Mayor LaFrance announces 2026 Mayor's Arts and Community Grant recipients

Today, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance announced the recipients of the 2026 Mayor's Arts and Community Grants, as well as the second round of the "Beyond the Beige" grant initiative.

These programs provide essential financial support to local nonprofits and cultural organizations fostering a more vibrant, connected, and resilient Anchorage.

"I am proud to support our local nonprofits and cultural organizations as they work to strengthen our community," said Mayor LaFrance. "Investing in their work is a direct investment in a safer, more vibrant community for everyone who calls Anchorage home."

Expanding access to the arts

For the 2026 Arts Grants, the Mayor prioritized projects that expand public access to arts and culture, specifically those offering free or low-cost programming. This year, 17 organizations were selected to receive funding. Examples of projects include:

• Anchorage Folk Festival: Increasing capacity for free and low-cost workshops and performances.
• Alaska Theatre of Youth: Providing free tickets to school performances for students, teachers, and chaperones.
• Alaska Chinese Association: Upgrading costumes and equipment used for free public performances.

See below for the full list of 2026 Arts Grant recipients.

Supporting community programs

The Community Grants focus on organizations with projects that directly support the Mayor's policy priorities: public safety, housing, and community building. From the pool of applicants, 51 organizations were selected. Highlighted recipients include:

• The Dome: Supporting the Community Health Initiative.
• Rocket Fuel: Providing 3,900 weekend meal bags for food-insecure students.
• Anchorage Project Access: Expanding the "Lifeline to Health" program to connect homeless families with critical health services.
• Data for Indigenous Justice: Hosting community healing events and cultural gatherings.

See below for the full list of 2026 Community Grant recipients.

Revitalizing public spaces with Beyond the Beige

Now in its second year, Beyond the Beige-a partnership between the Municipality and the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA)-will award a total of $100,000 among five community-driven projects aimed at bringing vibrant, engaging public art and color to Anchorage.

Selected projects span the Municipality from downtown to Spenard and Girdwood. This year's installations will transform everyday vehicles into sculptural art, feature large-scale murals celebrating Alaska heritage, and revitalize local infrastructure with bold, bright designs.

"Great public spaces help create great communities," said ACDA Executive Director Mike Robbins. "Beyond the Beige is a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can support local artists, energize neighborhoods, and make Anchorage a more vibrant place to live, work, and visit. ACDA is proud to partner with the Municipality on an initiative that brings creativity, community pride, and investment into public spaces across the Municipality of Anchorage."

"Anchorage is surrounded by some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world and is home to an incredible creative community, and our urban spaces should reflect that energy," said Mayor LaFrance. "The Beyond the Beige initiative is about transforming our neighborhoods with bold, local artwork and color. These projects will help turn everyday spaces and infrastructure into points of civic pride that brighten our community."

See below for the full list of 2026 Beyond the Beige projects.

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2026 Beyond the Beige grant recipients:

• Anchorage Museum - for the Alaska Art Car & Creative Mobility Showcase sculpture installation.
• Huffman / O'Malley Community Council & Federation of Community Councils Inc. - for Hillside public mural project at O'Malley and Lake Otis.
• Girdwood Art Institute, Four Valleys Community Schools & the Girdwood Lions Club - for Girdwood Community Mural project.
• Cook Inlet Housing Authority - for colorful repainting of commercial building in Spenard
• Anchorage Museum, Seed Lab, Jeff Schultz Photography & Artec Life - for large public mural "Into the Sun" on Solar Building in downtown.

2026 Mayor's Arts Grants recipients:

• Alaska Black Caucus
• Alaska Chinese Association
• Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance
• Alaska Junior Theater
• Alaska Theatre of Youth
• Alaska Youth Orchestras
• Anchorage Community Theatre Inc
• Anchorage Concert Association
• Anchorage Downtown Partnership Community Services
• Anchorage Folk Festival Inc
• Anchorage International Film Festival
• Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
• Cyrano's Theatre Company
• Drag for a Cause
• HEART INC
• Northern Culture Exchange
• YMCA of Alaska

2026 Mayor's Community Grant recipients:

• Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC)
• Alaska Children's Trust
• Alaska Chinese Association
• Alaska Coalition of BIPOC Educators
• Alaska Community Foundation - Chugach Park Fund
• Alaska Creative Economies
• Alaska Humanities Forum
• Alaska Jewish Campus
• Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web
• Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
• Alaska Native Heritage Center
• Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association
• American Legion Jack Henry Post 1
• Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness
• Anchorage Community Land Trust
• Anchorage Cops for Community
• Anchorage Mushing District Inc
• Anchorage Project Access
• APU Nordic Ski Center
• Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
• Asian Alaskan Cultural Center
• Assets, Inc.
• Beacon Hill
• Bean's Cafe, Inc.
• Bridge Builders of Anchorage
• Camp Fire Alaska
• Catholic Social Services Alaska
• Chugiak Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, Inc
• Data for Indigenous Justice
• Enlaces
• Friends of Boyer's Orchard FOBO
• Girl Scouts of Alaska
• Girls on the Run Southcentral Alaska
• Greater Anchorage Inc. dba Fur Rondy
• Japan Alaska Association
• Juanita Strong Forever Project
• Korean Cultural Center Alaska
• Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage, fiscally sponsored by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group
• Nine Star Education & Employment Services
• Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
• Northern Alliance Reentry Inc
• Pacific Community of Alaska
• Pasefika Roots Institute of Language and Cultural Arts
• Polynesian Association of Alaska
• Renewable Energy Alaska Project
• Rocket Fuel
• Singletrack Advocates (Alaska)
• Special Olympics Alaska- Anchorage Community
• STAR, INC
• The Dome
• Umoja Coworking & Incubator

Press contact: Emily Goodykoontz [email protected] 1 (907) 205-6683

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