2025-26 Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission Grant Applications Open Now

The Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission (AHC) is now accepting applications for its annual Project Grant program. The grants are open to nonprofit organizations that provide arts, humanities, history or cultural programming and services in Virginia Beach.

Project Grant awards cover up to 50% of the total cost of projects supported by the grant, and support eligible projects occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2025. Organizations do not need to be based in Virginia Beach to apply, but eligible projects must take place in Virginia Beach.

Presentations will be made in person March 27-28, 2025. Awards and contracts will be issued in the summer for the upcoming fiscal year.

For more information, visit the Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department’s grant opportunities page. Interested nonprofit organizations can apply for grants online. If you have any questions, please contact Cultural Affairs at artsinfo@vbgov.com. The AHC will not accept faxed or emailed applications.

In addition, fiscal year 2024-25 Community Cultural Arts Grant (CCAG) and Leadership and Organizational Development (LOD) Grant funding is still available.

The CCAG is designed to aid in building cultural equity in the arts in Virginia Beach by providing support for arts-based projects that reflect our changing communities through innovative, culturally rooted, and/or participatory projects with the goal of bringing the community together to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity. Organizations do not need to be based in Virginia Beach to apply, but eligible projects must take place in Virginia Beach.

The final deadline for CCAG applications is 5 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2025, with grant funds covering eligible projects occurring between now and June 30, 2025.

LOD grants support arts and humanities leaders (professional administrators and board members) in acquiring skills and practical tools that hone their ability to lead, develop and sustain the overall health and vitality of arts and humanities organizations.

Organizations are responsible for submitting applications 12 business days prior to the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission Executive Committee meeting at which the organizations would like the application reviewed.​ Funds are available until exhausted.

In partnership with the City of Virginia Beach's Cultural Affairs Department and the local arts community, the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission promotes excellence in the arts and humanities by initiating and supporting programs, activities and policies that inspire, nurture and reflect the cultural diversity of the area.

About the City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department
The Cultural Affairs Department engages residents and visitors through meaningful arts, heritage, and cultural experiences to connect and strengthen communities. The department assists and directs the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, coordinates the City's Public Art Program, oversees the Virginia Beach History Museums, provides contract management for the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, serves as the liaison with Virginia MOCA, the ViBe Creative District and the Virginia African American Cultural Center, and serves as a resource to local arts and humanities organizations.