How Fresno intends to expand art, culture access
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Cultural arts in Fresno could receive support following the Fresno Arts Council’s announcement of its intent to award the first-ever disbursement of expanded access to arts and culture grants.
The Fresno Arts Council officials reported 137 applications were received, with a total request for funding of $15,584,431. On Monday, the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission recommended that 98 applicants receive grant funding totaling $8,615,456 -72% of applicants will receive funding in the first round of grants.
The Arts Council says the grants will be funded by Measure P, which was approved by Fresno voters in 2018 and sets aside 12% of collected funds to support cultural arts in Fresno for 30 years.
When the Cultural Plan was approved by the Fresno City Council, and Fresno Arts Council secured an administrative contract with the city to manage the application process since Aug. 11, 2023, officials say the FAC completed the plan, solicited community feedback for grant guidelines, distributed the resulting RFP, and provided support and technical assistance in a variety of formats through the RFP deadline.
The deadline for the online applications was March 25. According to officials, applications for the Arts and Culture Organization General Operation Support Grants and project-specific support grants. Each of them set aside around 10% of available funds to award to emerging organizations or projects.
Those applications responded to priorities included in Fresno’s Cultural Plan.
“In our first year, we learned a lot about Fresno’s arts ecosystem. We are enthusiastically looking forward to observing and participating in the many amazing projects that were funded through this process,” said FAC Executive Director, Lilia Gonzáles Chávez.
The grant period is July 1 through June 30, 2025. Fresno Arts Council will release requests for proposals for 2025-2026 grants in fall 2024.
To view a complete list of intended grant awardees, click here.
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