The City of Carlsbad’s Community Arts Grants program supports quality arts and cultural programming that promotes the representation and participation of diverse groups of individuals, including and not limited to people of differing abilities, class, generations, ethnicities and races, gender identities, religious or spiritual beliefs, sexual orientations, or veteran status.
Donor Name: City of Carlsbad
State: California
County: San Diego County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/27/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in the City of Carlsbad and the North San Diego County region. The Cultural Arts Office manages funding programs to provide financial support to organizations, schools and individuals for various projects through a competitive application and review process. These projects benefit the community through an array of activities for schools, artists and organizations. The Community Arts Grants program was identified for continued and increasing support by the Carlsbad City Council through the 2018 Arts & Culture Master Plan.
The Mission supports the following values:
- Provide inclusive opportunities for arts & culture experiences for Carlsbad students and residents reducing/eliminating barriers for participation.
- Provide arts education and lifelong learning opportunities for all ages.
- Support local and regional arts organizations as an important component of the economy and quality of life in Carlsbad and North San Diego County.
- Support arts education in schools and through affiliated organizations.
- Develop and support organizational strength and capacity of Carlsbad arts organizations.
- Encourage new and emerging artists, arts organizations and programs in Carlsbad, CA.
- Celebrate Carlsbad as an exciting, vibrant and creative destination for residents and visitors alike.
- Acknowledge indigenous land and cultural awareness in the Carlsbad community.
Funding Categories
Funding is structured by the classification of each organization, then according to available categories. Applicants may only apply to one category per grant cycle:
- Arts Organizations or Fiscal Agents of Organizations – $7,500 maximum award per grant
- Emerging Arts Organizations – $5,000 maximum award per grant
- Educational Institutions and Affiliated Groups (Arts in Schools) – $3,500 maximum award per grant. Three (3) grants maximum per school site per year.
Grant Period
Sept 3, 2026 to Sept 3, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants, including fiscal agents and school-affiliated groups, must comply with the following:
- Nonprofit Status: Applicants must be recognized as nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the California State Franchise Tax Board. A complete Statement of Information should be on file with the California Secretary of State. This statement should be filed within the first 90 (ninety) days of incorporation and updated in accordance with state law.
- Tax Identification: Applicants must provide their Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS. Information will be checked through GuideStar’s Charity Check.
- Specific exemptions for Educational Institutions: Educational institutions are exempt from the need for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) but are still eligible to apply.
- Partnership Projects: For projects involving partnerships, only one (1) application is allowed. If a school partners with an arts organization or artist, a signed agreement between the parties is required, with the school as the lead applicant.
- Must not be currently receiving funding from the City of Carlsbad under an active professional services agreement or grant other than a Community Arts Grant.
For more information, visit City of Carlsbad.
