smART Ventures Grant

The smART Ventures grant is a Seattle-based program offering flexible funding between $500 and $1,500 for innovative arts and culture projects. It aims to support underserved communities, encourage public engagement, and foster creativity. Applications are reviewed monthly with no set deadline. Eligible applicants include individuals, groups, and organizations based in Seattle, focusing on projects that create community impact and expand access to cultural opportunities. Priority is given to those representing underserved populations.

NOTE: There is no deadline; applications are reviewed monthly. Submit your application at least a month before the project/event you want us to fund. You will get a response within 45 days.
smART ventures is a Seattle-based, flexible small awards program that aims to encourage innovative ideas, create community impact, and provide new access for individuals and groups not served by our other programs.
smART ventures provides support in the range of $500 to $1,500 for projects, opportunities, events proposed by individuals, groups, organizations or communities of interest that offer a potential arts or cultural impact within the city of Seattle and needing start-up or final investment funds.
Key Project Goals
smART Ventures projects will address one or more of the following:
Audience Expansion: Will this project serve/reach underserved artists, communities or distinct audience? Does the project expand or diversify the audience for arts/culture?Innovation: Is this a project that provides a new or unique perspective on arts/culture? Is this project something that is innovative and out of the ordinary, using the arts in a distinct way?Community Impact: Does the project address a community need or build community through arts and culture?
Criteria
Public Access: Projects must have a strong public access element and effective outreach strategy to reach their intended audience.Artistic Potential: Provide at least one sample—written, image or video—that exhibits the potential for artistic quality or development for the artists or organizations involved. Supporting material can include but is not limited to: pictures, videos, excerpts of previous works or works in progress, letters of recommendation, etc.Feasibility: Your ability to carry out the project, a well thought-out plan, realistic budget, and timeline.

Eligibility

Events must be open to the public and take place within Seattle.If you are based just outside the city of Seattle but your project or event will take place in Seattle and will benefit Seattle residents, you may still be eligible to apply.Who May ApplyIndividuals or groups of people – including youth and older adults – seeking support for a unique project, opportunity or event involving arts and culture and not currently funded by our office;Organizations – arts and culture and others – organizations do NOT have to have 501(c)(3) non- profit status:Organizations that are emerging (less than 3 years old), OROrganizations that are not currently funded by our office, OROrganizations that are grassroots or business organizations;Practicing artists not currently funded by our office and who have never received a CityArtist grant before.If you are under 18, you will need an adult who can sign the contracts and receive the funds on your behalf.If you are funded, you may apply again for smART ventures funding twelve months from the project end date of your previous contract.Applicants may only receive a maximum of three awards through the smART ventures program.You may apply if your group is not currently funded by our Centering Art & Racial Equiity (C.A.R.E.), Youth Arts, or Neighborhood and Community Arts funding programs

Ineligibility

If you are out-of-state or not based in the greater Seattle area, you are NOT eligible to apply, even if your project will take place in Seattle.Funds may NOT be used for: food and drink equipment purchase religious services fundraising for activity that takes place before a contract has been awarded.You may not receive funding from more than one program of the Office of Arts & Culture for the same project. If you are currently funded through our CityArtist program or if you've received funding from our CityArtist program within the last four (4) years, then you are NOT eligible to apply for smART Ventures.