City of West Hollywood Announces Open Call for Arts Grant Applications

The City of West Hollywood has opened application opportunities for its 2027 Arts Grant Program. The City will host a free virtual Arts Grant Program information workshop for those who are interested in applying to learn more about the City's grant-eligibility requirements and application process. The virtual workshop will remain available on the city's arts grant page.

The Arts Grant Program Workshop will be held online via the Zoom platform on: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 1 p.m. First-time grant applicants and returning organizations with new development personnel are strongly encouraged to attend the Arts Grant Program information workshop to become familiar with the application process.

Virtual office hours will be offered for interested applicants to request a time on Wednesdays between March 4 and June 24 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. to speak one on one with the Arts Grant Coordinator. This is an opportunity for applicants to ask specific questions and get immediate feedback. For more information and to sign up to attend the workshop or for select office hours, click here: Arts Grant Program | City of West Hollywood.

For 28 years, West Hollywood's Arts Grant Program has provided grant funding to individual artists, artist collectives, and nonprofit arts organizations for the production, performance, or presentation of art projects that take place in the City of West Hollywood as well as those that serve the West Hollywood community. Applicants may only apply to one Arts Grant category per year.

The arts grants categories with open application processes for 2027 are as follows:

2027-2028 Special Arts Project Grant - Supports eligible artists and nonprofit arts organizations for the production, performance, or presentation of large-scale art projects that will take place in West Hollywood and serve the local community between March 2028 and September 2028. This special initiative category responds to the West Hollywood's Bronze Silver Gold Creative Plan (Creative Plan), which outlines an authentic and bespoke vision for citywide cultural programming that centers artistic excellence and community engagement in order to create immersive experiences and cultural activities which center the City of West Hollywood as a cultural hub during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This one-time, two-year grant replaces the Arts Project Grant category from prior years to align with the anticipated increase in audiences during the 2028 Games.

Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative, participatory projects that bring energy, relevance, and global resonance to this initiative. Selected grantees will have the opportunity to present bold, forward-thinking artistic work that captures the spirit of the moment while reflecting West Hollywood's unique cultural identity and reflect the theme of "Inventing Traditions." Applicants will apply for 2 years of funding for 1 proposed project. The proposed project should have 2 phases: development/engagement and implementation. The proposed public facing project must occur between March 2028 and September 2028. The City will curate the 2028 programming schedule, with key opportunities to present during the two-week period between the Games. The maximum grant award is $24,000 per grantee ($12,000 per year).

Additionally, an allocation of $15,000 will be reserved for applicants who self-identify as disabled, as well as non-profit organizations that support and serve disabled artists. The deadline for this category is July 1, 2026.

Community Arts Grant - Supports individuals and non-profit arts organizations with a history of supporting BIPOC, LGBQ, and/or female artists and audiences. Proposed projects should take place in West Hollywood in 2027. Proposed presentations can include an art centered presentation or performance, and/or an educational and participatory program (workshop) which engages BIPOC, LGBQ, and/or female artists and audiences. The maximum grant award for both artists and non-profits arts organizations for this category is $6,000. The deadline for this category is July 1, 2026.

Filmmakers Grant - Supports filmmakers with funding for screening and presenting a completed film project (including submitting for film festivals). Funds may be used for the following: marketing, publicity, press, and festival fees. The maximum grant award for this category is $10,000. The deadline is July 1, 2026.

Transgender, Gender Diverse, Intersex, + (TGI+) Arts Grant - Supports and enhances the presentation of artworks in West Hollywood by transgender, non-binary, intersex, and gender nonconforming artists and non-profit organizations with a history of supporting artists in these communities. Proposed projects should take place in West Hollywood in 2027. Proposed presentations should include art presentations which engage transgender, gender diverse, and/or intersex artists and/or audiences. The maximum grant award is $6,500 for both artists and non-profit arts organizations. The deadline for this category is July 1, 2026.

WeHo Artist Grant - Supports the long-term development of an artist's ideas by providing funds that increase the capacity for artists to realize work, advance the conditions of creation, and navigate the complexities of both making art and making a career. Eligible artists must reside in the City of West Hollywood. The grant award is $6,000 per year for five artists. The deadline for applications is July 1, 2026.

Artists and organizations interested in applying may visit https://www.weho.org/community/arts-and-culture/arts-grant-program/grant-guidelines-and-applications for more information.

For more information about the City of West Hollywood's Arts Grant Program, please visit https://www.weho.org/arts or contact City of West Hollywood Grants Coordinator Eva Angeloff at (323) 848-6354 or [email protected]. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

For up-to-date information about City of West Hollywood news and events, follow @wehocity on social media, sign-up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City's calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar. Receive text updates by texting "WeHo" to (323) 848-5000. Read feature articles about people, places, and City events at www.helloweho.com. City Hall programs and services information is available at www.weho.org.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood's Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or [email protected].