Application and Program Guidelines
Background
This grant program is made possible through a partnership with the City of Gilroy and the County of Santa Clara, and was launched with initial support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. 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 September 1, 2026 and August 30, 2027. 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
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Applications Open |
June 1, 2026 |
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Application Workshop |
Monday, June 22 at 6:00pm |
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Applications Close |
July 10, 2026 |
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Panelist/Staff Review and Scoring |
July 13 – July 31, 2026 |
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Panelist Clarification |
July 31 – August 14, 2026 |
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Closed Panel Discussion |
Week of August 17, 2026 |
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Award Notifications |
August 24, 2026 |
2026 Funded Projects:
4th Annual La Ofrenda Festival
La Ofrenda Festival is Gilroy’s annual Día de Muertos Festival and Wellness Fair: a free, multigenerational arts and cultural celebration that honors, celebrates, and preserves Indigenous and Mexican traditions while connecting arts, culture, wellness, and community life.
1202 Contemporary: 2027 Exhibition Series
A two-part, community-based contemporary exhibition series in Spring and Fall 2027. Curating in Gilroy since 2019 (funded since 2023), 1202 Contemporary Exhibition Series focuses on deep community engagement by exploring a multitude of diverse artistic materials and themes each year
Tradiciones Folklorico Academy: Hasta La Raiz
Hasta La Raiz is a free community Folklorico event held at the Christmas Hill Park Amphitheater in Gilroy, CA featuring over 15 Folklorico dance groups and local student artists.
JMM Dance Co: Gilroy Young Voices: Stories in Motion
Gilroy in Motion: Stories of Our Community is a free, multidisciplinary community arts festival and performance that will bring local stories to life through movement, dance, spoken word, poetry, storytelling, and music.
Silicon Valley Mariachi Foundation: 2027 Gilroy Mariachi Summer Camp
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.
Talleres Niñøs de la Montaña: Visual Arts Workshops
A series of public, youth-oriented visual arts workshops taking place at La Casa de Cultura y Arte. The first series, Cartoneando con Los Niñøs will introduce participants to the art of cartonería: learning papier-mâché techniques. The second series, Estampando con Los Niñøs, will introduce relief block printing.
The 2026 application is 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