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Planning

Annual Grants Guidelines

MAC seeks applications that do one or more of the following:

  1. Engage Madison residents in arts and cultural activities
  2. ​Expand an artist’s body of work or reach in the community
  3. Give the community an opportunity to participate in the creative process
  4. Provide PreK-12 students with arts activities in or after school
  5. Reach diverse or under-served communities
  6. Celebrate identity, a group, or neighborhood.

Grant Period

Applicants must complete funded projects between June 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027.

Eligible Applicants
  • Individual residents of the City of Madison over 18 years old
  • Nonprofit organizations with an address in the City of Madison and proof of 501(c)(3) status
  • Individuals/groups using a nonprofit fiscal receiver with a City of Madison address and 501(c)(3) status

Review grant types for additional eligibility requirements.

Ineligible Applicants
  • City agencies
  • Projects using other cash funding from the City of Madison
  • Elementary and secondary schools (K-12)
  • Post-secondary schools (unless the project will reach an audience beyond enrolled students)
  • Religious organizations or groups with a religious affiliation applying for projects that are inherently religious such as religious worship, instruction, and proselytization. Such organizations are eligible to apply for projects that are not inherently religious.

Applicants may collaborate with any of the above.

Project Location

  • Projects must be in the City of Madison.
  • MAC awards additional points for projects that provide transportation from or are in a community that has a Neighborhood Resource Team.

Privacy

Information you share in your application is not private. The Madison Arts Commission may be required to share your application as part of an open records request. This includes grant applications and supporting material, emails, and information collected from web-based forms.

Budget Information & Restrictions

Cash Match Required: The grant request must be matched with cash or a combination of cash and in-kind contributions. At least 50% of the match must be cash from non-City sources.

Total Project CostMaximum Grant Request*
(up to 50% of project cost)		Minimum Cash Match
(50%+ of grant request)
$3,000$1,500$750+
$6,000$3,000$1,500+
$10,000$5,000$2,500+

*Maximum Grant Request: Grant requests cannot be for more than 50% of the total project cost. Each grant type has a maximum:

  • Project: $5,000
  • Legacy: $1,500
  • Individual Fellowship: $2,000

Allowable Expenses
  • Artist fees
  • Royalties
  • Production expenses
  • Space rental
  • Marketing costs 
  • Expendable materials
  • Required insurance

Unallowable Expenses
  • Prizes 
  • Awards
  • Tuition
  • Unrelated expenses
  • Permanent equipment
  • Travel outside the City of Madison
  • Food and drinks
  • Repaying debts

In-kind Contributions

donations of goods or services, such as:

  • Labor/Time
  • Facilities/Space
  • Materials
  • Equipment
Date of Expenses

We will not pay for hours worked or expenses before contracts are signed by the City.

Labor as Expense

Individual artists may list all or part of their time as a project expense. List any hours you are not requesting funding for as an in-kind contribution.

Value of In Kind Expenses

Value labor at the rate the donor has previously earned for their work. Value venue and/or equipment at the rate it is typically rented.

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