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Community Arts Grants

Funding for organizations supporting programs and projects that advance the arts, culture, and the humanities in the lives of the people of Hawaiʻi.

Community Arts Grants FY2026: Intent to Apply: August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. Project Application: September 1, 2024, through October 30, 2024

Community Arts Grants FY2027: Intent to Apply: August 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025. Project Application: September 1, 2025, through October 30, 2025

The grant cycle will open on Hawaii.GoSmart.org on August 1, 2024.

About Community Arts Grants

The Community Arts Grants program (previously called Biennium Grants) supports eligible nonprofit 501(c)3 arts and culture organizations throughout the state. The grant awards funding to organizations supporting programs and projects that advance the arts, culture, and the humanities in the lives of the people of Hawaiʻi.

The legal provisions of the Community Arts Grants are in Sections 9-11 through 9-18 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. Each fiscal biennium grant budget is contingent on the State fiscal biennium and appropriations from the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. Grants awarded are subject to available funding for the fiscal year.

Grant Categories

Applicants may submit an application for a project to one of the following categories that align with the SFCA Strategic Priorities 2019-2023. Applicants can apply for one or both fiscal years, and the category and project can be the same or different for each year.

  • Heritage/Preservation 
  • Community Arts, Community Development, Arts and Healing 
  • Arts Education 
  • Presentation/Performing Arts

Grant Amounts

A Community Arts Grant can be requested in the amount of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. A 1:1 match is required. This is a reimbursement grant program.

Resources and References

Contact

SFCA Community Arts Coordinator
Brittany Rakowitz

Hawaii.GoSmart.org

The Community Arts Grants Program Application Process

Application Instructions

All eligible applications received by the deadline are considered. Grant Review Panels, consisting of professionals in the arts, culture, and humanities fields, review the eligible applications and submit their recommendations for award. The SFCA Board of Commissioners take into consideration the panel’s recommendations and have the final approval of applications awarded a Community Arts Grant. Grant awards are based on the applications overall score and available funding.

The Intent to Apply and the project application must be completed and submitted via the Hawaii Go Smart online application system (Hawaii.GoSmart.org).

Hawaii.GoSmart.org

Step 1: Legal Eligibility Documents for Intent to Apply

The Intent to Apply must be submitted for each grant cycle fiscal year that funding support is requested by the organization before the project application can be submitted. Eligible nonprofit arts or culture organization must meet Chapter 9 requirements and project application requirements to request grant funding.

Submit the organizations Legal Eligibility Documents to the Intent to Apply on Hawaii GO Smart (Hawaii.GoSmart.org).

Legal Eligibility Documents:
Applicants are subject to meeting Chapter 9 eligibility requirements and policies established by the SFCA. See instructions on submitting Legal Eligibility: Community Arts Grants Legal Eligibility Requirements (PDF).

The Intent to Apply will not be accepted after the deadline. The application cannot be accessed without first submitting the Intent to Apply. Please see Application Instructions (PDF) for full details.

Step 2: Complete and Submit the Project Application

All applicants must meet the application requirements to submit a project application to the Community Arts Grants Program.

Application Requirements:

  1. Applicant must be a nonprofit arts or culture organization, 501(c)3 exempt from federal income tax by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
  2. Is incorporated under the laws of the State of Hawaiʻi.
  3. Not barred or suspended from receiving federal funds.
  4. Applicant must have at least one year of experience with project to request grant support.
  5. Only one application per fiscal year grant cycle.
  6. Project must take place in the State of Hawaiʻi.
  7. Applicant must be compliant and remain compliant with Hawaii Compliance Express (Vendors.eHawaii.gov/HCE).
  8. Accessibility: The organization has a National Endowment for the Arts- Section 504 Evaluation on file. If the organization does not have a Section 504 Evaluation on file, click the hyperlink below, follow the provided instructions, and complete the Self-Evaluation Workbook: Section504 Self-Evaluation Workbook- National Endowment for the Arts- Civil Rights Office.
  9. Applicant must have an active registration with SAM.gov at the time the application is submitted.
  10. 1:1 match is required.
  11. Fiscal sponsorship is not permitted.
  12. Application must be entirely completed and submitted via the Hawaii Go Smart online application system (Hawaii.GoSmart.org). No applications will be accepted by email or hard copy.

Things to Know

  • This is a reimbursement grant program.
  • Applicants utilize the online grant application management system, GO Smart. The SFCA’s current programs and applications can be found at Hawaii GO Smart: Hawaii.GoSmart.org.
  • Grant implementation period is July 1 through June 30, unless otherwise noted.
  • Work evidence is required to be included with the Final Report for all grantees.
  • Hard copy documents are not provided.
  • All documents requiring certification from the authorizing official are through Hawaii Go Smart and eSign, the State of Hawaiʻi’s e-signature system.
  • Fiscal year grant cycle deadline can be found on the SFCA Grant Calendar: SFCA.Hawaii.gov/Grants.

Items Not Funded by the Community Arts Grant Program

  • Building, renovation, maintenance of facilities, or other capital expenditures.
  • Activities that are not completed within the project period.
  • Fellowships, scholarships, thesis, or dissertations.
  • Fund raising.
  • Grant management fees or indirect cost rates.
  • Commissioning visual artists to execute professional works of art.
  • Costs for food and/or refreshments.
  • Perquisites.
  • Equipment purchases and/or long-term rentals for more than one year.
  • Foreign travel.
  • Subgrants or regrants.
  • Interest payments, insurance, or similar finance costs.
  • Utilities costs (water, electricity, or telephone).
  • Un-itemized miscellaneous
  • Accounting costs, including audits.
  • Maintenance costs of any kind.
  • Technology-related expenses, including but not limited to computer hardware or software, Internet, website, or E-mail, or contracted assistance to design or maintain such services.