Virginia Commission for the Arts

Creative Communities Partnership Grants

Creative Communities Partnership Grants

Creative Communities Partnership Grants

The Commission will match, up to $4,500, subject to funds available, the tax monies given by independent town, city, county, and tribal governments to independent arts organizations. The funding, which does not include school arts budgets or arts programming by local governments, committees or councils of government, nor departments such as parks and recreation, may be sub-granted either by a local arts commission/council or directly by the governing body.

Purpose

To encourage local and tribal governments to support the arts.

Description

The Commission will match, up to $4,500, subject to funds available, the tax monies given by independent town, city, county, and tribal governments to independent arts organizations. The funding, which does not include school arts budgets or arts programming by local governments, committees or councils of government, nor departments such as parks and recreation, may be sub-granted either by a local arts commission/council or directly by the governing body.

Eligible Applicants

Independent city, town, county, or tribal governments in Virginia.

Eligible Activities

Grants to independent, ADA-compliant arts organizations for arts activities in the locality, including activities that provide opportunities for underserved, under-resourced, and under-represented communities. The Commission does not match payments paid to performers or arts educators through CCPG funding. Local or tribal governments seeking such funding should apply to the Virginia Touring or Arts in Practice Grant programs.

Deadline

April 1, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. EST for local and tribal government grants awarded in FY27.

NOTE: A local or tribal government that has not approved its budget by the grant deadline may apply conditionally and confirm the application as soon as possible.

Amount of Assistance

Up to $4,500, subject to funds available. Local government (excluding tribal) match must be from local government funds; federal funds may not be included.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

  • Clearly defined policies and procedures for awarding local funds to arts organizations
  • Demonstrated community impact

Application/Review Process

  1. Applicants must complete and submit the online application to the Commission by the deadline.
  2. The Commission staff reviews each application for completeness and eligibility. Incomplete or ineligible applications will not be reviewed, will be returned to the applicant with an explanation, and will not be funded.
  3. The Commission staff makes recommendations on levels of funding for each application.
  4. The Commission Board reviews the staff recommendations and takes final action on the applications.
  5. Applicants are notified of Commission action by email following vote at the Commission Board meeting and pending enactment of the fiscal year budget per the General Assembly.

Payment Process and Reporting Requirements

After confirmation of the grant award, each local or tribal government must complete the online Final Report/confirmation form that demonstrates its governing Board has appropriated and distributed the matching funds and the funds from the Commission. This confirmation must include the appropriate page of the local government’s approved FY27 budget and a copy of the check(s) to the sub-grantee(s).

NOTE: The locality must issue payment in full to the subgrantee, which includes both the VCA portion and the locality’s match. The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) sends its match to the locality, which is then responsible for sending the entire payment to the subgrantee.

There are two acceptable methods to verify full payment to subgrantees:

  1. Two-Payment Method: The locality issues payment for its portion first and, once VCA funds are received, forwards the VCA match to the subgrantee. In this case, the VCA will send a second report form to verify the payment of VCA’s match.
  2. Single-Payment Method (Preferred): The locality pays the subgrantee in full by combining both the locality and VCA portions in a single payment. This approach streamlines the process, eliminates the need for a second payment, and removes the requirement for additional VCA payment verification once funds are received.

Although the Final Report and verification of payment are not due until February 1, 2027 (by 5:00 p.m. EST), localities are encouraged to complete the report as soon as possible. Submitting early allows VCA to process its match sooner, which helps ensure subgrantees receive their full payments without delay.

The Commission will pay the grant match in full after receiving this confirmation. The deadline for the Final Report/Confirmation is February 1, 2027, by 5:00 p.m. EST. Failure to submit a Final Report by February 1 will result in the loss of the grant.

NOTE: If the local or tribal government receives more than $750,000 in yearly federal expenditures from Commonwealth agencies, they must submit a Single Audit Report.