The City of Alameda is now seeking grant proposals for 2026 Cultural Arts and Arts Programming [1] and Special Events permits. Cultural Arts proposals are due Thursday, March 19 by 5 p.m.; Special Events Permit grant proposals are due February 27 by 5 p.m.
[2]Cultural Arts
Cultural arts or arts programming may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Performance arts—theater, dance, music.
- Literary arts—poetry reading and storytelling.
- Film and video.
- Screenings and installations.
- Arts education.
- Art lectures and presentations.
- Special events—festivals and celebrations.
- Artist-in-residence programs in the arts.
Cultural arts or arts programming must be accessible to the public at no charge, and must be located in the City of Alameda.
All nonprofit arts organizations, public agencies, and fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible, but local organizations are particularly encouraged to file proposals and will receive a point preference as part of the evaluation process.
The City of Alameda will host an orientation session and a Grant Writing for the Arts webinar to help applicants navigate the grant application process.
Cultural Arts Grant orientation
Learn more about the 2026 Cultural Art and Arts Programming grant application process at the City of Alameda’s virtual orientation on Wednesday, February 11, at 5 p.m. The orientation will provide an overview of the application and eligibility requirements, and will feature a Q&A session at the end to help applicants with the process. Click here [4] to register.
Grant Writing for the Arts webinar
The City of Alameda’s Public Art Program is also hosting a webinar on Grant Writing for the Arts with Kimberley Acebo Arteche on Wednesday, February 4, at 5 pm. Arteche is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and cultural worker, and serves as the Executive Director at Brava! For Women in the Arts [5]. Learn how to expand your arts funding opportunities and hone your grant writing skills. Click here [6] to register.
Special Events
The Special Events Permit Grant Program [7] offers financial and technical assistance to help high profile special events in Alameda meet their special event permit requirements [7]. Grant awards are in the form of no-cost City services or reimbursement for specific costs associated with City permitting requirements. All applications for 2026 are due by Friday, February 27.
Because this program focuses on funding costs associated with the City of Alameda Special Event permit process, it is only applicable to events which require a special event permit. According to the City of Alameda Special Event Permit [7] webpage, the following events must have permits:
- Events that are held in the public right of way (i.e. on a public street, sidewalk, alley or other right of way).
- Events held on private property that significantly impact the public right-of-way through increased traffic or other direct or indirect means.
- Events held in City-owned parks or facilities with more than 500 attendees.
- Events held in City-owned parks or facilities with fewer than 500 attendees require a rental agreement [8] with the Recreation and Parks Department.
- Events at Crown Beach require a permit from East Bay Regional Parks District [9].
- Events held on public or City-owned property at Alameda Point.
- Bingo games.
- Charitable solicitations.
- Commercial filming or photography in the public right-of-way.
- Banners in the public right-of-way.
- Food trucks on public or private property.
For questions, please contact Special Projects Manager Amanda Gehrke at [email protected] [10].
Please note: The Special Event Permit Grant Program [7] and the Cultural Arts Grants Program [1], while complementary, are two separate and distinct grant programs. While both provide assistance to events in Alameda, their program goals, types of events that are eligible, and types of assistance awarded are completely different. Please review the websites and guidelines for each individual program for more detailed information.