CITY OF LOUISVILLE ARTS GRANTS
Grant Cycle:  March 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026
Application Open: December 18, 2024 - February 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM

2025 Grant Timeline

About the Arts Grants

The Louisville Cultural Advisory Board is offering arts grants to artists and cultural arts organizations serving the Louisville community. Artists and cultural arts groups based outside of Louisville are welcome to apply for any projects or event(s) that would be held in Louisville.

The Louisville Cultural Advisory Board seeks to further their mission of engaging our diverse social, cultural, and creative community by providing financial and facility support through this arts grants. Diversity of media and creative artistic expression is encouraged.

Grant Awards

Funding:

Applicants may request up to $2,000 in funding. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate additional sources of funding for their project in addition the Arts Grants. Grant recipients will be fully funded, up to $2,000.

Download an Arts Grants Budget form as PDF

Download an Arts Grants Budget form in Excel format

Venues:

Applicants may present their program or event at any location in Louisville.

Applicants may request complimentary use for one day at the Louisville Center for the Arts, Steinbaugh Pavilion, or the Louisville Public Library. Dates may be reserved on a first come, first served basis once grantees have been notified of their award. To inquire about potentially available dates, please email Iris Belensky, Arts and Events Program Manager (ibelensky@louisvilleco.gov).

Due to the limited availability of City spaces, we cannot provide venues for more than one day.

Rehearsal Space:

One complimentary day for rehearsal may be awarded if a mutually agreeable date is available. Rehearsal space is not guaranteed. Additional time for rehearsal or additional performances is subject to normal rental fees. See the "Facilities" page for more information.

Grant Eligibility Requirements

All Grant Applicants

• Any individual or organization may apply. Organizations do not need to have 501(c)3 status to apply.
• Special consideration will be given to independent artists and organizations.
• Complete application must be received by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Late applications will not be considered. Note: Applicant must submit complete budget with the application.
• All projects must be completed between March 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026.
• Programs must primarily focus on artistic expression or arts education.
• Performances or projects must take place in Louisville, Colorado.
• Grant applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
• Only one Arts Grants may be used per proposed project.
• Applicants must list all funding sources in the proposal’s budget. Applicants must disclose if funding from other sources has been secured.
• The Louisville Arts Grants program is not intended for Public Art projects. The Louisville Cultural Advisory Board cannot approve Public Art projects.
• Applicants must disclose if they are a member of a current City of Louisville Board, Council, or Commission; if they are related to a current member of a City Board, Council or Commission  member; if they are a current City of Louisville employee, and if they are related to a current City of Louisville employee.

Evaluation Criteria 

Applications will be evaluated by the Louisville Cultural Advisory Board. Evaluation criteria includes, but is not limited to:

• Ability to Execute: Does the application demonstrate that the applicant will be able to successfully execute the program?
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDI): Does the topic of the program or type of artistic expression bring increased diversity, equity or inclusion to Louisville?
• Impact of Funding: Will the project fully utilize the funding and/or the use of City venues available through this grant program? Will this grant make a significant impact?
• Artistic Excellence: Is the proposed program of high artistic quality?
• Community Relevance: Does this project engage the Louisville community in a meaningful way? This could be by engaging new audiences, reaching audiences that lack access to similar programs, engaging with a topic that is relevant to the residents of Louisville, or exploring a new topic that would be enriching to the citizens of Louisville. This could also be done by partnering with a relevant school or organization in Louisville.
• Artistic Discipline: When looking at projects funded through the Arts Grant Program, consideration will be given to funding a variety of artistic disciplines including both visual and performing arts. This item is not scored but may be used in determining the overall mix of programs funded.

Grant Recipient Responsibilities

Grant recipients are the producers, presenters, and marketers of their projects. As such, recipients are responsible for all aspects of executing the project including, but not limited to:

• Technical or AV needs of the project
• All advertising and promotion of the event
• Ticket sales (if event is ticketed)
• Acknowledging the Louisville Cultural Advisory Board in marketing and publicity.
• Completing and submitting the Arts Grants Evaluation form within 60 days of the completion of the event/project to maintain eligibility for future grant funding.

Grant recipients may charge admission and keep all ticket revenues.

Marketing

The Louisville Cultural Advisory Board is happy to help promote Arts Grants projects given that Grant recipients provide detailed information about their program or event (including flyers and digital marketing materials) at least 4 weeks prior to their event. All materials must include the City of Louisville logo or list the Louisville Cultural Advisory Board as a sponsor.

The Louisville Cultural Advisory Board will assist with distributing promotional flyers (provided by the grant recipient) at official City locations. Descriptions of the funded event will be listed on the City Calendar and may be included in City Arts and Events email newsletters and social media.

2024 Arts Grants Recipients:

• Acting Out Theater Company “Bingo's Birthday”
• Motus Theater "TRANSformative Stories from Transgender & Nonbinary Leaders”
• Bowery Trio Performance and Workshop
• Dona Laurita “The Silhouette Project: Newcomers Boulder County”
• T2 Dance Company "Color Wheel Project"