The Greater Columbus Arts Council is seeking applications for its 2026 Cultural Festival Grant.
Donor Name: Greater Columbus Arts Council
State: Ohio
County: Franklin County (OH)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/13/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The purpose of the Cultural Festival Grant is to provide funding for pre-existing cultural festivals that primarily reach or represent immigrant, refugee, and New American communities through presentation of the arts and cultural heritage traditions.
Cultural festivals with a primary focus on presenting the arts (including dance, fashion, film, literary, music, theater and visual arts) that present cultural heritage traditions and primarily reach immigrant, refugee, and new American audiences, may make an annual request for Cultural Festival Funding of $3,500 from GCAC. Applicants who would like to be considered for more than $3,500 should apply for Project Support, which follows a scored, competitive funding process.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible cultural festivals should aim to preserve, celebrate and share the unique practices, traditions and values that embrace one’s cultural heritage. Festivals should engage the public in traditional ways of life and/or celebration, and create space for authentic cultural expression, education and dialogue.
Festivals must:
- Take place within Franklin County
- Be pre-existing (i.e., event must have taken place at least once before—newly created festivals are not eligible)
- Be led by and serve immigrant, refugee and new American communities
- NOTE: This program is not for general community initiatives. Festivals must be tailored specifically to the cultural experiences of immigrants, refugees, and new Americans.
- Festival programming may:
Ineligible events include exhibitions or performances unrelated to a festival and events with a focus on competitions, award shows, fundraising or promoting a specific cause. While many events include some cultural aspects, to be eligible, the main focus must be centered on preserving or immersing people in arts and cultural heritage related to immigrants, refugees and new Americans.
For more information, visit GCAC.
