Artist Grants

Application Period Open

Intent to Apply closes January 23, 2026 at 5 p.m. Application opens February 2, 2026 at 8 a.m.
View the timeline for more information or sign up for an information session.

The Department of Arts & Culture offers Artist Grants to San Antonio-based professional artists working in the following disciplines:

literary arts
media arts
multi-disciplinary arts
performing arts
visual arts

Annual grants of $7,500 and $15,000 support artists in their creation of new work. Artists can apply individually or as part of a collective/ensemble.

Timeline

January 5, 2026

Intent to Apply opens at 8 a.m. CST

January 23, 2026

Intent to Apply closes at 5 p.m. CST

February 2, 2026

Application opens at 8 a.m. CST

February 20, 2026

Application closes at 5 p.m. CST

April 2026

Panel Review

June 2, 2026

Funding Notification

June 25, 2026

Arts Funding Committee: Approve Preliminary Funding Recommendations

July 14, 2026

San Antonio Arts Commission: Approve Funding Recommendations

September 2026

City Council approves FY 27 Budget

October 1, 2026 - March 31, 2028

Contract Term

Apply

Step 1.Submit Intent to Apply

The Intent to Apply is open January 5, 2026, at 8 a.m. - January 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST.

Submit your Intent to Apply through our grant management portal (GO Smart). You will need to create an individual account. If you already have an account, please confirm its accuracy. Do not create an organization profile.

NOTE: Make sure your profile is up to date before beginning an application. It will be used for all communications and contracting.

Submit Intent to Apply

Your Intent to Apply will be reviewed to confirm eligibility. If eligible, you will be granted access to the application.

All application communications from the Department will come from GO Smart. Please add noreply@gosmart.org to your email contact list so that important emails do not go into your junk or spam box.

Step 2.Apply

Applications are open February 2, 2026, at 8 a.m. - February 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST.

If you have been notified of your eligibility, you may apply:

Log in to your GO Smart account.
Click on the tab titled Grant Applications & Forms.
Search for the application.

Information Sessions

We will hold free informational sessions on how to apply for the FY 27 Artist Grants. Space is limited, reserve your spot now.

Resources

Application Video Tutorials

Check out these short tutorials on common application questions.

Proof of Address: Acceptable forms of address verification to confirm residency within San Antonio city limits.
Artist Resume/CV: Required components for your artist resume/CV.
Selecting an Artistic Category: Importance of selecting the right criteria for your project.
Collectives vs. Collaborators: Learn about the differences between artist collectives vs. artistic collaborators.
Artist Collectives: Key requirements for applying as an Artist Collective.
Artist Statement: Guidance on elements to include—and avoid—in your artist statement.
Budget: Helpful tips on completing your budget’s expenses, income, in-kind support.
Completing the Application’s Ethics Forms: Step-by-step guidance on how to complete the Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (CIQ) and Addendum based on your relationship(s) with/to the City of San Antonio.

In This Section

Artist Grantees

View a list of current and past artist grantees.