Community Arts Grant Program

Due to the ongoing winter storm, City facilities, including City Hall and all Parks, Recreation and Culture facilities, will be closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This is due to the forecasted winter storm resulting in dangerous travel conditions.

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The 2026 Community Arts Grant online application (below) opened on December 31, 2025 and will close on February 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.

The 2026 Mini Grant PDF application form was posted on this webpage on January 26, 2026. Completed applications must be submitted to parneill@lawrenceks.gov by 11:00 p.m. on March 6, 2026.

Mini Grant Application Form - Downlaodable PDF

The Community Arts Grant (CAG) program was established in 1991 to benefit the local arts community for art-related programs and projects. It is overseen by the Cultural Arts Commission and funded through transient guest tax (TGT) revenue (tax paid by hotel guests). Since 1991, 252 grants have been awarded, equaling over $400,000 in City grant support.

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. Applicants are specifically asked to articulate how their project or program supports Unmistakable Identity and potentially advances on one or more of the key progress indicators, particularly UI-2, UI-6 and UI-13. This is reflected in the score form that the Cultural Arts Commissioners use to review and score the grant applications.

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 PDF form by 11:00 p.m. on by January 15, 2025 – or sooner – for initial screening and basic minimum requirements by staff. Feedback will be returned by January 22, 2025 prior to the final application deadline. The pre-application fillable PDF form can be downloaded HERE. Pre applications are optional, not required.

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

Mini Grants provide as many as six grants of up to $500 each to help support artists (18+) with costs for equipment specifically aligned with their art practice.

NOTE: Community Arts Grants awards will equal no more than 50% of the total project or activity cost. Cost-share 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.

Regular Grants - anticipated schedule

  • December 31, 2025, to February 2, 2026, at 11 p.m. – Application period for FY 2026 Community Arts Grants (Grants can be awarded retroactively to January 1, 2026.)
    • Application deadline: February 2, 2026, by 11 p.m.
  • Thursday, January 8 (2 to 3 p.m.) and Friday, January 16 (2 to 3 p.m.) – Informational meetings for grant applicants – Virtual and recorded on YouTube - Presentation
  • Pre-Application review. Interested applicants can download the pre-application PDF form, fill it out and submit it by email by January 15, 2025 – or sooner – for initial screening and basic minimum requirements staff review. Feedback will be returned by January 26, 2025.
  • Wednesday, February 11 (7:30 p.m.) – Cultural Arts Commission meeting - review scores and make recommendations
  • Tuesday, February 17, 2025 – City Commission reviews regular Community Arts Grants Program funding recommendations for approval at City Commission meeting

Mini Grant - application opening, deadline and review schedule

The PDF Mini Grant application form will be available on the program webpage beginning January 26, 2026. Applicants must submit their completed application by email to parneill@lawrenceks.gov no later than 11:00 p.m. on March 6, 2026.

  • Application deadline: March 6, 2026, by 11 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 11 (7:30 p.m.) – Cultural Arts Commission meeting - review scores, discussion and make recommendations
  • Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – City Commission reviews Community Arts Grants Program funding recommendations for approval at City Commission meeting

2026 Community Arts Grants - Application

This application closed on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.

2025 Community Arts Grants

2024 Community Arts Grants - Recipient List

  • Lawrence Arts Center, Free State Festival: $10,000
  • Busker Festival: $10,000
  • Amplify Lawrence, Inc., 2024 Amplify Lawrence Camp Experience: $5,000
  • Van Go, Inc., Benchmark, 2024: $9,000
  • Spencer Museum of Art, d/b/a/ University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc., native Fashion: $9,000
  • Art Tougeau, Inc., A Low-rider Twist to a 25 Year Lawrence Tradition: $4,303
  • Lawrence Art Guild Association, Emerging Artist Booth: $2,996
  • Marla Quilts, Inc., National African American Quilt Convention: $5,000
  • Lawrence Juneteenth Organization, Lawrence Juneteenth Celebration: $6,500
  • Black:30 Association, Inclusive Market Project: $5,390
  • Lawrence Kansas Pride Inc., Lawrence Pride Party 2024: $4,800