The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission is accepting grant applications designated for arts and culture nonprofit organizations through Sept. 1, for its Arts Making Impact (AMI) grant program. The application and guidelines are available at sbac.ca.gov/county-grants.
AMI grants are intended to support artists, and arts and cultural organizations by funding projects and a variety of activities that enrich the lives of residents in Santa Barbara County.
The 2021-22 funding is designated for arts and culture nonprofit organizations with an annual operating budget under $250,000. Applicants must be based in Santa Barbara County and provide services to Santa Barbara County residents.
Free informational workshops will be conducted online and are mandatory for first-time applicants. The next one-hour workshop will be at noon Wednesday, Aug. 18. For more, visit sbac.ca.gov/workshops-and-training.
“This year, we are really hoping to maximize the available funding to support smaller groups that may not have as many resources,” said Ruben Espinoza, Arts Commission chair.
AMI funds may be used to support projects and collaborative efforts that leverage community resources, provide greater and more diverse participation in the arts, and integrate the arts into learning environments for youth.
Proposals that build beneficial partnerships and collaborations to help eliminate current barriers to cultural activities, such as access to transportation, materials, artists, music and art instruction to underserved communities are encouraged.
The AMI program represents a partnership between the Arts Commission and Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation. Funding support comes from ticket sales to all bowl concerts in the amount of 50 cents per ticket sold, up to $50,000 annually.
Formed in 1977, the Santa Barbara Arts Commission meets monthly to oversee county art projects and galleries, and make policy recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
The commission’s functions include making recommendations for the Percent for the Arts program, which establishes public art throughout the county; serving on grant panels for the County Arts Enrichment awards; and helping to generate cultural arts policy for county constituents.
The 15-member body comprises has representatives from each supervisorial district appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture is a division of the county’s Community Services Department, acting as the local governmental umbrella for arts and culture projects and programs within the county.
The office represents a longstanding partnership between Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Barbara. For more than 30 years, both governments have shared resources and staff to maximize support for Santa Barbara arts and culture institutions, programs, initiatives and projects.
It serves as a regional arts agency linked to the California Arts Council through the State and Local Partnership Program. For more, visit www.sbac.ca.gov.
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