Create Grant – FY25 Cycle 2 (June 2025 Awards)

The Create Grant is a funding opportunity provided by the Arts Council Santa Cruz County to support artists and organizations in the region. The grant is designed to fund arts and cultural projects that are open to the public within Santa Cruz County during the grant period of July 2025 to June 2026. The program prioritizes projects that create artistically excellent work, enhance the sustainability of artists and arts organizations, expand equitable access to the arts, engage new audiences, and increase social impact by advancing racial justice or other social issues.

Funding for the Create Grant is competitive, with only 25-30% of applications receiving funding. Applicants may receive full or partial funding. There are two funding levels: the First-Time Applicant Pool, which provides up to $1,000 and is available exclusively to individuals who have never previously applied for an Arts Council grant, and the Regular Pool, which provides up to $3,000. The goal of the First-Time Applicant Pool is to encourage new applicants and provide them with a higher chance of receiving funding.

To be eligible, individual applicants must reside in Santa Cruz County, and nonprofit organizations must be primarily based in the county. Projects must be open to the public and take place within Santa Cruz County. Only one application per cycle is allowed per applicant, meaning they must choose between applying for a Create Grant or a Develop Grant. Current Support grantees are not eligible. Additionally, applicants with outstanding final reports from previous Arts Council grants must complete those reports before receiving new funding. Special restrictions apply to public art installations and events at the Tannery Arts Center, requiring additional approval before an application is submitted.

The grant review process is conducted by the Grants Program Manager and a Grants Committee consisting of a diverse group of community volunteers, with final funding decisions approved by the Arts Council Board of Directors. Applications are scored based on three primary criteria: Project Design & Planning (50 points), Equity & Accessibility (50 points), and Artistic Excellence (50 points). Applicants are expected to provide a clear project vision, secure key personnel and resources, demonstrate thoughtful audience outreach, and align their budget with project goals. Equity and accessibility considerations focus on improving representation in the arts, and artistic excellence is assessed through work samples and a clear articulation of artistic quality.

Applicants must submit a complete application, which includes a written proposal, project budget, work samples, and an artistic resume or bio. Work samples should consist of up to five publicly accessible items such as images, written works, or video/audio clips. Organizations must include a resume or bio for the lead artist on the project. Awarded funds must be used within the grant period, and grantees are required to recognize the Arts Council in promotional materials, maintain financial records, and submit a final report within 30 days of project completion.

Applications for this cycle are due by Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5 PM. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit well in advance of the deadline to avoid technical issues. Questions can be directed to Tamara Liu, the Grants Program Manager, via email at grantsprogram@artscouncilsc.org. Additional resources, including application questions and workshop registration, are available on the Arts Council Santa Cruz County website.