The City of Portsmouth and the Museum and Fine Arts Commission (MFAC) have announced the Fiscal Year 2026 Cultural Arts Grants, which will provide funding for arts and cultural programs occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. This funding opportunity is designed to support nonprofit organizations that engage in artistic programming benefiting the Portsmouth community. Applicants must ensure their proposals meet all eligibility criteria and submit a completed application package by the deadline of February 15, 2025. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the grant committee.

The primary goal of this grant program is to enhance cultural offerings within Portsmouth by supporting projects that align with an organization’s mission and meet the demonstrated needs of the community. Projects should incorporate artist participation, community involvement, and measurable impact on Portsmouth residents. Funding from this grant can be used to support various aspects of arts programming, including artist fees, venue costs, marketing, and other project-related expenses.

Organizations applying for the grant must be classified as 501(c)(3) nonprofits and provide necessary documentation, including IRS verification, financial statements, organizational by-laws, and biographies of key staff and artists. The maximum funding request per project is $15,000, but the amount requested cannot exceed 50% of the total project budget. The grant does not fund general operational expenses unrelated to the proposed project.

Applications must include a detailed project description, including the project’s goals, implementation strategies, community impact, partnerships, and marketing plans. Applicants must also demonstrate how they will reach underserved communities such as youth, seniors, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, applicants must outline how their board members support the organization financially and what percentage of them reside or work in Portsmouth.

Evaluation criteria include the clarity of the project description, alignment with community needs, feasibility of implementation, outreach efforts, financial sustainability, and long-term impact. A strong proposal will include past program evaluations and a plan for future assessments. Grant recipients are required to comply with applicable state and federal regulations.

The application must be submitted digitally as a single document (PDF or Microsoft Word file) by 11:59 PM on February 15, 2025. Applicants should email their submissions to MFACGrants@portsmouthva.gov with the subject line "MFAC Grant Submission – [Organization Name]." Any inquiries can be directed to Dr. Alexander Benitez, Director of the Department of Museums & Tourism, or Debra McDuffie via phone at 757-393-8983 or email at mcduffied@portsmouthva.gov.