To further establish Sacramento as a hub for cultural activity, the City and Sacramento County have announced a $950,000 grant allocation to 72 local nonprofit organizations through the 2025-2027 Cultural Arts Awards program. The funding is intended to support organizations that work to expand access to arts and cultural experiences across regional communities.
The funding for this initiative comes from a variety of sources, including the City's Measure U sales tax, matching funds from the City General Fund, and the County’s Transient Occupancy Tax. These resources are allocated to support organizations that have shown the ability to adapt quickly and actively engage their communities through artistic expression. According to a report by Sacramento City Express, the application process for these grants opened back in October 2024, with recipients being finalized this month.
The diversity of Sacramento’s arts scene is reflected in the variety of awardees, which include youth-focused literary organizations like 916 Ink, cultural and social groups such as Casa de Brazilian Folkloric Arts of Sacramento, and performance organizations like the Sacramento Region Performing Arts Alliance. This range of grantees represents the different sectors within Sacramento’s artistic community.
The selection of nonprofits was carried out carefully by a panel of arts and culture professionals alongside community representatives who thoroughly reviewed the applications. Organizations were chosen based on financial responsibility as well as their dedication to diversity, equity, cultural relevance, and community impact, according to Melissa Cirone, the City’s grants program manager.
In the previous 2022–2024 funding cycle, the City and County allocated approximately $933,000 per year, totaling over $2.7 million across three years. These grants have provided essential financial support to arts and cultural nonprofits, contributing to the ongoing development of Sacramento’s creative and cultural landscape.
For those interested in learning more about the Cultural Arts Awards, more thorough details can be found directly on the City of Sacramento's website.
