Arts and Culture Grant Program

The City of Chico Arts and Culture Grant Program is administered by the City of Chico and overseen by the Chico Arts Commission to support nonprofit arts and cultural programming that benefits the Chico community. Funding for the program is derived from 1% of the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax, commonly referred to as the Hotel/Motel Tax, which has been earmarked specifically for arts and culture support within the city. The program is intended to strengthen Chico’s cultural landscape by supporting organizations and artists that create high-quality artistic programming, exhibitions, performances, and community-centered arts experiences. The City has emphasized that funded activities should improve quality of life, contribute measurably to the local economy, and increase public accessibility to arts and culture programming. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts and cultural organizations operating within the City of Chico that have at least a two-year history of producing or presenting arts programming. Individual artists may also apply, but only under the sponsorship of an eligible nonprofit organization that satisfies all program requirements. Public and private school teachers and educational arts programs are also identified as eligible applicants. The grant program excludes current City staff, members of City Council, members of Boards and Commissions and their immediate family members, businesses located outside Chico, and organizations that do not meet nonprofit or sponsorship requirements. Projects must be located within Chico city limits, be accessible to the public and all age groups, and comply with ADA accessibility standards. Grant awards range from a minimum request of $2,000 to a maximum request of $5,000. All applications are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar cash match, meaning applicants must demonstrate a 1:1 matching contribution from non-City sources. Acceptable matching sources include private donations, corporate support, state or federal government funds, and earned income. Applicants are required to identify whether matching funds are projected, pending, or already committed at the time of application. City of Chico funds cannot be used as part of the match requirement. The grant program specifically prohibits the use of awarded funds for general operations, personnel expenses, debt repayment, fundraising activities, seed money, religious programming, private or restricted-use programming, and trust or endowment investments. Funding is instead intended for specific arts-related projects, cultural events, or capital infrastructure improvements connected to arts programming. Applications are evaluated by the Chico Arts Commission according to several criteria. Reviewers prioritize nonprofit organizations with active arts programming and projects that provide substantial public benefit to Chico residents and visitors. Preference is also given to projects that offer new or expanded arts services not currently available within the community. Applications must demonstrate a clear and feasible project plan supported by an organized timeline and detailed budget. Applicants are encouraged to present programming that expands community participation in the arts and deepens public engagement. Evaluation also considers the project’s alignment with the City’s stated goal of fostering a vibrant and economically beneficial arts environment within Chico. The application process requires submission of several mandatory materials, including an application cover sheet, application form, project budget, and certification page. Additional required attachments include a current board of directors or trustees list, biographies of key personnel and arts professionals associated with the project, proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, the organization’s most recent financial statement, and documentation regarding any previously funded projects under this grant program. Applications may be submitted by email to cityclerk@chicoca.gov with the subject line “City Art Grant Application” or delivered in person to the City Clerk’s Office located at 411 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Chico, California. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at 530-896-7250. The 2026 application cycle opened on May 8, 2026 and will remain open through June 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. A grant application question-and-answer session hosted by the Arts Commission is scheduled for May 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. depending on source reference materials, though participation is not mandatory. Applications will be reviewed by the Arts Commission on July 8, 2026, and grant awards are expected to be announced by the end of July 2026. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2027, and all final reports are due to the City Clerk’s Office no later than July 15, 2027. Reporting requirements include a narrative summary, project outcomes, budget-to-actual reporting, project timeline documentation, and digital project support materials such as photographs. The program appears to operate on an annual recurring cycle tied to the City’s fiscal arts funding process.

Projects should clearly demonstrate public accessibility community benefit feasibility and alignment with Chico arts and economic development goals; applicants should emphasize expanded or new arts programming and provide detailed organized budgets and timelines