Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program Grants
For over 30 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 application and guidelines carefully before applying.
The Fiscal Year 2026 annual Arts Program grant will launch on Monday, January 27, 2025. Annual Arts Programs occurring between July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 will be considered for funding.
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:
- Review Before You Begin the Application, review the Frequently Asked Questions and Guidelines.
- 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 workshops and webinars to assist interested applicants in preparing their grant applications. New applicants - arts organizations and artist(s) - along with applicants who have not applied using the Foundant online grant program were required to attend. If they did not attend, they were considered as ineligible. Due to changes in the granting process, other applicants were urged to attend these free workshops and webinars.
Grant webinars were held on Microsoft TEAMS on: Thursday, February 6, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, February 11, 5 p.m.; Thursday, February 13, 2 p.m.; Thursday, February 20, 1 p.m.; and Tuesday, February 25, 4 p.m.
If you have any further questions about the Arts Program Grant or any other programs and services of the Office of the Arts, do email: arts@alexandriava.gov.
Mark your calendar for the following key dates for the Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program Grant Cycle:
- Monday, January 27
Online Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program Grant Opens - Friday, March 28, 5 p.m.
Online Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program grant Deadline - Monday, March 31-Thursday, April 4
Staff Review - Friday, April 5 – Monday, May 6
Grant Task Force Meeting Review of Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program Grants - Friday, May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Grant Task Force Public Meeting re: Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program Grants - Tuesday, May 20
Arts Commissioners review of staff recommendations Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Arts Program
How to Apply:
The online grants portal was LIVE on Monday, January 27, 2025. Online applications needed to be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2025. 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:
PDF of grant application: Click Here.
Online application: Click Here.
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
1. donations from individuals
2. ticket sales
3. general operating budget
4. 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, 2026. 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.
Additional 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 2026, 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.
- Online Submissions: 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 2026 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 2025 Grant Awards:
275th Commemorative Program Awards funded through a National Endowment for the Arts and the City of Alexandria, VA.
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra, March 29, Encore Performance, "Drums Around the World" Featuring Tom Teasley, world music percussionist and Music by Munit Mesfin, Ethiopian-American singer and songwriter, with special guests Ethiopian Dancers from the Ethiopian Community Support & Advocacy Center. Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue
Mortar & Pestle Society, City Photography Exhibition, As part of Alexandria’s 275th anniversary, the city will be photographed for use in a new, inclusive guidebook.
Gadsby's Tavern Museum Society, Lafayette 200: As part of Alexandria’s 275th anniversary, the City of Alexandria in partnership with the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society.
NOVA Labs, Maker Faire, October 20, Alexandria City High School, 3330 King Street.
DMV Petri Dish, Maker Faire, October 20, Alexandria City High School, King Street.
Del Ray Artisans, October 12, “Chirilagua Neighborhood Arts Day,” Four Mile Run Conservatory, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Alexandria Citizens Band, October 12, November 16, and, December 14, Concert Series “Live and Local 2024!,” Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center, 25 W Reed Avenue.
Momentum Collective, Inc., October 18, October 19, “85th Alexandria Library Sit-in Anniversary Concert Series,” two-day concert series celebrating the rich African American history in the city of Alexandria, Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street.
Local Motion Project, October 12, and October 13, “Threads: An evening with the LMP Collective." Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, Oswald Durant Center, 1605 Cameron Street.
Chamber Dance Project, October 8, Chamber Dance Project Dance Concert, Lyceum, 201 S Washington Street.
Alexandria Film Festival, November 7-10, “The Arc of Oblivion,” a feature documentary by filmmaker Ian Cheney and executive produced by Werner Herzog. The film explores a fundamental question: what is worth saving? Lyceum, 201 S Washington Street.
Jane Franklin Dance Company, September 26 and September 27, “Moving Stories,” Lloyd House Gardens, 220 N Washington Street
Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra, Bilingual Family Friendly Concerts Series: September 21, and November 16, bilingual narration in both English and Spanish. Patrick Henry Recreation Center, 4653 Taney Avenue
Arts Enrichment Program for Youth funded by the American Rescue Fund Program.
The Alexandria Office of the Arts collaborated with the Recreation Services Division to create a new Grant Program. Grantees Awards and Out of School Time Locations:
Encore Stage and Studio, Inc., Charles Barrett Recreation Center and Chick Armstrong Recreation Center
Fabiana Cesa, Charles Houston Recreation Center and John Adams Recreation Center
Jane Franklin Dance Company, Charles Houston Recreation Center and Douglas MacArthur Recreation Center
Upcycle Creative Reuse Center, William Ramsay Recreation Center and Mt. Vernon Recreation Center
Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grants
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 $242,000 in City and State funds are awarded based on a competitive grant evaluation process and require a 1:1 cash match from the applicant. For Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program information, email arts@alexandriava.gov or visit: alexandriava.gov/arts.
Congratulations to the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Arts Program Grantees:
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts and the Office of the Arts joins everyone in Alexandria in congratulating the Fiscal Year 2025 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
Encore Creativity for Older Adults
Helping Hearts Through the Arts
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association
Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia
Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra
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