The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) is the state agency that invests in the arts across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VCA fulfills its mission through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, distributing grant awards to Virginia artists; arts organizations; educational institutions; nonprofit organizations; educators; and local and tribal governments.

The VCA forges strong partnerships with arts organizations of various scales and additional partners through Partnership Grants designated towards unrestricted funding. These include General Operating Support: Medium and Large Arts Organizations (GOS); Operating Support Small (OSS); and Creative Community Partnership Grants.

The VCA also drives impact around the state through Community Impact and Education Impact grants. These are both program-specific and support initiatives to elevate the arts in communities and learning institutions.

Finally, the VCA supports individual artists and their engagement with citizens and communities across the Commonwealth through a Virginia Touring Grant program, Arts in Practice grants, and Artist Fellowships. Additionally, the VCA maintains two prestigious rosters: the Touring Artist Roster and the Teaching Artist Roster.

As a state agency, the VCA does not fund:

• lobbying activities intended to influence a member of Congress or the General Assembly, to favor or oppose any legislation
• activities restricted to an organization’s membership
• expenses related to parties, receptions, fundraising events/benefits, etc.
• endowments or capital campaigns
• activities that are primarily religious in purpose
• college or university-based projects that are part of a required course or curriculum that do not involve and serve a significant non-student population, or that are for activities that are otherwise available in the community
• general operating support for historic celebrations or community promotional activities
• fines and penalties, bad debt costs, or deficit reduction
• arts activities/programs that occur outside of the grant period
• vocal, dance, and musical ensembles that perform primarily pop, Broadway, or barbershop music, or that focus primarily on competitions
• activities or programs that take place outside Virginia

An overview of VCA grant programs, eligibility, and deadlines can be found, here. Please see the 2023-2024 Guidelines for Funding for specific program eligibility requirements.

Welcome!

• Before you apply, read the 2023-2024 Guidelines for Funding
• Preview grant application questions on individual grants pages on the VCA website or in Foundant
• Sign up for the VCA Newsletter HERE for news and information regarding VCA activities and opportunities