2026 Operational & Culturally Specific Grants

The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture offers a comprehensive arts funding program designed to enrich the local cultural landscape by supporting artists and nonprofit arts organizations. This initiative is funded primarily through the Hotel Occupancy Tax and the Arts & Entertainment Ticketing Fund, ensuring a sustainable investment in San Antonio’s creative community. The program aims to provide grants that support operations, events, special projects, equipment purchases, and capital improvements for eligible entities. With a strong emphasis on cultural equity and accessibility, the Department commits to funding projects that promote diverse artistic expressions and provide meaningful access to all members of the community, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or physical ability.

The grants are divided into multiple categories, each with distinct eligibility requirements and funding parameters. The Artist Grants support professional artists in creating new original works, offering awards of $7,500 or $15,000. The Operational Grants provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations with annual budgets between $50,000 and $15 million to sustain their arts programming. Culturally Specific Grants target organizations dedicated to preserving and enhancing the identity of culturally specific communities such as Latina/o, African American, Asian American, Native American, and LGBTQIA+ groups, with awards up to $150,000. Event Grants support unique artistic presentations that enhance public access to arts and culture, offering funding up to $20,000.

Additionally, the Performing Arts Production Grants help performing arts organizations and professional artists produce high-quality performances, providing up to $15,000 for organizations and up to $7,500 for individual artists. The Performing Arts Venue Improvement Grants offer up to $25,000 to support capital improvements and equipment purchases for San Antonio-based performing arts venues. Lastly, the Film Festival Grants aim to cultivate a thriving local film culture by supporting nonprofit-run film festivals with awards up to 20% of the festival’s overall budget, not exceeding $15,000.

The application process for all grants involves several steps, including an initial Intent to Apply phase to confirm eligibility, followed by a formal application submission through the city's grant management portal. Applications are reviewed by independent panels with relevant expertise, and funding recommendations undergo multiple levels of approval, including the Arts Funding Committee, the San Antonio Arts Commission, and, in some cases, the City Council. Applications are evaluated based on artistic quality, impact, administrative capacity, and alignment with funding priorities.

Key deadlines for each grant vary, and all grant openings are announced through the Department’s website and digital channels. Applicants must adhere to strict communication restrictions, prohibiting direct discussions with elected officials about their application during the review period. Grantees are required to comply with all contractual obligations, including public presentation of funded projects, attendance at contract information sessions, and timely reporting.

For more information or inquiries, interested applicants can contact the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture at ArtsFunding@sanantonio.gov or by phone at 210-206-ARTS. The department also provides accessibility accommodations upon request to ensure all applicants can fully participate in the funding process.