a match but are encouraged to include cash or in-kind support. Applicants may demonstrate community support through a variety of methods including confirmed partners, letters of support, surveys, and prior project success. Each applicant may submit only one application per year and cannot apply for both Project Support and General Operating Support grants in the same fiscal year. The grant cycle for Round 2 of the 2025–2026 fiscal year opens on September 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. and closes on November 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. All proposed project activities must take place between February 1, 2026, and August 31, 2026. Grant decisions will be made following a committee review process held in November and December 2025, with award notifications and agreements issued in January 2026. Initial disbursement of 50% of the grant amount is expected in March 2026, and the final 50% will be distributed upon submission and approval of a final report. Projects must occur entirely within Salt Lake City boundaries, and funding cannot be used for projects already completed, activities outside city limits, capital expenditures, fundraising, or private/fee-restricted events. Additionally, murals have their own unique eligibility considerations, including visibility requirements, compliance with local ordinances, and long-term maintenance expectations. Funding for murals does not require a separate engagement component. Applicants are evaluated based on three key criteria: programming (40%), community impact (40%), and budget clarity (20%). A detailed and balanced budget is mandatory, and must align with a downloadable budget template provided by the Arts Council. The Council also emphasizes paying artists professional wages and considers this a scoring priority. Applicants may participate in an optional grant orientation session scheduled for September 30, 2025, or schedule a 25-minute consultation during office hours between September 16 and October 30, 2025. Questions should be submitted in writing, and responses are shared unless sensitive information is involved. Correspondence is handled via email, and applicants should whitelist official grant platform addresses to avoid missed communications.

Use budget template; Emphasize community access; Pay artists fair wages; Attend orientation if possible