The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture has begun accepting applications from local artists, cultural practitioners and nonprofit organizations for the county’s 2025 Arts Making Impact (AMI) Grant. The county is offering up to $5,000, and the deadline to submit an application is April 18. 

The AMI Grant is part of a larger project to expand art access for residents throughout the county, the arts and culture office said in a press release. The grant includes $5,000 for individuals, with a total of $50,000 in funding available. 

“We’re really proud of the AMI grant. For over a decade, it has helped to increase arts and culture access across Santa Barbara County,” said Arts Commission Chair Robert Dickerson. “Our goal is for residents — regardless of income, geography, or background — to experience theater, music, writing, storytelling, and beyond. We’ve seen AMI catalyze change in our communities and look forward to building on this momentum.”

Organizations applying for the grant must hold nonprofit status and have an annual operating budget under $500,000. Individual artists and community groups may also apply under the auspices of a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, the arts and culture office said. Projects funded through the grant would have to take place between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

Those interested in applying for the grant would also need to attend a free online workshop, which will offer details on eligibility, the application process and the guidelines for funding. The next workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 10.

The AMI Grant is made possible through a partnership between the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, which provides the re-granting funds through its community arts subsidy.

Applications for the grant can be submitted online at sbac.force.com/communitygrants.