ARPA Community Arts & Festival Grants

City of Charlottesville Community Arts & Festival Grants 

The City of Charlottesville Community Arts and Festival Grants Program is a grant program created to respond to the negative economic impacts of the pandemic. The grant program is intended to promote citywide special events that will activate public spaces, enrich the lives of residents, encourage partnerships between organizations, foster a vibrant and diverse community, and stimulate economic activity. A total of $580,000 was reserved by City Council in August 2022 for this purpose using American Rescue Plan funding.  

Grant funds can be used for expenses associated with the city services and the event costs. Events must occur within the City of Charlottesville and be public events.  Awards will maximize the funding allocation by allocating no more than $10,000 per event and splitting the funding between four (4) open application periods. Please carefully review the Grant Guidelines as provided here prior to submitting your application. 


Application 

Applications for the grant are available online through SurveyMonkey.  You may review the survey questions in full using this preview document (PDF). If an applicant needs accommodations to apply, please contact the City Manager’s Office, and we will help provide accessible alternatives. 

For events occurring during Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) 

  • Applications accepted through September 8, 2023, for events to be held between July 1, 2023- December 31, 2023. 
  • Applications accepted October 2, 2023, through October 31, 2023, for events to be held between January 1, 2024- June 30, 2024. 

For events occurring during Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2, 2024 – June 30, 2025) 

  • Applications accepted May 1st, 2024, through June 5th, 2024, for events to be held between July 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024. 
  • Applications will be accepted from October 1, 2024, through November 1st, 2024, for events to be held between January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025. 

Click here for the application.


Budget 

All applicants will be required to upload a detailed budget. Applicants can opt to use the provided template or their own. 


How and when can ARPA funds be used? 

  • The permitted use of the funds, as stated in the law, are proscribed and limited as follows: 
    • To respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;  
    • To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers;  
    • For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year prior to the emergency; and  
    • To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.  
  • The U.S. Treasury Department distributed the funds in two equal allotments, one received in May 2021 and the second in May 2022  
  • The projects/programs should be as “shovel-ready”  as possible 
  • The projects/programs must be completed before 2026   
  • There is no expectation for the program to continue after 2026  
  • The City is also considering the following factors when determining uses: 
    • Addressing a need clearly exaggerated by COVID-19    
    • A program/project vetted through prior community processes   
    • An effort that helps achieve strategic plan goals