Dublin Arts Council’s Community Arts Grants

The Community Arts Grants program, administered by Dublin Arts Council in Ohio, supports artistic projects that actively engage the local Dublin community. These grants are designed to advance the Council’s mission: to engage the community, cultivate creativity, and foster life-long learning through the arts. Since 2014, the initiative has awarded over $290,000 to more than 60 local projects, reflecting a robust investment in community-based arts initiatives. Funding for the Community Arts Grants comes from the City of Dublin’s Hotel/Motel Tax, and the average award ranges from $3,500 to $5,000. Funding amounts can vary annually depending on the availability of city tax revenues. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how they will use Dublin Arts Council funding and must also show additional financial support from other sources to be considered. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations proposing a specific arts programming initiative across any discipline that directly impacts the Dublin, Ohio community. Projects must take place within the calendar year, from January 1 to December 31, 2026. In addition to meeting these criteria, organizations must align with Dublin Arts Council’s mission and uphold its anti-discrimination policy, which prohibits bias based on race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, age, politics, or religion. Individuals, fiscal agents, K–12 schools, universities, and ideologically driven programs are not eligible. Applications are evaluated by a committee of Dublin Arts Council board members using a rubric that scores three core areas: Impact and Mission Alignment (30 points), Connecting with the Community (40 points), and Project Implementation (30 points). Reviewers assess alignment with mission, quality and relevance of the project, community engagement and inclusion, marketing strategies, and the presence of additional financial support. Evaluation tools and a plan for impact assessment are also key components of a strong proposal. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on November 24, 2025. After submission, staff will conduct an eligibility review between December 1–15, 2025. The review committee will evaluate proposals the week of January 12, 2026, with final board approval scheduled for January 27, 2026. Award agreements and fund disbursements will occur between February 1–15, 2026. A final report on grant activities is due by December 2026. Applicants must submit a completed application form, a project budget, and a range of supporting documents including marketing examples, bios of key staff, evaluation tools, multimedia samples, and a comparative income and expense statement. All documentation must be submitted in PDF format to be considered.