City of Alexandria Arts Grant Opportunities
Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grants
For over 40 years, the City of Alexandria has provided arts grants to numerous arts organizations, artists, and service providers to ensure that all residents of Alexandria have access to quality arts experiences in their community. The Office of the Arts staff are stewards of the Arts Grant program. Annually, a Grant Task Force is established, comprised of Arts Commissioners, arts administrators, and grant professionals. The Task Force reviews and scores the eligible grant applications.
The amount of grant funding is based on the annual budget. Please be sure to review the Grant Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions carefully before applying.
Annual Arts Program Grants Goals:
- To strengthen Alexandria's creative capacity by providing its residents with diverse opportunities to meaningfully engage with the arts.
- To improve the capacity and stability of Alexandria-based organizations to create, perform, and present works of artistic excellence and innovation through organizational support and program funding; and
- To create a vibrant urban environment by supporting diverse individual artists, organizations, and other entities in the creation, performance, and presentation of high-quality works of art across the City of Alexandria.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Before You Begin the Application, review the Grant Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions .
- City agencies, employees, or volunteers (defined as any agency under the direct control of an elected official, or which reports directly to the City Manager), may not apply for an Arts Grant; they may only play a supportive role in a program proposed by an organization or group.
Grant Webinar Opportunities:
The Office of the Arts conducted a series of grant webinars to assist interested applicants in preparing their grant applications.
Thursday, February 8, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, February 13, 5 p.m.
Thursday, February 15, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, February 20, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, February 21, 1 p.m.
Grant webinars are NO LONGER AVAILABLE. If you did not attend one of the webinars, and you wish to apply, you MUST set-up an appointment to receive one-on-one training. You can set-up an appointment by emailing arts@alexandriava.gov.
Key Dates for the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grant Cycle:
Monday, January 29
- Online Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grant Opens
Friday, March 29, 5 p.m.
- Online Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program grant Deadline
Monday, April 1-Thursday, April 4
- Staff Review
Friday, April 5 – Monday, May 6
- Grant Task Force Meeting Review of Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grants
Monday, May 6
- Task Force Public Meeting re: Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grants will be held virtually from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. To request link to meeting, email: arts@alexandriava.gov
Tuesday, May 21
- Arts Commissioners review of staff recommendations Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program
How to Apply:
The online grants portal will be live on Monday, January 29, 2024. Online applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 29, 2024. Mailed or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Application for Arts Program Grant:
- Applications are accepted from 501(c) 3 nonprofit arts organizations.
- Grants made through this category are up to $12,500 and shall not exceed 50% of total program budget; a cash match 1:1 is required.
- Organizations may apply for only one arts program grant per grant cycle.
- Program grants support an ongoing or short-term arts program performed or presented in the City of Alexandria to substantially engage or benefit the residents of the City of Alexandria.
ONLINE GRANT APPLICATION FORM:
Questions:
Review list of questions before going online.
Online Application: Link to Application
NOTE: To save time and minimize errors, applicants are urged to review the preview application and budget forms before completing the online submission form. Applicants should consider using a WORD document to compose their responses to grant questions and when ready, cut and paste the drafted responses into the online application form.
Applicant Funding and Reporting Responsibilities:
APPLICANTS MUST SECURE A CASH MATCH AT A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR (1:1) RATIO
Example:
A 501(c) 3 nonprofit arts organization is awarded $5,000 from the City of Alexandria for a program that is estimated to cost $12,000. The program now has $10,000 in funding—$5,000 from the city and $5,000 that must be raised by the organization as a "match." Acceptable "match" funds may include but are not limited to
- donations from individuals
- ticket sales
- general operating budget
- foundation support
The arts organization must indicate on the final report how it raised the "match" of $5,000 and the sources of the funds, i.e., $2,000 from ticket sales and $3,000 from donations from individuals.
No in-kind donations of volunteer time, goods, or services can be applied towards the match. The cash match must be met prior to submitting a Final Report, but no later than June 15, 2025. Other funding from the City of Alexandria such as, but not limited to, the Alexandria City Public Schools, Department of Community and Human Services and other City Departments, cannot be used for the cash match.
Responsibilities All Grantees:
- THE GRANT CONTRACT: The approved application form represents an agreement between the City of Alexandria and the applicant. The applicant will comply with all conditions set forth in the application form and any other documents furnished to the applicant related to the grant. Every recipient of a grant is required to respond in a timely manner to all requests for information required by the Office.
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT: All grant recipients are required to credit the City of Alexandria in all appropriate printed public relations materials relating to activities supported by the Arts Program Grant.
- PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ARTS STUDIES: During the grant period, the Office of the Arts may request grantees to participate in local, regional, or national arts studies. The studies may be related to, but are not limited to audience spending, organization management, or facility usage. Grantees are required to assist the Office of the Arts by completing these studies.
- FINAL REPORTS: At the completion of the project a Final Report is required. Grant recipients must submit a final report 30 days after the completion of the project/activities, but no later than June 15 of each year.
- ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN. All grantees must submit program performance information as part of their request for funding in Fiscal Year 2025, and an articulation of how they advance the goals of the Arts and Culture Plan for the City of Alexandria.
The Grant Process:
- Application Submission: The grant application is the document upon which recommendations and decisions to award financial support will be made. The application consists of:
- a completed application form, with appropriate attachments, signed by a representative of the organization/individual authorized to act on behalf of the applicant.
- work samples and documentation of previous arts activities.
- The completed application must be completed online grants portal by the stated due date above. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Staff Review: Office of the Arts staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility. The Office of the Arts staff then prepares all eligible applications for review by the Grant Taskforce.
- Grants Task Force: A Grants Taskforce—comprised of Arts Commissioners, artists, community members, and patrons—review all relevant applications submitted for review by the Office of the Arts and completes a standardized scoring sheet for each application. The Grants Taskforce will meet to discuss and finalize their recommendation for funding consideration. This meeting will be held virtually and is open to the public. Applicants are invited but are not required to attend the Grants Taskforce meeting. The Office of the Arts staff facilitates the Grants Taskforce meeting.
- Funding Guidance: The Grants Taskforce does not provide a funding allocation, but rather scores each application utilizing the criteria rubrics. Scores received by Grants Taskforce are considered final. Funds are awarded to applicants are based on the percentage of scores as the formula. Applications scoring below 75% will not be recommended for funding.
- Changes to Programs/Activities: Applicants are required to notify the Office of the Arts of any additional substantial changes in its program(s) and other activities in writing prior to such a change that represents a reduction or reductions in the organization's program(s), project(s), and other activities. The requested changes must be approved in advance by the Office of the Arts.
Evaluation Criteria:
Applications are reviewed by a Grants Task Force comprised of Arts Commissioners and arts professional from throughout the region. The Task Force evaluates each application based on the following criteria:
- Artistic excellence and quality of the proposed program or project (45% of overall score).
- Impact & Engagement of the residents of the City of Alexandria (35% of overall score).
- Management and Budget which considers the feasibility of applicant to successfully implement the annual program or project and overall fiscal responsibility of the applicant with realistic financial goals and strategic planning in support of the project (20% of overall score).
The Grants Taskforce evaluates each application based on the guidelines and criteria specific outlined in the score sheet for the Arts Program Grant. Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grant Score sheet
Information or Assistance:
If you have questions about the City's Arts Program Grant review the Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions . If applicants have additional questions, need assistance, or wish to inquire about available webinars, please email arts@alexandriava.gov. If reasonable accommodations are needed, please call Cheryl Anne Colton, Regional Program Director, 703.746.5565; TTY 703.838.4902.
Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Arts Program Awardees:
The City of Alexandria’s Annual Arts Program is designed to support artistic excellence in the city by assisting arts and nonprofit organizations to provide affordable local artists with opportunities to create, perform, and present their works. Each year, approximately $170,000 in City funds are awarded on the basis of a competitive grant evaluation process and require a 1:1 cash match from the applicant.
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Office of the Arts joins everyone in Alexandria in congratulating the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Arts Program grantees. Throughout the year, Alexandrians are enriched by the works of these groups and many other arts groups in the city.
Armed Services Arts Partnership
Ethiopian Community Support and Advocacy Center
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra
Business and the Arts Collaborative Grant
The City of Alexandria's Office of the Arts offered a second round of the Business and the Arts Collaborative Grant Program. This grant was for business to support and sustain the local arts economy in the City of Alexandria by providing support to local arts organizations whose programming and/or operations that have been impacted by COVID-19 and provide support to arts and culture organizations to focus on their missions and engage with their audiences.
Business and the Arts Collaborative Grant 1st and 2nd Round Awardees:
The City of Alexandria Energizes Three Neighborhoods with New Creative Neighborhood Grants
City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts was able to place 13 arts organizations into three neighborhoods - West End, Arlandria and Old Town - who have not had equitable access to City-funded arts programs and to provide a more equitable redistribution of City resources with the Creative Neighborhood Grant Program.
Funding for the Creative Neighborhood Grant Program is made possible by City of Alexandria and an Arts Project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
The Office of the Arts would also like to extend its appreciation for the honorable Mayor Justin Wilson, members of the Alexandria City Council, collaborating partners including Alexandria City Public Schools, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership, Office of Fine Arts; ACT for Alexandria; Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority; Alexandria’s Race and Social Equity Office; the West End Business Association; and Casa Chirilagua and various community stakeholders for their strong support of the Creative Neighborhood Grant Program and the arts in the city.
Creative Neighborhood Grant Programs were offered between July 1 and December 15, 2022.
Arlandria
Del Ray Artisans, MakersFEST,” a free art making day with local artists.
Alexandria Citizens Band, Band Concert and Interactive Music Activities for Children, Four Mile Run Conservatory, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Old Town
Arts on the Horizon, “Balloon Project,” creative interactive workshop for children ages 0-3 and their families, Durant Art Center, 1605 Cameron Street.
Ethio Global Arts, "Zema Felega" (Searching for Melody), Music Contest, Finale Program with local, regional, and global participants, Durant Art Center 1605 Cameron Street.
Momentum Collective, “Creative Workshops”- poetry, monologues, short stories, and acting, Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street.
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, "Faces" Film installation/art exhibition and videography workshop, Durant Art Center, 1605 Cameron Street.
NOVA Connections, “Made in Ethiopia DMV Trade Fair” showcases traditional music and dance, Durant Art Center 1605 Cameron Street.
Running Strong American Indian Youth, “Native American Cultural Beading Workshops,” Durant Art Center, 1605 Cameron Street.
West End
Network of Family Service, “Ethiopian Film and Art Festival,” photo exhibition, and panel discussion with Ethiopian cinema directors, actors, and actresses, Patrick Henry Recreation Center, Black Box Theater, 4653 Taney Avenue.
QuinTango, “Tango Concerts and Music Workshops for Families,” Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue.
QuinTango, "Concert with Student Dancers," William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue.
Raeye Children Aid, Inc., “Enkutatash Fest in Alexandria 2022” Ethiopian new year celebration showcasing traditional music, dance, fashion, and arts, William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Avenue.
Sound Impact, “Musicpalooza,” an interactive concert and instrument petting zoo, Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue.
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, “Musical Tales for Kids!” Three family orchestra concerts., Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue.
Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Arts Program Grant Awardees
The Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Arts Program Grant awarded, $163,000 to the following organizations (in alphabetical order):
- Alexandria Choral Society
- Alexandria Citizens Band
- Alexandria Film Festival
- Alexandria Harmonizers
- Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
- Armed Services Arts Partnership
- Arts on the Horizon
- Eclipse Chamber Orchestra
- HEARD
- Local Motion Project
- MetroStage
- QuinTango
- The Art League
- Sound Impact
- The Thirteen Choir
- UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
- Young Playwrights Theater
Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Arts Program Grant Awardees
The Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Arts Program Grant awarded $130,250 to the following organizations (in alphabetical order):
• Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
• Armed Services Arts Partnership
• HEARD
• Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association
• UpCycle Creative Reuse Center
• Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic
Arts Program Sustainability Grants are funded by the American Rescue Plan Alexandria, $70,000 was awarded to the following organizations: