Application Window
February 26 – March 22, 2024
On November 7, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved the County of Ventura’s first grant program dedicated to supporting the arts community. This funding was expanded by the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors at their meeting on February 6, 2024 to provide services and resources to the arts and culture community to support their ongoing recovery from the pandemic’s economic impact. A total of $800,000 in funding will be available through this program, making it one of the largest arts and culture specific grant programs offered by local government in Ventura County. This grant program is being administered in partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Ventura County Arts Council.
Most Ventura County-based nonprofit arts and culture organizations and independent artists are eligible to apply for this program. Funding can support general operating costs and either new or existing projects.
ART ORGANIZATIONS – with operating budgets of $1M or more
Art organizations with operating budgets of $1 million or more before COVID-19 can apply for grant funding up to $200,000.
ART ORGANIZATIONS – with operating budgets of less than $1M
Art organizations can apply for grant awards ranging from $5,000 – $30,000.
Watch the Grant Application Workshop for Arts and Culture Organizations
INDEPENDENT ARTISTS AND ARTS PROJECTS –
Independent Artists and Arts Projects can apply for grant awards ranging from $1,000 – $5,000, with the final award amounts determined through a competitive review process.
Drop in Application workshop for artists: Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Zoom link
The application window for these grant programs opens on Monday, February 26, 2024, and closes 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024. For questions not answered by our partnership organizations, please contact the County of Ventura Arts at artsandculture@ventura.org.
Nonprofit organizations can view the complete eligibility criteria.
Applications for independent artists are on the Ventura County Arts Council website at https://vcartscouncil.org/.
For more information on the funding opportunities, including application information and eligibility, please visit these respective pages:
Plazo de solicitud
26 de febrero – 22 de marzo de 2024
El 7 de noviembre de 2023, la Junta de Supervisores aprobó el primer programa de subvenciones del Condado de Ventura dedicado a apoyar a la comunidad artística. Esta subvención fue ampliada por la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Ventura en su reunión del 6 de febrero de 2024 para proporcionar servicios y recursos a la comunidad artística y cultural con el fin de apoyar su recuperación en curso del impacto económico de la pandemia. Este programa contará con una inversión total de $800,000, lo que lo convierte en uno de los mayores programas de subvenciones específicas para las artes y la cultura que ofrece la administración local en el condado de Ventura. Este programa de subvenciones se administrará en colaboración con la Fundación Comunitaria del Condado de Ventura y el Concilio de las Artes del Condado de Ventura.
La mayoría de las organizaciones artísticas y culturales sin fines de lucro del condado de Ventura y los artistas independientes pueden solicitar este programa. La subvención puede destinarse a gastos generales de funcionamiento y a proyectos nuevos o ya existentes.
ORGANIZACIONES ARTÍSTICAS – con presupuestos operativos de $1,000,000
Las organizaciones artísticas con presupuestos operativos de $1,000,000 o más antes de COVID-19 pueden solicitar subvenciones de hasta $200,000.
ORGANIZACIONES ARTÍSTICAS – con presupuestos operativos inferiores a $1,000,000
Las organizaciones artísticas pueden solicitar subvenciones de entre $5,000 y $30,000.
Vea el Taller de Solicitud de Subvenciones para Organizaciones de Arte y Cultura
ARTISTAS Y PROYECTOS ARTÍSTICOS INDEPENDIENTES –
Los artistas independientes y los proyectos artísticos pueden solicitar subvenciones de entre $1,000 y $5,000. Los fondos definitivos se determinarán mediante un proceso de evaluación competitivo.
Taller de Aplicaciones Abierto para artistas: Martes, 12 de marzo de 2024, de 5:30 p.m. a 7:00 p.m. – Enlace de Zoom
El plazo de solicitud para estos programas de subvenciones se abre el lunes 26 de febrero de 2024 y se cierra a las 5:00 pm del viernes 22 de marzo de 2024. Si tiene preguntas que nuestras organizaciones asociadas no respondieron, comuníquese con el Condado de Ventura Arts en artsandculture@ventura.org.
Las organizaciones sin fines de lucro pueden consultar los requisitos completos.
Las solicitudes para artistas independientes se encuentran en el sitio web del Concilio de las Artes del Condado de Ventura en https://vcartscouncil.org/.
Para obtener más información sobre las oportunidades de financiación, incluida la información sobre la solicitud y la elegibilidad, visite estas páginas respectivas:
The County of Ventura’s Arts & Culture Division is responsible for leading Countywide strategic planning for arts, culture, and the creative economy. These planning efforts support a thriving ecosystem comprised of the creative enterprise, the arts and culture community, government, and Ventura County residents.
Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Strategic Plan
The County of Ventura is developing an arts, culture, and creative economy strategic plan for the region. This initiative will include an assessment of the creative economy and its social impact in Ventura County; arts and culture asset mapping; exploration of the policy and funding drivers that can support the sectors, and the development and implementation of a multi-year strategic plan.
Atrium Gallery
Curated by the Ventura County Arts Council, the Atrium Gallery is located at the Ventura County Government Center Hall of Administration. It spans three floors and some 400 linear feet of display space. The Gallery receives some 3,000 visitors a day (plus employees) who circulate through the Gallery while conducting business Monday through Friday. It is one of the largest galleries in the County.
More information is available on the Ventura County Arts Council website .
Moon Ditch Mural Project
The Moon Ditch Mural Project is an early-stage collaborative initiative between the District 1 Supervisorial Office, County Watershed Protection, Ventura County Probation, and the Office of Arts and Culture. The goal of this program is design and install a mile long mural along the Moon Ditch Channel, which runs parallel to Interstate 101 and Leland Streeet in the City of Ventura.
Filming in Ventura County
Ventura County’s scenic diversity and proximity to Los Angeles make it a sought-after filming location, contributing over $90 million annually to the local economy. The Ventura County Film Commission, part of the Economic Development Collaborative, facilitates production activities, offers advice, and assists with permitting for filmmakers, serving as a vital link between local resources and the industry. Visit the Ventura County Film website for more details. VCFC – Ventura County Film Commission.
Creative Sector Business Assistance
Programs offered by these organizations below provide support and education in business development for businesses of all types, including those in the creative economy. Free webinars and seminars are available. Some may also provide loan programs, specialized training, and other services.
Please visit these websites directly for information on business resources.
A. No, all information must be included in the initial application upon submittal.
A. The application closes promptly at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024. No further applications or application materials will be accepted after this deadline. You must click the “submit” button by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024. Please note, there are required fields. If any information is missing, you will not be able to “submit” the application.
A. Once your information is submitted, it takes 24 – 48 hours to process your registration and receive access to the application. If you are not already registered in VCCF, please do so immediately to make sure you can apply for the grant. Registrations submitted after the morning of Wednesday, March 20, 2024, may not be approved in time to submit a grant application.
A. No, only completed and submitted applications by the deadline will be considered for funding.
A. No, all applications must be submitted online through the VCCF Portal.
A. The Individual Artist Grant application follows a similar process but it is a separate and unique application. More information on the individual artist grant is available at: Ventura County Arts and Culture Investment Fund Grant | Ventura County Arts Council (vcartscouncil.org)
A. Yes, an organization must be based in and serve communities in Ventura County.
A. Yes, scan and submit the entire 990 in the appropriate section.
A. The first series of questions (Questions 1 – 19) on the application will be used to determine overall eligibility and gather reporting information. Although these are required questions, they will not be scored.
A. Yes, depending on the number of applications and the amount of award granted could be less than what is asked for in the application. The final grant awards will be determined based on number of applications received, available funding, and the overall application score.
A. No, the applicant organization must have been in operation/established on or before March 22, 2021, to be eligible for this grant.
A. Yes, so long as each application represents a distinct entity or individual and is under separate Tax ID’s and/or Social Security numbers. For instance, an artist who also works as an executive director for an arts and cultural organization can apply on behalf of the organization, so long as the organization meets all other eligibility criteria. This artist can also apply to support their own individual work as an artist, but this work must be entirely separate from the work at the organization.
A. No. An organization’s primary mission must be directly related to art and culture, such as promoting, preserving, and enriching the cultural and artistic aspects of Ventura County’s local community.
A. Yes, the applicant must be based in Ventura County and must have a principal address located in Ventura County on their application. Individual artists must reside in Ventura County and submit verification on their application.
A. Yes, you can apply. Please know funding is not guaranteed. If your organization is deemed eligible and selected for funding, additional steps must be followed within specific deadlines (to be determined). Please contact TTagawa@VCCF.org with specific information about your delinquency for assistance in viewing your registration status with the AG.
A. The organization’s submitted Form 990-N are sufficient. Alternatively, applicants can submit their annual filings with the California Secretary of State that show income and expenses.
A. For videos, applicants can submit most standard video formats, including .MP4, .MOV, and .AVL. Alternatively, you can submit a .pdf or .doc document with a clickable link to YouTube, Vimeo, or other standard video hosting service. Links that are password protected, require downloading, or require any form of account creation or registration may not get reviewed.
Most standard file types are accepted, including DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, JPEG/JPG, PNG, TXT, PPT/PPTX, CSV, MP4/MOV.
A. Yes, so long as the reviewer can easily access and view the video directly from the link on the page on standard video hosting service like YouTube or Vimeo. Links that are password protected, require downloading, or require any form of account creation or registration may not get reviewed.
A. No, to see/review the application, you must register for the VCCF Portal
A. Fiscal sponsorship creates opportunities for organizations without nonprofit designation to operate under the 501(c)(3) structure of a parent nonprofit organization (referred to as the fiscal sponsor). The fiscal sponsor assumes responsibility for the oversight of the project and all of its activities, including financial record keeping and ensuring grant compliance.
A. No, the fiscal sponsor does not have to be based in Ventura County.
A. No, the applicant, the Arts Organization must serve the community with a mission focused on Arts and Culture.
A. Fiscal Sponsor fee will not exceed the greater of $100 or up to 10% of the total funded direct costs for the grant.
A. No. The applicant must be a Ventura County-based arts or cultural organization without 501(c)(3) designation and must not be a direct program of the Fiscal Sponsor. Substantial documentation is required to apply under fiscal sponsorship. Please view the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Policy on Fiscal Sponsorship for more information.
County of Ventura | Arts & Culture Division
Ventura County Government Center
Hall of Administration Building, Fourth Floor
800 South Victoria Avenue, #1940
Ventura, CA 93009
Contact Us
Phone: (805) 654-2681
Email: artsandculture@ventura.org
Please be advised that any communication submitted to the County of Ventura, any Board members, staff or County Consultants is a public record under the Brown Act and California Public Records Act. This means that any information contained in the communication, including personal information, may be subject to public disclosure.
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