2026 General Operating Support Grant

The Arlington Arts Grants Program is managed by the Arlington Commission for the Arts and supports the development of local arts and cultural organizations through financial assistance. This program was established under the Arlington County Policy for the Support of Arts Organizations and Artists, adopted on December 8, 1990. It forms a significant component of Arlington County’s investment in cultural infrastructure, reflecting goals and values from its arts strategy, “Enriching Lives: Arlington Arts and Cultural Strategy.” The grant initiative aims to foster a thriving, equitable, and inclusive arts environment in Arlington County by supporting organizations that provide impactful, diverse, and high-quality cultural programming. For Fiscal Year 2026, the Arlington Arts Grants Program offers General Operating Support (GOS) funding through a competitive application process. Grants under this program are intended for activities that align with organizational missions, promote artistic excellence, cultural equity, and diversity, have a notable community impact, and result in high-quality cultural experiences within Arlington County. Applications that score 75 or above are eligible for funding, with award amounts determined by the organization’s specific GOS category, average review score, 990 revenue, and total available funding. The GOS program comprises four categories: Placemaking Anchor Operating Support, General Operating Support I, General Operating Support II, and Folk, Cultural Heritage & Traditional Arts Operating Support. Each category has distinct eligibility requirements. For instance, General Operating Support I is intended for professional arts organizations with at least $100,000 in annual revenue and a regular schedule of paid programming, while General Operating Support II accommodates organizations with at least $20,000 in annual revenue and a mix of professional and amateur artists. Award ceilings vary: up to $30,000 for GOS I and up to $20,000 for GOS II, both calculated as 20% of the most recent 990 revenue. Eligibility criteria specify that at least 51% of the artistic and/or cultural work funded must be presented to the public in Arlington County during the grant period, which spans July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Attendance at an Arts Grants Preparation Workshop is mandatory for all applicants unless a meeting is scheduled directly with the Grant Administrator. Workshop sessions are held virtually via MS Teams, and registration is required. Applications for the FY 2026 cycle open on April 29, 2025, and close on June 18, 2025. While no pre-submission deadlines are listed for documents like Letters of Intent or RFIs, the grant application workshops are scheduled for May 6, May 7, and May 29, 2025. All organizations applying must register for and attend one of these sessions. For assistance, applicants can contact the Grant Administrator via email at sraphael@arlingtonva.us. The administrative office is located at Arlington Cultural Affairs, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA 22206, and the phone number is 703-228-1850. The program also includes branding guidelines for recipients, requiring acknowledgment of County support in program materials and inclusion of a link to the Arlington Arts website.