Community Festivals Grant 2026

The FY26 Community Festivals Grant, administered by the City of Berkeley's Civic Arts Program, aims to support a vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem by funding community festivals and special events within the city. These grants seek to celebrate cultural diversity, promote community engagement, enhance the city’s appeal as a destination, and provide meaningful experiences that strengthen community bonds. The grant program funds events ranging from small-scale and first-time festivals to well-established, large-scale celebrations. All funded events must be open to the public and must include a free component to ensure accessibility. The program is designed specifically for one-day or multi-day events that occur annually. It does not provide funding for ongoing programming. The goal of this initiative is to enrich Berkeley’s cultural landscape by fostering inclusive and representative celebrations that reflect the city's diverse communities. Organizations representing systemically marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply, including but not limited to groups serving BIPOC communities, LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, immigrants, seniors, and disabled persons. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) status, as well as nonprofit entities using a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must also be nonprofit organizations and are required to submit proof of their nonprofit status along with a Letter of Agreement detailing the terms of sponsorship. Individual artists, for-profit businesses, and City of Berkeley government departments are not eligible to apply. Grant awards are capped at $7,000 per applicant, with a total projected funding allocation of $200,000 for this grant cycle. The final number of awards distributed will depend on the volume of applications received and funding availability. Grant funds may be used for festival-related expenses, including artist and performer stipends, equipment rentals, production costs, supplies, and venue fees. However, funds cannot be used for capital improvement projects, administrative costs unrelated to festival production, private or fundraising events, or ongoing programs that do not qualify as a festival. Applications will be evaluated based on four main criteria: Festival Narrative and Community Significance (25%), Festival Management and Production (30%), Community Engagement and Impact (25%), and Cultural Equity (20%). Reviewers will assess festival goals, planning feasibility, outreach strategies, financial responsibility, community involvement, and efforts to promote cultural equity. A Grant Review Panel, composed of Bay Area professionals in the arts sector, will evaluate applications and make recommendations to the Civic Arts Commission, which will ultimately approve final funding decisions. The grant application opens on January 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is March 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Following review and recommendation meetings in May and June 2025, grant awards will be approved on June 25, 2025. The grant activity period runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with final reports due by July 30, 2026. Applicants must submit all materials electronically via the City of Berkeley’s grants management system, Submittable. Technical assistance is available, and translation services can be requested for non-English speakers. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are also provided.