City of Berkeley: Community Festivals Grant

The City of Berkeley's Community Festivals Grant supports diverse cultural events that engage the community and enhance Berkeley's reputation as a vibrant destination. Grants up to $7,000 are available for one-time festivals that are free and accessible to the public. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and artist collectives. The grant encourages projects that celebrate cultural heritage and foster community involvement, while ineligible costs include administrative expenses and ongoing programming.

City of Berkeley Festival Grant
The Civic Arts program supports a culturally vibrant and diverse arts ecosystem within the City of Berkeley by funding grants to artists, arts organizations, and festivals.
The purpose of Community Festivals grant is to fund community festivals and special events that:
celebrate and preserve a rich variety of cultural opportunities for Berkeley’s residents;bolster Berkeley’s vitality;increase Berkeley’s reputation as a vibrant destination for visitors;create meaningful, accessible engagement with the public.
Community Festival grants support a range of events throughout the City from small-scale and first-time events to large-scale and established festivals. Community Festival Grant program-funded events must be open to the entire public and have a free component.
Please note: This grant is for festivals that are one or multi-day events, but generally events that occur one time per year. This grant is not intended to fund ongoing programming.
Festival Definition
A festival is defined as a public event that celebrates a community, neighborhood, historically significant day, or shared cultural interest. These may include arts fairs, celebrations of cultural heritage, and other events.
Grant Amounts
All applicants may request up to $7,000 for festival-related expenses.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:Applicant is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) organizationOrganizational entities that are nonprofit in nature (for example, artist collectives and guilds) but do not have a 501(c)(3) tax exemption may use a Fiscal Sponsor to apply. Eligible Fiscal Sponsors must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.A project budget is required for this application. Examples of eligible expenses for this funding include, but are not limited to:Artist and performer stipendsEquipment rentalsProduction or technical staff contractorsSupplies and materials needed for the festivalVenue and permit feesFestival RequirementsFestival must have a free componentFestival must be open and accessible to the publicFestival must take place in the City of BerkeleyFestival must take place within the Grant Activity Period

Ineligibility

Grant funds may not be used for:Activities not available to the general publicActivities occurring outside the City of BerkeleyAdministrative or other organizational costs unrelated to production of the eventCapital improvement projectsConferences, seminars, or symposiaEvents in schools during school hoursEvents on university campuses that are primarily for enrolled studentsEvents where fundraising is the primary purposeEvents where sporting is the primary purpose (for example, tournaments, marathons, etc.)Ongoing programmingPolitical advocacy or lobbying