Berkeley’s civic arts division has opened its grant application window for Berkeley artists, festivals and other art and cultural organizations seeking support.
If you’re interested in holding a community festival in Berkeley, it must be open to the public, include a free component, and should generally occur no more than once a year. The city is giving out grants of up to $7,000 to help cover costs.
The event should “celebrate and preserve a rich variety of cultural opportunities for Berkeley’s residents; bolster Berkeley’s vitality; increase Berkeley’s reputation as a vibrant destination for visitors; create meaningful experiences that build community,” reads the city’s guidelines for the grant.
Last year, the Bay Area Book Festival, Berkeley Poetry Festival, Junior Bach Festival, Front Row Music and Arts Festival, Black Women’s Roots Festival, Ho’ōla Nā Leo: Celebrating Hawaiian Sound Healing, and Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow and Indian Market were among the community events awarded a city grant.
Artists living in Berkeley can receive $5,000 to create an original work and give a public presentation that engages Berkeley audiences “in a meaningful way,” according to the city’s website. This year, only artists who work in the following disciplines will be considered: film, new media, multi- and interdisciplinary arts, social practice and visual arts. (Last year’s cohort was chosen from different categories that included dance, folk and traditional arts and music.)
Other grants are available to help fund arts and cultural programming and provide general operating support for Berkeley-based nonprofits.
Applications are due by Feb. 19.
Refer to the city website for more details. An info session for the community festival grant is planned for 4 p.m. on Jan. 15. You can also request an appointment with Civic Arts staff to discuss grant-related questions.

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Iris Kwok covers the environment for Berkeleyside through a partnership with Report for America. A former music journalist, her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, KQED, San Francisco Examiner... More by Iris Kwok