Calling Virginia Beach Artists: Apply for Individual Support Grants

A documentary about the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum was filmed by Alex Hopper.

Local artists are invited to apply for grants to help enhance their artistic practice, achieve professional growth, build portfolios, engage with the community and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Virginia Beach. The Virginia Beach Individual Artists Support Grants build on the vision of Arts Plan 2030 and are funded through the revenue stream created by the City Council’s allocation of 20% of admission taxes to arts funding in 2024. 

Eligible applicants include individual artists who have been Virginia Beach residents for at least two years and have not received this grant award within the past two years. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the application due date, have created and presented their own original works to the public, or performed for the public, within the last three years, have a professional portfolio that includes published and/or publicly displayed work, and demonstrate a clear investment of time and resources into the creation of new work. The deadline to apply is Oct. 16. 

Optional Grant Workshops 

Potential applicants may choose to attend a virtual workshop for an overview of the grant program and review process and to get tips for submitting an application. There are three opportunities:

• Tuesday, Sept. 15, noon
• Tuesday, Sept. 29, noon
• Tuesday, Oct. 6, 5 p.m.

You may also book a virtual appointment for individual assistance. 

Volunteer Reviewers Needed

Virginia Beach residents with a passion for the arts are needed as volunteers to review grant applications. Responsibilities include attending orientation, reviewing and scoring grant applications, participating in virtual or in-person discussions and committing to three to four hours monthly from mid-October through the beginning of November 2026. If interested in serving as a panelist, apply online. For more information, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/ArtsGrants.

Additional Grants 

Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs and the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission provide several arts and cultural grant opportunities to both individual artists and community-based organizations. For more information on grant information and availability, visit the Cultural Affairs grant opportunities page or email artsinfo@vbgov.com.

• Apply for Arts Grants
• Cultural Affairs

Related Reading

• Calling All Creatives: VBPL Art Galleries Now Accepting Artist Submissions