ArtsFairfax, the official arts agency of Fairfax County, Virginia, administers the FY26 Project Support Grant to nurture a thriving arts ecosystem across the region. Through partnerships and support, ArtsFairfax upholds values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, aligning with the county’s One Fairfax policy. This grant opportunity is specifically tailored for nonprofit arts organizations operating within Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church. It is designed to promote community access to the arts by supporting innovative projects that may not typically fall under an organization’s regular programming.
The primary objective of the Project Support Grant is to stimulate artistic growth, community engagement, and accessibility to the arts. Funding ranges from $1,000 to $25,000 and supports activities such as performances, exhibitions, educational programs, and partnerships with artists or underserved communities. The program includes four subcategories: Arts in Education, Opportunity, Partnerships with Artists or Arts Groups, and Arts Access. These categories enable applicants to target distinct areas of community impact, including education, equity, and public art experiences.
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organizations or have a fiscal sponsor with that status. They must operate within the eligible geographic area and conduct at least 51% of their public arts activities in the region. Additional requirements include a local address of record, regular operational activity, and submission of financial statements. Organizations receiving direct state funding, those affiliated with George Mason University, and agencies supporting county departments are excluded. Exception requests to eligibility may be submitted at least two weeks before the application deadline.
Applications must be submitted online through Submittable by July 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM EDT. Required documentation includes an organizational profile, IRS letters, financial statements, board information, staff bios, work samples, and supplemental materials such as brochures and press reviews. Evaluation will be conducted by a diverse panel of arts professionals and based on criteria including program quality, project feasibility, community engagement, budget viability, diversity, innovation, and creative placemaking. Notifications of funding decisions will be sent in October 2025.
Grant recipients are expected to acknowledge ArtsFairfax’s support in their communications and participate in relevant research studies. Awards are disbursed in two installments—70% at award notification and the remaining 30% upon submission of a final report due by August 1, 2026. Organizations may also request a two-year grant period with interim reporting. Questions can be directed to Grants Manager Nicole Powlison via email at npowlison@artsfairfax.org or by phone at 571-395-4618. An informational session was held on May 29, 2025, and materials are available online.
