The City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture has launched the “Creative Venues Grant” program, designed to support independent venues that are crucial to the local cultural scene.
Grants of $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000 will be awarded to for-profit, independent venues such as music venues, art galleries, and bookstores that provide platforms for Sacramento-based musicians, authors and artists.
“The Creative Venues Grant program is a vital initiative to ensure these spaces continue to thrive, supporting not just the arts but also the broader local economy,” said Melissa Cirone, grants and programs manager at the Office of Arts and Culture. “We are committed to preserving the vibrancy and diversity of Sacramento’s cultural landscape.”
The funding is divided into two types: Rapid Response Grants and Venue Recovery Grants.
The $5,000 Rapid Response Grants are designed for emergencies or time-sensitive projects that can be completed within six months, offering immediate support to eligible venues. Up to 11 grants will be awarded in this category.
Venue Recovery Grants, set at $10,000 or $25,000, will support projects that can be accomplished within a year. The $25,000 grants are specifically for live music, performance, and comedy venues; the $10,000 grants are for independent bookstores and art galleries. Up to 19 grants for $10,000 and 10 grants for $25,000 will be distributed under this category.
Priority for these grants will be given to venues in the central city, including downtown and midtown Sacramento, as well as the Marysville-Del Paso Boulevard and Stockton Boulevard corridors. Rapid Response Grants will be available to venues in all Sacramento city districts.
Eligible applicants must be for-profit businesses based in Sacramento, operational for at least one year and regularly hosting public events featuring local talent.
Grant funds can be used for various expenses such as website development, ticketing systems, event security fees, artist payments, marketing, rent, and insurance costs. All expenses must be new costs incurred after the grant agreement and must be documented.
Funds for the grant program come from the federal American Rescue Plan dollars to support creative businesses.
Applications for the Rapid Response grants are due July 8 and July 19 for the Venue Recovery grant.
For more details and application guidelines, visit the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts & Culture website.
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