Community Arts Grants

The Community Arts Grants, funded by the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, aim to enhance local arts programming and promote community engagement through diverse artistic activities. Grant proposals should be open to the public and can include performances, exhibitions, and educational workshops. Eligible organizations include non-profits and government agencies serving specific counties. The program does not support individual artists or fundraising events, ensuring accessibility and community benefit.

Participation in arts and cultural activities enriches the lives of individuals, promotes interaction among residents, provides opportunities to deepen learning, and builds community across groups with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In order to support local arts programming, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation annually applies for funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board. All funds received are matched with local community donations to the Fund for the Arts, and then re-granted to established arts organizations or nonprofit groups with an innovative arts program.
Grant Guidelines
Community Arts Grants support the creation and presentation of arts in our community. Proposed projects can be any artistic discipline or combination of artistic media.
Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
A theater presents multiple productions and educational programming throughout the year including residencies.
A museum or gallery holds an exhibition or community arts event.
A performing arts organization presents a dance, music, or theater performance.
A community nonprofit group coordinates an arts-based community celebration, festival, or concert.
A university department offers an annual art film and video festival for community and university audiences.
A literary organization presents a series of poetry readings, a books festival, and/or produces a literary journal featuring local poets.

Eligibility

Eligible grant proposals will:Enhance local arts programming and arts educational opportunities. Involve an activity that is open to the public such as an exhibition, a performance, a workshop, a residency, a lecture/demonstration, or a publication. A fee for admission or publication may be charged. Not request grant funding exceeding 50% of the total project costs. Ensure that all grant-supported activities are held in spaces that are accessible to everyone.Tax-exempt organizations including charitable, scientific, social service, educational and religious organizations described in § 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code, as well as government agencies, are eligible to apply for grants. Organizations that are not public charities may apply through a fiscal sponsor. Organizations must serve residents of Winnebago County, Waushara County, Green Lake County, and/or the City of Ripon.

Ineligibility

The following activities are not currently supported by Community Arts Grants:Grants to individual artists. Events or performances that serve primarily as fundraisers for an organization. Travel costs for projects or performances that occur outside of the greater Oshkosh area. Hospitality expenses, i.e. entertainment, refreshments or food at receptions, parties or gallery openings. (These may appear in your project budget but cannot be funded by Community Arts grant dollars.) Activities that have a religious purpose. Activities held by organizations that discriminate on the grounds of race, color or national origin, or on the basis of age or sex.