A young girl painting a figurine yellow. Text reads: Arts Education Grant Program

The 2024 Arts Education grant program is now closed. Invitations for this grant program will be made again in Spring 2025. 

Grant Program Overview

A high-quality arts education is vital for developing imaginative thinkers able to address tomorrow’s most pressing problems and contribute to the vibrancy and culture of their communities. Student involvement in the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, greater involvement in community service, and lower dropout rates. Unfortunately, arts programs are frequently cut from the curriculum for budgetary reasons. Consequently, schools turn to parent-teacher associations and fundraisers to continue to operate arts programs. This reliance on outside funding has exacerbated widespread disparities in access to high-quality arts education in our community. Community Foundation Sonoma County is committed to equitable access to arts education. Our Arts Education grant program supports nonprofits providing high-quality arts education for students furthest from these opportunities. Arts education curricula should be delivered by qualified Sonoma County visual, performing, or literary artists providing instruction and creative experiences directly to young people.

The Arts Education Grant Program is invitation only. If you feel your organization meets the criteria outlined below and should be considered, please get in touch with us. 

Criteria

Criteria for this grant program include providing students with the opportunity to:

  • Create and share works of art within the visual, literary, and/or performing arts
  • Share their work through informal presentations or performances
  • Reflect and respond to their own or others’ art
  • Requesting organization in a Sonoma County 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an organization fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

How to Apply

Applications will be made available to those who are invited to apply. If you have a program or project that you believe fits the Arts Education grant program criteria, please contact Jose Castro Gambino at jcastro@sonomacf.org. 

2024 Grant Summary

11 grants were awarded in 2024. The median grant size was $10,000.

OrganizationPurpose
Art Escapeto support the Flying Colors program
Knights of Indulgence Theatre United Statesto support The Imaginists' in-school theatre program in Title 1 public schools
Life On Earth Artto support the Heart Stories program workshops
Museum of Sonoma Countyto support the Art4Kids program
On the Margins, Inc.to support the ¡DALE! program
Play it Forward Music Foundationto support the music enrichment programs
Sonoma Community Centerto support arts education programming
Sonoma Valley Education Foundationto support Baile Para Todos
Sonoma Valley Museum of Artto support arts education classes
The California Theatre of Santa Rosato support the Young Actors Studio program
ViVO Youth Orchestrasto support general operating for school year 24/25
For questions about the Arts Education grant program, please contact:
José Castro Gambino

José Castro Gambino

Senior Community Impact Officer

707.360.6140
Amy Holter

Amy Holter

Vice President for Community Impact

707.303.9621