Community Arts Grant Program

The Community Arts Grant program (CAG) is funded through transient guest tax (TGT) revenue (tax paid by hotel guests) and is overseen by the Cultural Arts Commission. The CAG Program aligns with the City Strategic Plan, particularly the Unmistakable Identity outcome area and the following commitment areas: community engagement, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. We’re specifically asking applicants to articulate how their project or program supports Unmistakable Identity and moves the needle on one or more of the performance indicators.

The 2024 Community Arts Grant application closed in December 2023. The next grant cycle for 2025 grants will begin in the fall of 2024.

The final 2024 Community Arts Grant results are here.

2024 Community Arts Grant Application Guidelines and Sample scoresheet criteria.

The overarching purpose of the Cultural Arts Commission’s Community Arts Grant Program is to advance the goals identified by the Lawrence community in the City Wide Cultural Plan, which include: 1) Balance the Local; 2) Embrace All/Celebrate Community; 3) Build Places Together; 4) Build and Market a Creative Brand; and 5) Promote Lifelong Learning.

New in 2024! For those who are new to the Community Arts Grant application process, we are offering a pre-application review. Interested applicants can submit their grant application online by November 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. for initial screening and basic minimum requirements staff review. Feedback will be returned by December 8, 2023, prior to submitting the final application.

Grant Categories and Level of Support: There are two grant categories: Mini Grants and Community Arts Grants. Applicants may apply for either a Mini Grant or a Community Arts Grant, but not both in the same year.

  • Community Arts Mini Grants will provide up to five grants of up to $500 each to help support artists with start-up costs for equipment specifically aligned with their art practice. (Things like power tool(s), sound/video tech, printing press, welding equipment, loom, etc.)  Matching funds are not required for mini-grants; see below.
  • Community Arts Grants awards will range from $500 to $10,000 per project. Community Arts Grants awards will equal no more than 50% of the total project or activity cost. Cost-sharing may be cash and/or in-kind. Fifty percent match funds must be clearly shown in the budget proposal on the grant application. Only one grant is allowed per project.

Final Application Deadline: Submit your final online application by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2023. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; modifications are not allowed after the deadline passes.

Please review the complete Community Arts Grant Application Guidelines here.

The Cultural Arts Commission reviewed all 32 of the 2024 grant applications at their monthly meeting on January 10, 2024. The 2024 Community Arts Grant applications can be viewed here.

For more information, contact Porter Arneill at parneill@lawrenceks.org or (785) 832-3449.

2023 CAG Awards
• Free State Festival: $14,500
• Community Art Partnerships: $14,700
• CROWNS at Theatre Lawrence: $12,750
• Reclaiming Spaces/We are the Keepers: $12,750
• Mixmaster 2023 Music Conference: $1,400
• Amplify Lawrence Camp Experience: $3,500
• Lawrence KS Juneteenth Organization Celebration: $10,400

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2024 Community Arts Grant Online Application

Mini-Grant applicants – Please only fill out the Applicant Information, Project Information, and Authorization sections. Skip the Budget section. Under Project Information, describe the equipment you are proposing to purchase, why you need the equipment, and the related cost. Include “Mini-grant” in your description under Project Information. Also note that you are not required to have matching funds for mini-grant requests.

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The application period for the latest grants is currently closed.

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