Operating Grants I & II provide unrestricted, operating support to Long Beach-based arts and cultural organizations whose primary mission is to collect, preserve, present and/or commission exemplary works of art (e.g. visual art exhibitions, theatre, dance and/or musical performances).
Donor Name: Arts Council for Long Beach
State: California
City: Long Beach
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 06/12/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Works of art must be of regional significance, for the benefit of the general public and provide educational opportunities that enable audiences to better understand and appreciate the arts.
Goals
- Artistic
- Encourage the development of long-term, quality artistic programs Support the development of innovative, creative, and unique projects or programming that challenge audiences and participants
- Organizational Management
- Support best practices in organizational management, including long-term planning, accountability, fund development, transparency, evaluation, appropriate qualifications of board and staff and other professionals, and overall fiscal health
- Community Impact
- Support organizations that identify community needs and demonstrate a commitment and ability to meet needs through planning and program delivery
- Support the development of new audiences
- Support organizations that foster and enhance tourism and/or work to create a larger market or audience for an artistic discipline.
Funding Information
- For Operating Grant I: organizations must have a total annual revenue between $250,000 and $1 million for the last completed fiscal year to apply
- For Operating Grant II: organizations must have a total annual revenue of more than $1 million for the last completed fiscal year to apply.
Grant Period
Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants are Long Beach-based arts,cultural, and historical organizations whose primary mission is to collect, preserve, present and/or commission exemplary works of art (e.g., art exhibitions, film and/or media arts, theatre, dance and/or musical performances). Eligible applicants produce works of art that are of regional significance, for the benefit of the general public and that provide educational opportunities that enable audiences to better understand and appreciate the arts.
- Eligibility Requirements – Arts Council staff will verify that all requirements are met before applications are reviewed by the panel.
- Organizations must meet the following:
- Must be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
- The primary mission should be to offer arts or cultural programs to the general public
- Must have a minimum of three years of programming experience in Long Beach
- Artistic disciplines that include, but not limited to, visual, audio, literary, media or performing arts
- Must include qualified professional artists and professional arts administrators in program planning and delivery
- The board of directors must meet regularly and hold annual election of officers with at least 80% of members who live or work in Long Beach
- Ongoing education programs must be offered for the Long Beach Unified School District and Long Beach residents
- Organizations may only apply for one Arts Council annual grant category: Operating Grant I, Operating Grant II, Community Project Grant, or Professional Artist Fellowship
- An annual audit conducted by a certified public accountant for OPG II
- Produce works of regional, national and/or international recognition
- Efforts should focus on fostering and enhancing cultural tourism as well as creating a larger market or audience for its specific arts discipline
- Must maintain active membership, in related regional, state or national professional arts and cultural organizations.
For more information, visit ACLB.
