$800K in funds available to county artists — apply by March 22
The Arts and Culture Investment Fund is a new grant opportunity that supports Ventura County-based arts and culture organizations and independent artists. A total of $800,000 in funding will be available through this program, out of which $700,000 will go to nonprofit art organizations, independent artists, and arts projects. The remaining $100,000 will be dedicated to providing matching funds from the county to support arts and culture organizations applying for grant opportunities where a grant match is required.
The application window for the grants is open now until Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m. Nonprofit organizations can view the complete eligibility criteria and apply at vccf.org/apply. Applications for independent artists are on the Ventura County Arts Council website at vcartscouncil.org. For more information on these grant programs, please visit ventura.org/arts.
Most Ventura County-based nonprofit arts and culture organizations and independent artists will be eligible to apply for this program. Funding can support general operating costs and new or existing projects. Art organizations with operating budgets of $1 million or more prior to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for grant funding up to $200,000.
All other nonprofit art organizations can apply for grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. Independent artists and art projects are eligible to apply for funds ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The final award amounts will be determined through a competitive review process.
The grants are made possible by the county of Ventura, in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County Arts Council. The grant funding was expanded by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at their Feb. 6 meeting, to provide services and resources to the arts and culture community to support ongoing recovery from the pandemic’s economic impact. It is one of the largest arts- and culture-specific grant programs offered by local government in Ventura County.
“The Arts and Culture Investment Fund provides significant funding to support the cultural and creative arts here in Ventura County,” said David Yoshitomi, the county of Ventura’s Arts and Culture Manager. “Artists and nonprofit arts and culture organizations are a vital part of the creative economy and contribute greatly to our quality of life in the area. These grants will provide a much-needed funding boost to ensure that arts and culture continues to thrive in our county.”