The Downtown Program Fund from City of Eugene Cultural Services offers you an opportunity to transform downtown outdoor spaces into engaging destinations for arts and culture.
Donor Name: City of Eugene
State: Oregon
County: Lane County (OR)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/12/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year
Details:
Funding and support will be awarded to organizations or individuals who wish to produce their own quality programming in the publicly accessible outdoor spaces of Eugene’s downtown core. These spaces include the Park Blocks, Kesey Square, the Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza and other Public Right of Ways, such as sidewalks or a street used for a block party.
Goals
The 2026 Downtown Program Fund seeks to:
- Draw people, economic vitality and a sense of place and safety to the downtown core through the activation of outdoor spaces with arts and cultural events and/or installations.
- Help our regional artists and arts organizations thrive.
- Foster a sense of belonging and safety for historically marginalized and underrepresented communities such as Eugene’s BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, low-income communities, people experiencing disabilities, individuals who are unhoused, youth and seniors.
- Promote cultural exchange through art and cultural experiences that will generate empathy, understanding, dialogue, wonder and curiosity.
- Align with the City of Eugene Strategic Plan efforts around community belonging, climate action and sustainability, enhancing vibrancy and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- Fund events and projects in the public spaces throughout downtown.
Funding Options
- Downtown: Excluding Pavilion
- DPF-funded events, scheduled as single dates or recurring series and taking place in the Downtown locations (including Park Blocks, Kesey Square, block parties and other events) will receive:
- Up to $5,000 in cash support
- Usage of Kesey Square or Park Blocks at no charge
- A Downtown Activity Zone permit at no charge
- Access to select equipment such as canopies, chairs, tables, etc.
- Series held in the Park Blocks during the Tuesday Lane County Farmers Market will be given priority.
- DPF-funded events, scheduled as single dates or recurring series and taking place in the Downtown locations (including Park Blocks, Kesey Square, block parties and other events) will receive:
- Pavilion: Midday Wednesday Series
- Special benefits will be granted to DPF-funded events that meet all these criteria:
- Occur at the Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza
- Scheduled as a recurring series on Wednesdays (must be more than a single date)
- Take place at midday/lunchtime
- These events will receive the following:
- Special benefits will be granted to DPF-funded events that meet all these criteria:
- Pavilion: Standard (not Midday Wednesday)
- DPF-funded events, scheduled as a single date or a recurring series that occur at the Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza at times other than Wednesday midday will receive:
- Up to $3,500 in cash support
- An 8-hour rental of the Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza at no charge (does not include parking lot or security). Be mindful that the space is not available on Tuesdays or Saturdays, or other previously reserved dates.
- A Downtown Activity Zone permit at no charge
- Access to select equipment such as canopies, chairs, tables, etc.
- DPF-funded events, scheduled as a single date or a recurring series that occur at the Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza at times other than Wednesday midday will receive:
Grand Period
Proposed programming must take place between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Downtown Program Fund is open to all organizations and individuals headquartered/physically residing within Lane County.
- Previously funded programs, artists and organizations are eligible to re-apply, but not until after their previously funded programs have been completed and reports have been submitted.
- Approximately 20% of funding will be awarded to first-time and/or small-scale programs, artists or organizations.
- Programs must take place in outdoor, publicly accessible spaces in Eugene’s downtown core, such as the Park Blocks, Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza, Kesey Square or other public spaces such as public streets or sidewalks.
- Programs should be made as accessible as possible for community members. If the event is not free to attend, a portion of tickets must be offered for free or on a sliding scale.
- Applicants must provide a 1:1 cash, in-kind and/or volunteer time match for the project that equals the amount of your Downtown Program Fund award (i.e., if the City awards you $1,000, you must also contribute at least $1,000 toward your project costs). Your total match amount should consist of one or any combination of the following:
- Cash: either already secured or additional funds you anticipate raising through sponsorships or other fundraising means.
- In-kind: includes donated materials and supplies, valued at full retail or rental cost.
- Volunteer time: value each hour of volunteer time given to the project at the nationally established rate of $34.79 per hour. You can choose to use in-kind or volunteer time as 100% of your match.
- Applicants may submit proposals for as many as two programs but are only eligible to receive funding for one. Each program must have its own complete and separate proposal.
- City employees are not eligible to personally apply for a Downtown Program Fund grant as individuals but may be involved with an organization or group led by non-City employees that are applying for a grant.
- The applicant must be able to obtain liability insurance as a requirement of the Downtown Activity Zone Permit.
For more information, visit City of Eugene.
