2023-2024 Arts and Cultural Grant Application Period Now Open

The San Marcos Arts Commission supports our community’s art and cultural scene with a series of grant programs for both nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists. 

There are two opportunities annually for receiving arts grants from the San Marcos Arts Commission - the Arts and Cultural Tourism Grant and the Community Arts Grant.

Mandatory applicant workshops

Attendance to at least one grant applicant workshop is mandatory - new rules and procedures have been implemented this year, and we want to explain them thoroughly before you fill out your application. Sign up for one of the workshops in the form below.

Deadline: September 18, 2023 by 5:00pm CST

Grant structure

Two separate grants – since Hotel Occupancy Tax funding has more stringent requirements mandated by the state, we are now separating it from grants supplied by the City’s General Fund. Each project application must be for one or the other grant; there is no “mixing and matching” of funding sources:

• Arts and Cultural Tourism Grant – Larger of the two grants, but stricter state requirements. This grant is funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax. State law sets the rules on how this money may be spent; HOT funds must be used to directly benefit tourism and business in San Marcos. Fifteen percent of the grant request must be used for paid advertising outside of San Marcos City Limits. Grant recipients must provide paid advertising receipts in their final reports.
• Community Arts Grant – Smaller pool of funding, but no requirement to draw tourism. Events must be in the San Marcos city limits to qualify for funding. This grant, supported by City’s General Fund, is available for projects that have artistic and cultural value but may not attract overnight visitors. Examples include youth summer camps and virtual events. Diversity Funding is also available for programs that serve historically under-represented groups or cultures in our community or that celebrate a diverse ethnic and cultural heritage of our community and beyond.

Only non-profit organizations and individual artists are eligible for this program. 

Deadline: September 18, 2023 by 5:00pm CST

Grant applications must be received by 5pm Central Standard Time on Monday, September 18, 2023

Application forms NOTE: Current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader required

Download and save all three files from the links below. Be sure to save PDF to your computer and do not fill out forms in a browser or you will lose your work. The budget form is completely different from previous grant cycles and the expense reports are new this year. Please give yourself adequate time to complete before deadline. Contact Arts Coordinator Trey Hatt at ghatt@sanmarcostx.gov for any questions about the grants or the application process.

Application

Budget form

Revenue and Expense Forms​