Discussion and possible action to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 Arts and Culture Grant awards in the amount of $300,000, as recommended by the Arts & Culture Commission, in accordance with budget authority approved by Council.

Since 1998, the Arts Division has managed the Arts & Culture Grant Program. The total approved budget for fiscal year 2026 is $300,000. It is the intent of the program to afford support to numerous non-profit organizations and Peoria-based small businesses in delivering exceptional programs and services to benefit Peoria residents in the areas of visual and performing arts, cultural programs, and community events.

This year’s requests, like previous years, are beneficial in several areas:  

• Providing organizations with the capacity to create, present and/or participate in established and new events and programs, often at city facilities, that are well-received and innovative with unique individual impact for audiences and participants.
• Enhancing arts programs at Peoria Unified School District schools. 
• Bringing arts and cultural activities throughout Peoria.
• Assisting arts organizations with building a significant presence in Peoria.
• Deepening the economic development of the city’s creative sector.

This year’s request for funding includes the categories of Arts Projects and Performances, Community Events, and Peoria-based Arts Organizations with an emphasis on building new collaborations. For FY 2026, 42 applications are recommended for funding out of 54 applications received. Several criteria must be met as part of the minimum qualifications for each grant application. The recipient must be a tax exempt, not-for-profit organization or a Peoria small business with a Peoria business license. All activities must take place within the city limits to serve residents of Peoria. Each applicant awarded a grant must fulfill all contractual requirements, including providing a final grant report.

A detailed process is used to review, rank, and recommend each application. All grant applications were reviewed by a mixed panel consisting of Arts and Culture Commissioners, Peoria citizens, and community professionals. With four separate panels, each application is scored individually by three panel members and then ranked based on total score up to 100. The grant applications were assessed on the following criteria:

·         A well-articulated vision for the project

·         A specific benefit to the greater community of Peoria

·         A strong alignment between the narrative and the project’s budget

·         A proven track record in accomplishing similar activities

·         A demonstrated commitment to accessibility

·         A presentation of their narrative in a dynamic way that advocates how the project or event is distinctive

This year’s list of proposed projects and events provides the community with an array of interesting and unique experiences. Overall, they serve the general population, as well as specifically reaching toddlers, students, seniors and veterans. The range of activities include choral, dance and theatre performances; workshops exploring music and the visual arts; outreach programs to schools in the Peoria Unified School District; and outdoor events featuring wake surfing, bicycling, and cultural festivals, as well as movies for families.

On May 28, 2025, the Peoria Arts and Culture Commission held its public meeting conducting further evaluation of the applications, discussing the values of the proposals and unanimously approving the recommendations listed below for the Mayor and Council information. 

Arts Projects or Performances - 30 Grants

Grant cap: $7,500 per project (up to two projects)

*Denotes two projects per organization

community events - 10 Grants

Grant cap: $20,000

PEORIA-BASED ARTS ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORTIONS - 2 Grants

Grant cap: $10,000

There has been no previous action on this request.

Staff recommends approval of the grant requests as approved by the Arts Commission.

There is no fiscal impact with this request.