Now is the time to apply for grants to support public art and poetry. The East Bay Fund for Artists is now accepting applications for public arts grants for individual artists, the Zellerbach Family Foundation is offering funds for both artists and public art gatherings, and Alameda County Poetry Out Loud is now registering students in grades 9-12 for the 2025-2026 national poetry recitation program.
East Bay Fund for Artists
The East Bay Fund for Artists will award grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for new works by Bay Area artists who are rooted in low-income communities of color and other disadvantaged communities. The works are expected to advance racial justice and social equity.
Before applying, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page online and see the full application document in PDF format. The online application webpage also provides instructions and a clickable link to register and apply.
If you have any other questions, please email the East Bay Fund for Artists team at [email protected].
Deadline to apply is October 3, 2025, by 5 p.m. Awardees must present their work within a year of the grant award.
Zellerbach Family Foundation – Together in Community
Zellerbach’s Together in Community grants offer $5,000 and $10,000 grants to support fairs, festivals and other public events. The events must celebrate and uplift historically underserved communities, create opportunities to connect and share space, and articulate a meaningful cultural component and/or purposeful community engagement.
Grantseekers must meet the following requirements:
- Grantseekers must be a 501c3 or fiscally sponsored organization.
- Events must take place in Alameda, Contra Costa, and/or San Francisco County.
- Events must be aligned with ZFF strategic priorities of building a Bay Area where each person feels safe and connected and lives with a sense of belonging, shared humanity, and dignity.
Deadline to apply is Monday, October 6, 2025. Eligible events must take place within six months of the grant award.
Zellerbach Family Foundation–Community Arts
Zellerbach Community Arts will award a total of approximately $1 million in grants to individual artists and nonprofit arts and culture organizations in the Bay Area. Grants will be awarded in $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 amounts.
The grants support the creation of work by Bay Area artists and access to the arts for Bay Area communities. The foundation celebrates the rich diversity of the region by awarding funds to emerging artists and small to mid-sized arts and culture organizations engaging their communities with meaning and purpose.
The Community Arts program is open to grantseekers who:
- Hold a 501c3 nonprofit organization status or are fiscally sponsored individual artists, organizations, collectives, or groups.
- Have an annual organization budget under $2 million.
- Are located in or serving communities in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Francisco Counties.
Visit the Guidelines and Eligibility webpage for more specific information about disciplines of work that are considered for funding. An informal, hour-long workshop to help applicants become familiar with the application process will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, 6-7 p.m.—register online.
Deadline to apply is October 14, 2025, by 5 p.m.
Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a free national poetry recitation program that helps students practice public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary creative expression.
All Alameda County High School students, grades 9-12, are invited to enter Alameda County’s Poetry Out Loud Program. Structured like a spelling bee, high school representatives advance to the county competition in early February, then the State competition in March, and ultimately to the National Finals in the Spring.
For any questions, contact Alameda County Poetry Out Loud Coordinator Violet Harlo at [email protected] or 510-891-5716.
School registration deadline is Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
