State of Alabama

10/01/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/01/2025 09:02

Announcing funding opportunity for Alabama’s creative spaces

MONTGOMERY, Ala., (October 1, 2025) - The Alabama State Council on the Arts is now accepting applications for Creative Places Arts Facilities grants to support and strengthen Alabama's creative spaces.

Creative Places funding for fiscal year 2026 is available in three distinct categories:

  • ENHANCEMENT GRANTS to fund equipment purchases and upgrades that will improve how cultural assets and works of art are presented, produced, exhibited, and/or preserved. Applicants may request up to $50,000. No applicant-funded expenses are required for enhancement grants.
  • DESIGN GRANTS to fund necessary steps to build, renovate, reuse, or restore an arts facility. Applicants may request up to $75,000.
  • CONSTRUCTION GRANTS to fund the building of a new facility, substantial renovations of an existing facility, or significant repairs/modifications of existing facilities. Applicants may request up to $100,000.

Facilities-focused grants provide recipients with the opportunity to make necessary repairs and long-term investments in their creative spaces, ensuring that the scope of outreach extends beyond the buildings and into the communities they serve.

"These critical investments make a big difference in communities throughout Alabama and will pay dividends for years to come," said Elliot Knight, executive director of the Council on the Arts. "We extend our gratitude to the Alabama Legislature for their continued support of the Creative Places Arts Facilities grant program."

FISCAL YEAR 2025 GRANTEE UPDATES

A total of 64 Creative Places grants were awarded for fiscal year 2025. Below are just two examples that highlight the impact of that round of funding:

ArtsRevive - Selma, Ala.: ArtsRevive utilized its $47,200 construction grant to reinforce the roof of the Carneal Building, as well as repair decking. The improvements went beyond the physical space - they helped fulfill the organization's mission of using the arts as a catalyst for community development and creative placemaking in Selma.

Foundation 154/Elba Theatre - Elba, Ala.: Foundation 154's enhancement grant of $40,000 was dedicated to the purchase and installation of the most essential components of the Elba Theatre's new audio system. The audio system ensures that the theatre can reliably host a wide range of performances, film screenings, and civic events with professional sound quality.

APPLYING FOR CREATIVE PLACES FUNDING

Eligible spaces include Alabama-based performing arts centers, art museums and galleries, multi-purpose arts centers, artist residency facilities, and outdoor performance venues.

Organizations are invited to request funding at arts.alabama.gov/apply. Applications must be submitted by nonprofit organizations or municipalities with facilities primarily used for arts programming. Funding is made possible thanks to a special appropriation from the Alabama Legislature.

All applications will be considered, with awards prioritized for organizations:

  • Located in and serving rural communities.
  • Who were not awarded a Creative Places Arts Facilities grant for fiscal year 2025.

The deadline to apply is December 1, 2025, at 5:00 pm CT. Grant awards will be announced in March 2026.

For more details on eligibility, the application process, and grant administration, review the Creative Places Arts Facilities grant guidelines.

# # #

About Alabama State Council on the Arts
The Council on the Arts is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts in Alabama. The Council works to expand and preserve the state's cultural resources by supporting nonprofit arts organizations, schools, colleges, units of local government, and individual artists. Arts programs, assisted by Council grants, have a track record of enhancing community development, education, cultural tourism, and overall quality of life in all regions of the state. Alabama State Council on the Arts grants are made possible by an annual appropriation from the Alabama Legislature and additional funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

State of Alabama published this content on October 01, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 01, 2025 at 15:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]