The Charlotte Street Foundation’s Cultural Producer Grant Program was established in 2021 to provide critical, sustaining support to grassroots, low-budget, artist-run organizations and projects within Kansas City. With key leadership and financial support from David Hughes, Jr., the Foundation’s founder and former director, this initiative aims to address long-standing gaps in funding for small, independent arts entities that significantly contribute to the local cultural landscape.

These grants recognize the vital role that grassroots groups—such as collectives, pop-ups, and artist-run initiatives—play in nurturing creativity, community engagement, and the broader arts ecosystem. Often operating without access to large institutional backing, these organizations have sustained dynamic, diverse, and accessible spaces for artistic expression and development. The Cultural Producer Grant is designed to empower such initiatives by offering them much-needed financial support.

The program awards a total of $30,000 annually, disbursed in grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per recipient. These funds are intended to enhance sustainability, expand project capacity, and support the execution of larger-scale or more ambitious undertakings, even for organizations operating on limited budgets. The grant supports both temporary and permanent projects that demonstrate grassroots leadership and community relevance.

The most recent cohort of grantees in 2024 included a wide range of creative and community-focused groups, such as KC Mutual Aid Skool, Poetic Underground, Union Library, Whim Productions, and Viva La Tinta KC. The selection process is guided by a panel of local arts professionals and past grant recipients, reflecting a commitment to peer evaluation and community alignment.

Eligible applicants include artist-run groups and organizations located in Kansas City, Missouri. There is no requirement for 501(c)(3) status, and the program is focused on those with limited budgets who are actively producing cultural content and supporting the creative community in meaningful ways.

For more information or inquiries, applicants may contact Charlotte Street Foundation at info@charlottestreet.org or call 816-221-5115. The Foundation is located at 3333 Wyoming Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.