The Arizona Commission on the Arts is now accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2027 grants for arts organizations, arts festivals, and arts engagement programs!
Creative Capacity Grants
Creative Capacity Grants (CCGs) provide general operating support to nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts.
Who is it for?
Organizations that may apply for Creative Capacity Grants…
- are based in Arizona,
- are incorporated as a nonprofit organization* with tax-exempt status, or are a unit of municipal or tribal government,
- have a primary mission to produce, present, teach, or serve the arts,
- have a minimum annual budget of $4,000, and
- will incur eligible expenses during the funding period (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)
*Unincorporated organizations that are otherwise eligible and whose annual budget is below $200,000 may apply through a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.
Applicant Information Sessions
Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.
Recordings of each session will be posted here the following business day.
Virtual Office Hours
Have questions about your CCG application? Jump onto an open zoom call with Creative Capacity Grant Manager, Hanna Spence-Schehr.
Monday, March 9, 2026
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Friday, March 27, 2026
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Monday, April 13, 2026
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Festival Grants
Festival Grants support the presentation of quality arts and culture programming through festival activities, connecting artists and culture bearers (or their artistic work) with communities.
What does it fund?
Festival grants support in-person, virtual, and hybrid festivals.
For the purposes of this grant program, a festival is defined as a periodic celebration or gathering that…
- happens in a condensed period of time,
- features a varied and curated program of events, and
- has an easily identifiable and unifying theme or specified focus.
Festivals eligible for Festival Grants must…
- demonstrate a thematic emphasis on arts and culture in their programming,
- last a minimum of one four-hour day, and
- only span the duration of two consecutive weekends
Applicant Information Sessions
Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present online webinar-style information sessions to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.
Recordings of each session will be available for later viewing.
Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants
Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support projects that foster meaningful arts learning experiences for adult learners of any age and/or intergenerational projects in community settings.
What does it fund?
Lifelong Arts Engagement Grants support projects that…
- focus on learners across the aging spectrum,
- occur in accessible community spaces, and
- center arts learning practices.
Such projects should also…
- provide opportunities for creative expression in safe and nurturing environments, and
- utilize the assets of the community being served.
Projects may take place in…
- arts venues,
- community or senior centers,
- residential facilities, and
- other settings that serve adult learners of any age and/or intergenerational projects.
Applicant Info Session
Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.
A recordings of this session will be posted here the following business day.
Youth Arts Engagement Grants
Youth Arts Engagement Grants support arts learning projects for young people that occur outside of traditional school hours.
What does it fund?
Youth Arts Engagement Grants support projects that…
- focus on young people, ages 24 and under,
- occur outside of traditional school hours (before/after school and/or during school holidays/breaks), and
- center arts learning practices.
Such projects should also…
- provide opportunities for creative expression in safe and nurturing environments,
- honor youth voices, narratives, and perspectives, and
- utilize the assets of the community being served.
Projects may take place in…
- arts venues,
- community centers,
- school sites, and
- other youth-oriented settings.
Applicant Info Session
Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.
A recordings of this session will be posted here the following business day.
Creative Youth Grant
Created and reviewed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ AZ Youth Arts Council, the Creative Youth Grant is a funding opportunity for young artists ages 12 -17.
What does it fund?
To support young artists as they develop new skills or advance their artistic practice outside the traditional school day. This may include paying for lessons, attending a workshop, or paying for supplies and equipment.
Who is it for?
Eligible applicants for the Creative Youth Grant include Arizona young artists ages 12-17.
Applications that are developed by adults will be ineligible for funding. Parents, guardians or teachers may not apply for the young artist.
Award Amount
Individuals can request between $250 and $500 based on eligible expenses.
Applicant Info Sessions
Leading up to the application due date, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will present webinar-style information sessions and workshops to help prospective applicants in preparing competitive applications.
Recordings of each session will be posted here the following business day.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
