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Apply for 2026 City of Bloomington Arts Projects Grant program

The Bloomington Arts Commission offers Arts Project Support (APS) grants of up to $4,000 to support public-facing arts programming, arts activities, or arts projects that occur primarily within Bloomington, Indiana (or MCCSC District) and positively impact public understanding, appreciation, or engagement with art.
 

Key Details

  • Most awardees will not receive full funding ($4,000)
  • Projects may be one-off or ongoing
  • Project expenses supported by this grant should not be made earlier than July 1, 2026 or any later than June 30, 2027
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How to apply

  1. Eligibility

    • Individual artists, groups, and organizations are eligible to apply. Organizations are not required to be registered non-profits.
    • Projects must take place within Bloomington and be open to the public or occur in schools.
    • Projects may be one-off or ongoing. Project expenses supported by this grant should not be made earlier than July 1, 2026 or any later than June 30, 2027
    • Students enrolled at a higher education institution may apply, but funds cannot be used to support assignments associated with a course or degree requirement at a higher education institution

  2. Timeline

    Grant Period July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

    1. Program Opens for Applications March 16, 2026
    2. Application Due April 23, 2026
    3. Funding Notification June 8, 2026
    4. Funding Disbursement By July 31, 2026
    5. Final Report Deadline July 15, 2027
       

    Be advised, payment may be delayed due to the contracting process. Submit required materials at your earliest convenience.

  3. Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed by a conflict free panel and measured by the following criteria.
     

    Community Impact & Engagement

    • How well will this project positively impact public understanding, appreciation, or engagement with art?
    • Is this project accessible to the public?
    • To what extent does this project include participants and audience members from different groups?
    • To what extent does the project connect or collaborate with other Bloomington organizations?
       

    Implementation

    • Does this project have clearly articulated outcomes?
    • Does this project have a realistic plan to achieve its outcomes?
    • Are the funds requested directly related to the project’s success?
    • Are sufficient resources committed to this project from outside the grant?
       

    MORE INFORMATION

  4. Questions?

    Bloomington Arts Commissioners will offer office hours for applicants on a first come first serve basis for anyone interested in discussing the application process during the application period. Please contact Paige Sharp, Arts Consultant and liaison to the Bloomington Arts Commission, paige@sharpvisionarts.com to schedule an appointment with a commissioner.

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