Arts Innovator Micro Grant Program
artists micro grant program 2025
Arts Connection’s Artists Micro Grant Program launches on January 21st, 2025
This Micro Grant Program is a cornerstone initiative that has grown from awarding just five $500 grants in 2019 to providing $16,000 annually to local artists. This is possible thanks to the donations from local community, local partners, and sponsors. These grants are more than financial support, they’re investments in transformative ideas and the future of our community. From creating murals that beautify neighborhoods to producing original music and photography, the work of these grantees enriches our cultural fabric while generating economic impact.
“These awards recognize potential and open doors. They are often a catalyst for more opportunities for our local artists. We see time and time again that these grants are the fuel to take artists to the next level in their career.” — Executive Director, Alejandro Gutierrez
ARtists Micro grants overview
Initiated in 2019, the Artists Micro Grant Program (Arts Innovator Micro Grant) was created to encourage and support artists in San Bernardino County to continue or jumpstart work they are building or imagining. We hope to nourish a future where those visions take shape and take flight in service to a more creative, more possible future for all.
The visual, literary, and performing artists in San Bernardino County do not receive the funding and recognition they deserve from private and public funding sources statewide and nationally, and this grant program intends to change that by providing local individual artists of all disciplines and backgrounds with funding and technical assistance to support project development or career advancement. Applicants must choose to apply in one of these two categories: Impact Projects or Creative Career Advancement.
One-time grants of $500 and $1,000 are awarded based on a peer review panel process using the selection criteria listed in these guidelines. Artists of all disciplines, ages, and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply. Artists must live and work in San Bernardino County.
The number of grants given each year will vary. Grants will not be given to previous recipients.
Program Funding Goals
Impact Project Development:
Proposed projects do not have to be completed with this funding; this can be start-up funding for a new idea, or supplemental funding for ongoing projects. Projects do not need to be large in scope, but they should demonstrate impact on the community served or impact on the artistic practice, or project, in focus. For example, proposed projects might be single events, a series, or an exhibition of a new body of work. Applicants will be asked to share the intended impact area: social (broader), community (local or specific), or personal practice.
Creative Career Advancement:
Proposed work should reflect relevant and time-sensitive needs to support the artist’s career. Examples include, but are not limited to, attending mentoring or professional development workshops and training, covering the applicant’s residency fees, software subscriptions or equipment purchases, or compensating research time to develop new work, or complete a portion of an ongoing project.
Thank you to US Bank for supporting the arts!
