Funded by the City of Santa Barbara and administered by the Office of Arts & Culture, the City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Programs support nonprofit arts and culture programming within city limits, with applications opening annually in the summer for projects taking place January through either December or the following June, depending on the grant program.
Grant Application Status
The City grant applications are currently closed.
The City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant applications generally open annually in July. When applications are open, current grant cycle timelines, eligibility information, workshops, guidelines, and application links will be posted in the Grant Cycle Resources section below.
Materials from the most recent grant cycles remain available for reference.
In the meantime, stay connected by signing up for our monthly newsletter and following us on Instagram and Facebook.
City of SB Cultural Arts Grant Programs
Choose from three funding opportunities
Community Arts
The Community Arts (CA) grant program supports arts projects and programs that serve youth, low-income residents, and historically underserved communities within Santa Barbara. Funding is intended to increase access to the arts and foster inclusive participation across neighborhoods and populations that face barriers to engagement.
CA Grant Maximum Grant Request: $6,000
Grant Activity Period: Projects must take place between January 1 and December 31 (12 months).
Organizational Development
The Organizational Development (OD) grant program supports Santa Barbara-based arts organizations in building sustainability, expanding capacity, and improving overall performance. Funding may be used for operational and marketing expenses, including efforts to grow audiences, strengthen infrastructure, and increase earned income over time.
OD Grant Maximum Grant Request: $15,000
Grant Activity Period: Projects must take place between January 1 and June 30 of the following year (18 months).
Events & Festivals
The Community Events & Festivals (EF) grant program provides funding to Santa Barbara organizations for the promotion and production of arts and cultural events. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to produce public events or festivals that enhance the City’s cultural vitality, attract broad audiences, and reflect community diversity.
EF Grant Maximum Grant Request: $15,000
Grant Activity Period: Projects must take place between January 1 and June 30 of the following year (18 months).
Events & Festivals photo courtesy of Mathew Goldsoll.
Grant Timelines & Resources
Explore current and recent grant cycle timelines, application materials, recipient information, and reference resources for the City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grants.
2026-2027 Grant Cycle Resources
Everything you need to prepare and submit your application is available below.
Expand each section to access mandatory grant workshop information, the application timeline, grant guidelines, reference applications, budget templates, and the Community Grants Portal. Applicants must attend one mandatory grant workshop to be eligible to apply.
2026-27 City of SB Grant Timeline
Applications Open:
July 1, 2026
Grant Workshops:
July 16, 2026 12:00-1:30 pm- In Person
David Gebhard Meeting Room
630 Garden St. Santa Barbara
August 5, 2026 4:00-5:30 pm- Zoom
Drop-In Office Hours:
Need help with your application? Join us on Zoom during Open Office Hours to ask questions. No appointment necessary, registration required.
July 24, 2026 11:30 am- 12:30 pm
July 30, 2026 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
August 6, 2026 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
August 11, 2026 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Attendance is optional and does not replace the required Grant Workshop.
Applications Due:
August 17, 2026 by 5:00pm
Award Notifications:
October-November 2026
Revised Budgets Due:
November 20, 2026
Grant Agreements Due:
December 4, 2026
Grant Activity Periods:
Community Arts:
January 1, 2027-December 31, 2027*
Organizational Development:
January 1, 2027-June 30, 2028*
Events and Festivals:
January 1, 2027-June 30, 2028*
*Please note: Grant activities and expenses may only be incurred during the grant activity period, and after the contract is fully executed. All activities must be completed and final reports and payment requests submitted no later than the end date of that period.
Guidelines and Templates
2026-27 Reference Applications
These sample applications are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All final applications must be submitted through the grant portal.
2026-27 CA Reference Application
2026-27 OD Reference Application
2026-27 EF Reference Application
2026-27 Budget Templates
Applicants must use the provided budget template and upload a PDF version with their grant application. Please save the completed budget you submit, as it will be used to create your revised budget if funding is awarded.
2026-27 CA Budget Template
2026-27 OD Budget Template
2026-27 EF Budget Template
2026-27 Reference Final Reports
These sample final reports are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All completed final reports must be submitted through the grant portal.
2026-27 CA Reference Final Report (coming soon)
2026-27 OD Reference Final Report (coming soon)
2026-27 EF Reference Final Report (coming soon)
Logo and Credit Guidelines
Grantees are required to acknowledge the City of Santa Barbara as a funding sponsor in all materials related to their funded project. This recognition helps demonstrate the City’s investment in arts and culture.
Where to Include Credit (as applicable):
- Website pages
- Newsletters and email communications
- Event signage and printed programs
- Posters, flyers, ads, and social media posts
Logos and Credit Line
You can download the official City logo here:
As space allows, please include the following credit line in your materials, using the name of the specific grant program you were funded through (Community Arts, Organizational Development, or Events & Festivals):
“Funding support was provided by the City of Santa Barbara’s [Community Arts / Organizational Development / Events & Festivals] Grant Program.”
2025-2026 Grant Cycle Resources
These resources support the 2025–26 City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Cycle and apply to grantees funded in this cycle through the Community Arts, Organizational Development, and Events & Festivals programs (application deadline: August 2025; grant activities begin January 2026). While intended for funded grantees in this cycle, these materials may also be useful to prospective applicants in future cycles.
2025-26 City of SB Grant Timeline
Applications Open:
July 1, 2025
Grant Workshops:
July 10, 2025 12:00-1:30 pm
August 5, 2025 3:30-5:00 pm
Applications Due:
August 15, 2025 by 5:00pm
Award Notifications:
October-November 2025
Revised Budgets Due:
November 12, 2025
Grant Agreements Due:
December 12, 2025
Grant Activity Periods:
Community Arts:
January 1, 2026-December 31, 2026*
Organizational Development:
January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027*
Events and Festivals:
January 1, 2026-June 30, 2027*
*Please note: Grant activities and expenses may only be incurred during the grant activity period, and after the contract is fully executed. All activities must be completed and final reports and payment requests submitted no later than the end date of that period.
Guidelines, Reference Documents, and Templates
2025-26 Reference Applications
These sample applications are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All final applications must be submitted through the grant portal.
25-26 CA Reference Application
25-26 OD Reference Application
25-26 EF Reference Application
2025-26 Budget Templates
Applicants must use the provided budget template and upload a PDF version with their grant application. Please save the completed budget you submit, as it will be used to create your revised budget if funding is awarded.
2025-26 Reference Final Reports
These sample final reports are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All completed final reports must be submitted through the grant portal.
25-26 CA Reference Final Report: Coming soon
25-26 OD Reference Final Report: Coming soon
25-26 EF Reference Final Report: Coming soon
Logo and Credit Guidelines
Grantees are required to acknowledge the City of Santa Barbara as a funding sponsor in all materials related to their funded project. This recognition helps demonstrate the City’s investment in arts and culture.
Where to Include Credit (as applicable):
- Website pages
- Newsletters and email communications
- Event signage and printed programs
- Posters, flyers, ads, and social media posts
Logos and Credit Line
You can download the official City logo and full credit guidelines here:
Download Logos and Credit Guidelines
As space allows, please include the following credit line in your materials, using the name of the specific grant program you were funded through (Community Arts, Organizational Development, or Events & Festivals):
“Funding support was provided by the City of Santa Barbara’s [Community Arts / Organizational Development / Events & Festivals] Grant Program.”
2025-26 City of SB Grant Recipients
Community Arts Grant Recipients:
Gateway Educational Services, Hillside House, Mental Wellness Center, MOXI- The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, Music Academy of the West, SB Asian Pacific Islander Solidarity Network, SB Chamber Players, SB Dance Institute, SB Symphony Orchestra, SB Transgender Advocacy Network, SB Trust for Historic Preservation, SB Vocal Jazz Foundation, Tomato Theatre Company
Organizational Development Grant Recipients:
Center Stage Theater, Children’s Creative Project, Creative Netwerk, Explore Ecology, Flamenco Arts Festival, Gunpowder Press, Notes for Notes, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus
Community Events and Festivals Grant Recipients:
Brandwell Arts, Ceylon International Film Festival Foundation, Eji Event Company, Elings Park Foundation, Grace Fisher Foundation, La Piazza Inc., Park and Recreation Community Foundation, Santa Barbara Chinese School, Santa Barbara Police Activities League
2024-2025 Grant Cycle Resources
These resources are for the 2024–25 City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Cycle, for which applications were due in August 2024 and grant activity periods begin in January 2025. They are designed to support grantees of the City of Santa Barbara’s Community Arts, Organizational Development, and Events & Festivals programs, and may also be helpful resources for future applicants
2024-25 City of SB Grant Timeline
Applications Open:
July 1, 2024
Grant Workshops:
July 18, 2024 12:00-1:30 pm
July 30, 2024 3:30-5:00 pm
Applications Due:
August 18, 2024 by 5:00pm
Award Notifications:
October-November 2024
Revised Budgets Due:
November 18, 2024
Grant Agreements Due:
December 18, 2024
Grant Activity Periods:
Community Arts:
January 1, 2025-December 31, 2025*
Organizational Development:
January 1, 2025-June 30, 2026*
Events and Festivals:
January 1, 2025-June 30, 2026*
*Please note: Grant activities and expenses may only be incurred during the grant activity period, and after the contract is fully executed. All activities must be completed and final reports and payment requests submitted no later than the end date of that period.
Guidelines and Templates
2024-25 City of Santa Barbara Cultural Arts Grant Guidelines
2024-25 Reference Applications
These sample applications are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All final applications must be submitted through the grant portal.
CA Reference Application
OD Reference Application
EF Reference Application
2024-25 Budget Templates
Applicants must use the provided budget template and upload a PDF version with their grant application. Please save the completed budget you submit, as it will be used to create your revised budget if funding is awarded.
2024-25 Reference Final Reports
These sample final reports are provided for reference and to help you draft your responses. All completed final reports must be submitted through the grant portal.
CA Reference Final Report
OD Reference Final Report
EF Reference Final Report
Logo and Credit Guidelines
Grantees are required to acknowledge the City of Santa Barbara as a funding sponsor in all materials related to their funded project. This recognition helps demonstrate the City’s investment in arts and culture.
Where to Include Credit (as applicable):
- Website pages
- Newsletters and email communications
- Event signage and printed programs
- Posters, flyers, ads, and social media posts
Logos and Credit Line
You can download the official City logo and full credit guidelines here:
Download Logos and Credit Guidelines
As space allows, please include the following credit line in your materials, using the name of the specific grant program you were funded through (Community Arts, Organizational Development, or Events & Festivals):
“Funding support was provided by the City of Santa Barbara’s [Community Arts / Organizational Development / Events & Festivals] Grant Program.”
2024-25 Grant Recipients
Community Arts Grant Recipients:
AHA!, Foundation for the Arts, Gateway Educational Services, Music Academy of the West, Notes for Notes, Performing and Visual Arts Camp, Santa Barbara Asian Pacific Islander Solidarity Network, Santa Barbara Chamber Players, Santa Barbara Dance Institute, The Arts Fund
Organizational Development Grant Recipients:
American Dance and Music, Amplify Arts Project, Boxtales Theatre Company, NewGrit, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, Santa Barbara Youth Performing Arts Center (Marjorie Luke Theater), Slingshot/Alpha Art Studio, State Street Ballet
Community Events and Festivals Grant Recipients:
Ensemble Theatre Company, Foundation for Santa Barbara City College, Lobero Theatre Foundation, Pacific Pride Foundation, Santa Barbara Blues Society, Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, Santa Barbara Revels, The Brazilian Cultural Arts Center of Santa Barbara, UCSB Arts & Lectures