City of Houston-funded Arts Grants
Houston artists and arts organizations apply for city funding through five HAA grant programs, which are adjudicated through peer and community-based panels. Each has its own deadline and requirements. Read on for details about these grants.
2024 Grants Schedule
CITY’S INITIATIVE AND LET CREATIVITY HAPPEN
Round 1: Monday, March 25, 2024 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Grant Term: August 2024 – August 2025
Round 2: Monday, May 27, 2024 – Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | Grant Term: October 2024 – October 2025
Round 3: Friday, August 30, 2024 – Sunday, September 29, 2024 | Grant Term: January 2025 – December 2025
CITY’S INITIATIVE
This Grant is available to: Organizations, Individual Artists & Creatives, Fiscally Sponsored Projects
First Round opens Monday, March 25th, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Tuesday, April 23rd , 2024 at 11:59 pm CT for August 2024- August 2025 grant term.
Round 1 requests for awards exceeding $10,000 require a preliminary meeting by April 12th, 2024. Only applicants applying under the Art + Disaster Resilience Awareness funding area are eligible to request more than $10,000 this round.
Second Round opens Monday, May 27, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Tuesday, June 25, at 11:59 pm CT for October 2024 – October 2025 grant term.
Third and FINAL Round opens Friday, August 30, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 11:59 pm CT for January 2025 – December 2025 grant term.
The City’s Initiative grant program (CI) provides funding to individual artists and nonprofits for strategic and creative opportunities to engage visitors and residents while building upon Houston’s cultural identity and tourism.
Proposed activities should not be a part of the applicant’s regular programming or annual schedule of activities or events. Grant expenses are restricted to project-related costs, which include artist fees and marketing costs. Typical awards are between $5,000 and $10,000.
LET CREATIVITY HAPPEN
This Grant is available to: Organizations, Individual Artists & Creatives, Fiscally Sponsored Projects
First Round opens Monday, March 25th, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Tuesday, April 23rd , 2024 at 11:59 pm CT for August 2024- August 2025 grant term.
Second Round opens Monday, May 27, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Tuesday, June 25, at 11:59 pm CT for October 2024 – October 2025 grant term.
Third and FINAL Round opens Friday, August 30, 2024 at 9:00 am CT & closes Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 11:59 pm CT for January 2025 – December 2025 grant term.
The Let Creativity Happen grant program (LCH) provides funds of up to $2,500 for specific projects that amplify artistic creativity and vision taking place in Houston. LCH supports innovative ideas that redefine artistic boundaries, reshape the conversation about art and art experiences, and/or establish unique opportunities to experience art. This grant is open to individual artists, 501(c)3 organizations, and fiscally sponsored projects. LCH funding is provided through the City of Houston.
New funding formula boost in the annual grants competitions
The Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) has introduced a funding formula boost in the annual grants competitions, Support for Organizations (SO), Support for Artists and Creative Individuals (SACI), and Festival Grants (FG). This formula change provides support to organizations, artists, and creatives who have been awarded through the same peer panel process, but have historically been marginalized from opportunities, such as grants. The boost is specifically designed for applicants who meet BIPOC qualification criteria for their respective grant programs and have been awarded funding through HAA’s peer community-based panels. Awardees under this initiative will receive a 45% increase in their awards with a cap of $20,000. For the year 2024, MOCA allocated an additional $800,000 to the grants programs to accommodate this formula change. This year, the boost funding will derive from the Hotel Occupancy Tax budget for the 2025 grant cycle. To learn more about how our funding works and the allocated percentages to all our grant programs visit https://www.houstonartsalliance.com/how-hot-works.
FESTIVAL GRANT
This Grant is available to: Organizations, Fiscally Sponsored Projects
Application deadline passed July 30, 2023.
The Festival grant program (FG) provides support of up to $10,000 to fund arts festivals or arts components of cultural festivals to celebrate Houston's diversity, and promote the city's creative identity as a unique arts and culture destination.
Festivals allow communities to share artistic and cultural traditions, creating vibrant opportunities and experiences for residents and visitors. Festival is defined as an annual or biannual celebration or immersion around a unifying theme or programmatic focus, featuring varied and curated events.
Festival grants are funded by the City of Houston via the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and funded by cash-in-hand. This grant was available in one annual cycle from June 26, 2023 through July 30, 2023.
SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS
This Grant is available to: Organizations, Fiscally Sponsored Projects
Application deadline passed July 30, 2023.
Support for Organizations (SO) grant provides operating funds to 501(c)(3) applicants for arts and cultural activities that are open to the public. There are three SO funding tiers:
Category 1 for organizations in existence for at least one year with operating expenses under $10 million.
Category 2 for organizations in existence less than one year with operating expenses under $10 million.
Category 3 for organizations in existence for at least one years with operating expenses over $10 million.
SO grants are funded by the City of Houston via the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and awarded based on projections. This grant was available in one annual cycle from June 26, 2023 through July 30, 2023.
SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS AND CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS
This Grant is available to: Individual Artists & Creatives
Application deadline passed July 30, 2023.
The Support for Artists and Creative Individuals (SACI) grant provides funds of up to $15,000 for specific projects that create and present new works of art or complete work already in progress throughout Houston. Applications are accepted from all artistic disciplines. SACI grants are funded by City of Houston via the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and awarded based on cash-in-hand.
This grant application was available in one annual cycle from June 26, 2023 through July 30, 2023.
RESOURCES FOR GRANT APPLICANTS
Image courtesy of artist, Tina Hernandez
GRANT WORKSHOPS
*Note: These workshops serve as samples only. Guidelines are subject to updates during grant cycles, as part of HAA's annual review process.
Guidelines for 2023/24 Competitive Grants
Required Financial Reporting for Organizations
Applicants to either the Support for Organizations or Festival grant must have a current SMU DataArts profile. Click here to submit the SMU DataArts Funder Report.
To generate a funder report, complete your Cultural Data Profile for the 2022 fiscal year. Generate the City of Houston Funder Report by following these steps, or watch the orientation video for more help.
Resource and Policy Links
If you have any questions, check out these informational resources or contact HAA through our Support Desk.
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