West Hollywood has opened applications for the city’s 2021 arts grant program. Artists and organizations interested may apply online. Grant applications are due no later than 3 p.m. on Sept. 16.
Grants are available to individuals, artistic teams, and nonprofit arts organizations. Arts grants are for varying amounts, and include funding for city arts projects, individual artists, organizational development, and the One City One Pride Festival. The arts grants categories for 2021 are as follows:
—Arts Project Grant — Supports the production, performance, or presentation of art projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood and that serve the West Hollywood community. Grants are awarded in a two-year cycle. The maximum grant award is $20,000 per grantee ($10,000 per year). The total annual budget for this category is $40,000.
—Community Arts Grant — Supports arts projects developed by educational, social service, or community-based nonprofit organizations in which art is not the primary mission of the organization. Community Arts Grants will be reviewed twice a year (June and December). The maximum grant award for this category is $2,000 per application. The total annual budget for this category is $8,000.
—One City One Pride Grant — Supports programs, projects, and panels developed or produced by nonprofit organizations, artist collectives, and individual artists, to expand the celebration of June Pride Month through the lens of history, culture, and art. The maximum award for the presentation of theatrical works, exhibitions, music concerts, and films in production is $13,000. The total annual budget for this grant category is $35,000.
—Organizational Development Grant — Supports both the organization’s mission to provide arts programming and the organization’s capacity by directly supporting technical assistance to improve its ability to fundraise, develop audiences, and build its administrative infrastructure. Grants are awarded in a three-year grant cycle. The maximum grant is $18,000 per grantee ($6,000 per year awarded over three years, $3,000 per year dedicated to technical assistance).
—Transgender Arts Initiative Grant — Supports and enhances the presentation of artworks in West Hollywood by transgender artists, artist collectives or groups, and non-profit organizations with a history of supporting transgender artists. The maximum grant award is $6,500 for both artists and artist collectives. The total budget for this grant category is $25,000.
—WeHo Artist Grant — Supports the long-term development of an artist’s ideas by providing funds that increase the capacity for artists to realize work, advance the conditions of creation, and navigate the complexities of both making art and making a career. The maximum grant award is $5,000 per year for two artists. The total annual budget for this category is $10,000.
In order to assist those interested in applying for a grant, the city will host its annual grant workshop on Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. online via the Zoom virtual platform. Those interested in participating can register online. The workshop will be recorded and will be available for viewing after the event at www.weho.org/arts.
First-time grant applicants and returning organizations with new development personnel are encouraged to attend the grant workshop to learn more about the city’s grant-eligibility requirements and application process, as well as to ask questions.
More information about West Hollywood’s arts grant program can be found online www.weho.org/arts or by contacting Arts Grants Coordinator Eva Angeloff, at (323) 848-6354 or at [email protected].
I don’t see any reason why the Artist community should be considered less worthy of assistance than anyone else. This is not a lot of money. Not even enough to reopen just one restaurant. I think we should be focusing on how to raise money, for to support our struggling businesses. Much more money! These crumbs, generous as they are , simply wont cut it .
No Grant’s please, until we have a functioning recovery plan.
The city of Palm Springs estimates they will lose over 50 million dollars in the next year due to the loss of tourist revenue because of the pandemic.Has West Hollywood looked at their tax-based revenue income and have they determined they need to cut back as well!!?? I was surprised too that they had any money for grants.I too agree these need to be on hold.
Grants???? With all the city is dealing with? This is not a serious city.
I agree completely. We need to step back and reevaluate all spending and be realistic about what the cities needs are. As great as these grants are, they need to be put in hold for now. The money is essential elsewhere.