The Tempe Arts & Culture Division develops and manages the city's arts and culture programs and services. The City is dedicated to enriching the lives of the local and extended community by providing life-long engagement through accessible cultural, social, and educational experiences. The links below lead to Tempe Arts & Culture programs to help you discover and enjoy a variety of creative and cultural experiences. See a show, take a class, tour a building, peruse an exhibit… there’s much to see and do in Tempe!
For information about Tempe’s public art program visit: www.tempe.gov/PublicArt
For information about Art Grants visit: www.tempe.gov/artsgrants
For information about Galleries and Performing Arts visit: www.tempecenterforthearts.com
Vibrant City Arts Grants are available to artist collectives, cultural groups, and arts organizations providing inclusive arts and culture programming in Tempe. The Community Arts Grants Program aims to activate Tempe as a supportive place for artists and a home for community creativity in all its forms.
Amount: Up to $2,500 – no match required
Deadlines:
Cycle 2: December 16, 2024 for projects taking place between February 1 – June 30, 2025
How to Apply: All applicants are required to meet with Maja Aurora, Community Arts Manager, before completing the application. Schedule a meeting and find the application at www.tempe.gov/artsgrants
Expectations:
• Applicants do not need to be Tempe-based, but their projects must occur in Tempe
• Requests may include services of artists, professional services, stipends, supplies, production costs, space rentals, food, marketing and/or printing.
• Projects may include:
▪ Performances
▪ Residencies/Workshops
▪ Arts Events
Eligibility:
• Artist collectives, cultural groups, or arts organizations providing arts programming in Tempe.
• Applicants are only eligible to receive one Community Arts Grant per year (September 1-June 30).
Restrictions; this grant does not fund:
• activities that occur outside of the City of Tempe;
• organizations with an annual budget over $100,000;
• entirely virtual programming (activities can simultaneously occur in-person/virtual);
• permanent enhancements of infrastructure (i.e. murals or public art);
• construction or renovation of facilities, reduction of debt, feasibilities studies;
• projects in schools (see Arts in Schools Grant);
• parent teacher organizations (i.e. booster clubs, PTA or PTO) or TCA home/resident companies;
• projects associated with universities or colleges;
• projects funded by a TCC Grant or a Neighborhood Grant;
• organizations that are incorporated for religious purposes or projects that focus on religious themes;
• fundraising, re-granting, scholarship programs or awards;
• an applicant who failed to submit a Final Report from a previously funded grant.
Review Process: Applications will be reviewed by an independent Arts Grant Review Panel comprised Tempe residents, artists, arts educators, representatives from the Tempe Arts and Culture Commission and the Tempe business community. The review process is competitive and based on available funds, therefore, some applications may receive partial or no funding. The panel will recommend awards to the Community Services Director for final approval.
Final Report: Must be submitted within 60 days of completing the project. The report will include a summary of the project, final budget and professional quality photos. The grant recipient agrees to give the City of Tempe the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes.
To submit your final report you must login or create a Submittable account
Within 60 days of completing the project, a Final Report must be submitted to the City of Tempe. The report will require you to share the outcomes of your project as well images and/or video documentation of your programming. Applicants who fail to complete final reports on time will not be eligible for future arts grants funding from the City of Tempe.
Pursuant to the Grant’s terms and conditions, the City of Tempe has the rights to use any materials submitted in the Final Report for data collection and promotional purposes.