Since 1987, the City of Indianapolis has invested in nonprofit arts and culture organizations through the Annual Grants Program (AGP), administered by the Indy Arts Council.
In 2024, a record 91 organizations received funding to support the programs, exhibitions and activities that nearly 8 million residents and visitors enjoy each year.
Program guidelines list details and requirements for this grant.
This program is not accepting new applications at this time.
Since 1987, the City of Indianapolis has invested in nonprofit arts and culture organizations through the Annual Grants Program, administered by the Indy Arts Council.
In 2024, a record 91 organizations received funding to support the programs, exhibitions and activities that nearly 8 million residents and visitors enjoy each year.
To ensure fairness, an independent panel of national grant professionals evaluates applications in a transparent process. Scoring centers diversity, equity, inclusion and access across three areas–community impact, artistic merit and organizational capacity, with an emphasis on racial equity.
To reduce grant writing workload and provide funding predictability for arts organizations, the Annual Grants Program runs on a multiyear cycle. The current cycle began in 2024 and ends in 2026. Organizations applied in 2024 and will be automatically awarded again in 2025 and 2026 without submitting a new application. Grantees must submit an annual report to remain in good standing with their contract.
All organizations will reapply in 2027 for the next multiyear cycle, which will cover 2027 – 2029.
If funding is available, organizations can apply during a multiyear cycle. This includes both: a) organizations who did not apply in 2024 and b) current grantees who wish to be rescored and are open to a potential change in their award amount.
Current grantees do not need to reapply during the multiyear cycle, but they may choose to reapply. Award amounts are not guaranteed for those who reapply, so consider discussing this option with IAC staff. Here are some considerations for organizations wishing to reapply:
A panel of national arts and culture grant professionals will review and score each application according to the criteria listed in the guidelines.
Applicants are invited and encouraged to listen to the panel’s feedback via Zoom on April 9. Applicants receive panel information directly via email.
Annual Grants Program funding is an allocation from the City of Indianapolis, Capital Improvement Board, and Bond Bank to Marion County arts and culture organizations and is administered by Indy Arts Council. Due to the arts community’s advocacy efforts in 2024, the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board and Bond Bank increased their allocation to support the Annual Grants Program and sector services. These funds support general operating expenses as these grantees produce accessible and memorable arts and cultural experiences in Marion County.
All grantees who applied in 2024 and are continue with their current contract (not reapplying in 2025) will receive at least an 18% automatic increase to their award amount for 2025.
All Annual Grants Program contracts and payments will be issued in May 2025.
The Indy Arts Council has developed brand guidelines and usage instructions to be used by all community partners. Please access these resources by clicking the button below.
Grantees must complete an annual report through indyarts.grantplatform.com by March 31, 2026 to remain in good standing with the grant contract. The report will be available in the grant portal in early 2026.
If your executive leadership and/or grant contact information has changed, immediately notify our team at grants@indyarts.org.
