Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant Program

Application and Program Guidelines

Background

This grant program is made possible through a partnership with the City of Gilroy, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the County of Santa Clara. In alignment with the mission of SVCREATES, these grants aim to elevate artists and the arts community in Gilroy by demonstrating the role arts can play in equitable community empowerment, activation and revitalization.

Objectives for Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grants

Support the creation and presentation of culturally relevant artistic work
Raise the visibility and voice of local artists
Engage the community and activate public spaces through the arts
Catalyze capacity and resilience in our historically under-resourced arts ecosystem
Rally public support of the arts as a fundamental part of Gilroy’s economic & urban development

Grant Opportunity

Artists and arts organizations based in the greater Gilroy area are invited to apply for projects and/or programs to be delivered in Gilroy between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026. Grants are competitive and limited by the available funding. Partial funding may be awarded. Grant request range will be $3,000 - $10,000.

Application Timeline

Applications are now closed for the 2025 Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grants. Please check back in Summer of 2026 for more information.

2025 Funded Projects:

1202 Contemporary: 2026 Exhibitions Series
An expanded series consists of two distinct, eight-week exhibitions: the first, a group photography show in the spring, and the second, a curated group show in the fall, coinciding with the Day of the Dead and La Ofrenda festival.

MANOS: Fourth Annual Chalk Festival "Uplifting"
A chalk arts competition and festival will engage artists, families, and youth of all ages with music, dance performances, and vendors at Christmas Hill Park.

Rubén Dario Villa: Third Annual La Ofrenda Festival and Wellness Fair
The third annual Día de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair honors, celebrates, and preserves Indigenous traditions through a free, multi-generational celebration held in Downtown Gilroy, bridging the gap between arts, culture, and wellness.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: ARTrepreneur Workshop Series
A series of creative and business-based workshops designed to help artists in the Gilroy area get a start in the art world, including art as an income source as well as creative expression.

Silicon Valley Mariachi Foundation: Gilroy Summer Mariachi Workshops
An educational workshop with an emphasis on mariachi music including group and individual instruction with mariachi instruments (violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, guitarrón) as well as voice and mariachi history, will culminate in an evening showcase for family and friends of the participants.

FAB Productions: Casa de Cultura Summer Art Nights
A free, two-day community activation series at Casa de Cultura y Arte (CDCA). The series blends interactive visual art, themed live painting, and bilingual engagement to help transform downtown Gilroy into a family-friendly hub for creativity, connection, and cultural pride.

MANOS: 5th Anniversary Folklorico Showcase
A public showcase of the students of MANOS Folklorico, featuring over 50 dancers and celebrating the music and dance of all the states and regions across Mexico, from marimba to mariachi.

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
A multi-day, volunteer-led film festival and cultural celebration that screens over 300 films from more than 40 countries each April across South Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, with Gilroy serving as the heart of the festival.

2025 Application Process (Now Closed)

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Eligible applicants can be individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, or creative small businesses or LLCs (note that individual artists, LLCs, or for-profit businesses without a fiscal sponsor will be responsible for any tax obligation required when receiving grants).
Eligible artists and organizations will be based in the greater Gilroy area (including San Martin, Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan Bautista).
Eligible applicants will include a lead artist or organization with a minimum of three years of experience with arts projects or programming in the Gilroy area, OR a minimum of three previous specific art pieces or projects or work samples to show; these may include murals, festivals, programs for youth, performances, or organized exhibits, etc.
Eligible projects will serve Gilroy residents and take place in central Gilroy.
Eligible projects will engage local artists.
Eligible lead applicants must be 21 years old or older; younger artists of all ages are welcome to participate and be on project teams.

Permitting and Municipal Requirements

Depending on the scope of your project, there may be municipal codes, City of Gilroy permissions or legal liability requirements. The grantee will be responsible for assessing and meeting such requirements.

Reporting

Each recipient will be expected to submit a short written report at the conclusion of their project summarizing the results and confirming how the grant funding was expended. This grant report includes a request for testimonials (either photos/videos, written testimonials by participants or artists, or links to press coverage).

Note: Organizations with active projects (funded with a previous Elevate Grant and not yet completed) under this program who wish to apply with a new project please reach out to SVCREATES first. Contact Director of Programs, Sinjin Jones, at sinjin@svcreates.org.

How to Apply

Applications for this grant cycle have closed as of September 19, 2025.

Application

This application will include the following:

Section 1: Basic Instructions — Some basic instructions and suggestions for filling out the application
Section 2: Organization/Primary Contact Information
Section 3: Project Information — Information about your project
Section 4: Project Personnel — Information about the people working on your project
Section 5: Artistic Samples (optional, but highly recommended) — An opportunity for you to show off your work

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of local arts and community leaders. During application review, panelists may submit questions back to applicants. Panelists' questions will be sent to applicants on or before October 20 and must be answered via email or in a phone call with Sinjin Jones on or before October 31. The panel will then meet and make recommendations. View and Download the Application Packet

Review Criteria
In reviewing applications, the review panel will consider the following factors:

Public Experience: Is this project an arts experience (e.g. performances, exhibitions, programs, festivals, murals) that is accessible to the public AND activates a public space?
Culturally Relevant: Is this project culturally relevant to Gilroy? For example, reflecting the history, geography, culture, diversity, current issues, or unique local traits.
Engagement: Does this project have the potential to attract public attention, engage audiences, and raise the visibility of the value of the arts in Gilroy?
Capacity: Does the applicant artist or arts organization demonstrate the capacity to successfully manage and complete the project?
Commitment to Craft: Does the applicant artist or arts organization demonstrate a commitment to artistic craft, artistic development, and to fair compensation to artists?

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Does this project provide opportunities for artists from historically under-resourced communities (e.g. BIPOC, other-abled, LGBTQ+) and /or opportunities for youth engagement?

2024 Funded Projects:

1202 Contemporary: 2025 Exhibitions Series
Two eight-week art exhibitions open to the public in downtown Gilroy, featuring artists from Gilroy and surrounding communities working in printmaking, and an immersive installation that will include community participation.

6th Street Studios and Art Center: Youth Mentorship Mural on Railroad Alley
In partnership with Shades of Brown Alliance (SOBA), a Gilroy based artist collective, this project will engage at-promise youth in a collaborative mural project that aims to beautify the downtown area, celebrate the cultural heritage of East/Old Gilroy, and foster artistic expression for youth.

Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS): Tamale Festival Gilroy 2024
A Free Community Cultural Festival featuring live music performances, booths showcasing tamales from various regions of Mexico, a tamale cook-off, kid zone, and car show, in downtown Gilroy in September 2024

MANOS: Third Annual Chalk Festival "Halloween"
Chalk arts competition and festival, with music, dance performances, and vendors in the heart of Gilroy, engaging artists, families, and youth of all ages.

Rubén Dario Villa: Second Annual La Ofrenda Festival and Wellness Fair
Dia de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair honors, celebrates and preserves Indigenous traditions, through a free, multi-generational celebration held in Downtown Gilroy, bridging the gap between arts, culture and wellness.

2023 Funded Projects:

Gallery 1202 | Project: Exhibition Series 2023-2024
6th Street Studios and Art Center | Project: Traditional Arts Workshop Series
MANOS | Project: Second Annual Chalk Festival "Día de Muertos" Theme
Melanie Reynisson & Local Color SJ | Project: Gallery in the Alley-Capos Murals
Rubén Darío Villa | Project: La Ofrenda Festival — Gilroy's Día de Muertos Festival and Wellness Fair
South Santa Clara Valley Memorial District | Project: Eigleberry Street Patriotic Mural

Application period for this cycle has now closed

Questions?
If you have questions about this grant or application, please contact SVCREATES' Director of Programs, Sinjin Jones:
(408) 998-2787 x204
sinjin@svcreates.org