photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

Lawrence City Hall is pictured on Oct. 11, 2024.

The City of Lawrence is now taking applications for the 2025 Community Arts Grant Program, and the city will add another option of “mini grants” for artists as well.

The grants program is a competitive grant initiative designed to provide funding for art programs and projects in Lawrence. The program is overseen by the Cultural Arts Commission, and the grants are funded through the city’s transient guest tax, which is paid by hotel guests. Last year, the program funded just under $72,000 in grants to 11 applicants.

The application for the community arts grants opened Thursday and will run until Feb. 3. The city said it is seeking applications that will reflect the city’s “Unmistakable Identity” focus, with emphasis on community engagement, equity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The city said it is specifically asking applicants to articulate how their project or program supports that goal.

As part of the process, the city is adding a pre-application review for new applicants. Interested applicants can submit their grant application PDF form by 11:00 p.m. on January 15, 2025 for initial screening and basic minimum requirements by staff. Feedback on the application will then be sent back by Jan. 22 before the final deadline.

Along with the Community Arts Grants, the city also announced it will provide a maximum of five “Mini Grants” of up to $500 to help support artists with start-up costs for equipment specifically aligned with their art practice. The application window for those grants will open Jan. 27 and have a deadline of March 7.

For more information about the program, including grant guidelines and the online application form, you can visit the city’s website or contact Porter Arneill at 785-832-3449 or parneill@lawrenceks.org.