The Art in the Parks Fund invests in community-organized events that activate Eugene parks with support from City of Eugene Cultural Services in partnership with Parks and Open Space.
Donor Name: City of Eugene Cultural Services
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 can support a variety of artistic or cultural disciplines, including visual art, dance, music, theatre, film/video/media, multidisciplinary fields, festivals and cultural events.
Goals
The 2026 Art in the Parks program seeks to:
- Steward vibrant, inspiring places that foster personal, community and environmental well-being.
- Cultivate a sense of belonging in the park system and pride in historically underrepresented groups such as Eugene’s BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ population, low-income communities, people with disabilities, unhoused individuals, youth and seniors.
- Nurture relationships and promote cultural exchange through arts experiences that honor and celebrate diversity while striving to inspire 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 large-scale events, which are predominantly at Alton Baker Park, as well as events of all sizes happening within City of Eugene Parks.
Funding Information
Funding of up to $2,500 for small-scale events and up to $5,000 for large-scale events.
Grand Period
Proposed programming must take place between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements
- The Art in the Parks grant is open to all organizations and individuals headquartered/physically residing within Lane County.
- Programs should be made as accessible as possible for community members. If the event is not free to attend, then 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 Art in the Parks grant award (i.e., if the City awards you $1,000 then 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.
- In-Kind: this 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.
- There cannot be an open litigation or claim with the City of Eugene.
- Previously funded programs, artists and organizations are eligible to re-apply, but not until their previously funded programs have been completed and reports have been submitted.
- City of Eugene employees are not eligible to apply for this grant but can be involved with organizations or groups led by non-City employees that do apply.
- Events in the Park Blocks are not eligible for this grant but may be eligible for a Downtown Program Fund grant. Please see Downtown Program Fund to learn more.
- The applicant must be able to obtain liability insurance as a requirement of holding an event on City land.
For more information, visit City of Eugene.
