Performing Arts Grant Program

WELCOME

The City of Culver City sponsors dance, music and theatre performances through its Performing Arts Grant Program which is under the purview of the City’s Cultural Affairs Division and Cultural Affairs Commission. These performances provide enriching and accessible cultural opportunities for the city’s residents, business community and visitors. Performing arts organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply to this program.

The City of Culver City is dedicated to achieving cultural equity and inclusion through the Performing Arts Grant Program. Cultural equity and inclusion embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people—including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented in the development of arts policy; the support of artists; the nurturing of accessible, thriving venues for expression; and the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources.  

Award Amounts and Matching Funds

The City Council has allocated funding for this program from the Art in Public Places Program’s Cultural Trust Fund. The amount of grant funding available is dependent upon the total deposits made into the City’s Cultural Trust Fund each fiscal year. There is a current grant limit of $15,000 per organization, and applicants must provide matching funds that are equal to, or greater than, their requested grant amount. 

You may download a printable copy of the complete guidelines here.(PDF, 528KB)

To be eligible for consideration, organizations and projects must meet all of the following criteria.

• The primary mission of the organization must include performances in one or more of the following disciplines: dance, music, theatre.
• The organization must be a current 501(c)(3) and provide proof of non-profit status; or the organization must provide a current agreement with an established fiscal receiver that is a 501(c)(3).
• The organization must be based within Los Angeles County.
• Projects must be scheduled to take place from January 1 - December 31, 2024.
• Performances must take place in an ADA-compliant venue or location.
• Performances may not be staged in conjunction with a fundraiser or class presentation.
• Applicants must include their SMU DataArts Funder Report for a minimum of one year.
• Applicants must demonstrate significant plans for outreach and promotion to attract the Culver City community.
• Applicants may not submit multiple applications for different projects.
• Applicants may not apply to the City’s Performing Arts Grant Program and the City’s Special Events Grant Program for the same project.

Venue Eligibility
All events must take place  in an ADA-compliant building,  facility, or location that meets one or more of the following criteria:

• wholly or partially located within Culver City;
• under the purview of the City of Culver City; or
• is assigned a USPS zip code  in 90230 or 90232.

Grant workshops are available to discuss the application and answer questions. We recommend that all applicants attend a workshop. 
First time applicants are required to attend a workshop.  

Email cultural.affairs@culvercity.org to attend future grant workshops. 

Grant Application Schedule

AUGUST 8, 2023
2024 Notice of Funding Availability, Grant Guidelines and Application Available 

August 17, 2023 at 10 AM (Virtual Workshop)
August 18, 2023 at 10 AM (In-Person Workshop)
Email cultural.affairs@culvercity.org for details and registration. 

September 15, 2023, at 5 PM
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION

October 2023
Peer Panel - Review Meeting and Recommendations  

November 2023
Cultural Affairs Commission Meeting and Recommendations  

December 2023
City Council Approves Final Grant Awards  

January 1 to December 31, 2024
Grant Performances in Culver City

Submission Requirements

All applicants must adhere to the procedures specified in these guidelines and in the Performing Arts Grant Application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No exceptions. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application form and required attachments are complete. All applications will be compiled by staff to confirm that they are complete. All complete applications will be forwarded to a peer review panel of independent individuals with expertise in performing arts and non-profit grants. City staff is not obligated to contact applicants for missing information and incomplete applications will be disqualified.

All other application support materials, including venue letter of intent, project budget, funder report, non-profit documents, artistic samples, and collateral materials, must be uploaded and submitted by the deadline.

Project Budget
Project budgets must be submitted using the approved format only. The budget is for your proposed project only. Detailed budget notes are highly recommended. The Culver City grant request must be included in the budget, as well as other sources of funding. In-kind income and expenses must also be included if applicable, with details. Do not provide an organizational budget.

Link to Budget Template(XLSX, 25KB) (Excel .xlxs)

Link to Budget Instructions with Template(DOCX, 56KB) (Word .docx)

Performance Venues
The Venue Letter of Intent, signed by the grant applicant and signed by a representative of the venue, is required.

Performances must be available to the general public at an affordable price or for free. Events must take place in an ADA-compliant building or facility that is wholly or partially located in Culver City or under the purview of the City of Culver City or is assigned a USPS zip code in 90230 or 90232. Please contact Culver City staff in advance to verify venue addresses if necessary.

All applicants must demonstrate significant plans to attract Culver City audiences, and the performance location is an important aspect of those efforts. 

Please note that you are not limited to the venues on our lists and grant staff are available to review other creative ideas for your performance location.
See VENUES section below for further instructions.

Contract, Acknowledgement, Marketing
Grant recipients will be required to sign a contract, defining requirements to be fulfilled, including addition of credit and logo in promotional materials and programs. If your grant project or performance details change, it is required that you notify grant staff. Should the requirements not be met, the grant award is subject to withdrawal.

Grant recipients are required to contact City staff two months prior to their first performance date to review marketing plans for performances in Culver City and to ensure receipt of the approved sponsor logos.

To ensure that acknowledgment is given to the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Culver City Arts Foundation, grant recipients are required to include a credit line, as well as logos, in marketing materials and the event program. All grant recipients shall provide a draft of the marketing materials and event program to City staff prior to their publication.

Cultural Data Profile Funder Report
The City of Culver City is participating with SMU DataArts to utilize the Cultural Data Profile (CDP). The City of Culver City, along with other funders, requires applicants to complete an annual survey that collects financial and programmatic data. Applicants will complete the online CDP and use that data as part of their application to all participating funders. Organizations with total expenses below $50,000 may opt to complete a shorter CDP form, making the data entry process faster and more equitable for small nonprofits. All applications must include the DataArts Funder Report for the Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program with their application. See CULTURAL DATA PROFILE section below for further instructions. 

Tax Exempt Status Verification
Applicant organizations, or their fiscal receiver, must qualify as tax exempt – as defined by the Internal Revenue Service and CA Secretary of State – at the time the application is submitted. A copy of the non-profit determination letter issued by the IRS and a screenshot or confirmation page from the CA Secretary of State showing active nonprofit status within 60 days of the deadline, must be submitted with the application to be considered eligible.

Use of Funds
Grant awards from Culver City may only be used for direct expenses related to the performances in Culver City. No grants will be awarded for performances that are staged in conjunction with a fundraiser or a class presentation. Funding may be awarded for a single production or a series of performances. 

Compliance
Compliance with licensing and insurance requirements, including those established by the facility at which the performance will be held, is required. If the proposed project requires performance or staging rights, the applicant is responsible for securing those rights. Applicant shall perform all work in accordance with applicable laws, codes and regulations required by all authorities having jurisdiction over such work.

Final Report and Payment
Grant recipients are required to submit an invoice after the performance and an evaluation form detailing audience attendance, comments, and zip code tally. We recommend that grantees register for direct deposit with the Culver City Finance Department. City staff can assist with that process.

Special Permits
Productions may require a permit through the City’s Committee on Permits and Licenses. Application must be made with the Finance Department at City Hall. Please contact the Business License Division at (310) 253-5870 for information on permit fees. 

Culver City Business Tax Certificate
All grant recipients shall be required to obtain a Culver City Business Tax Certificate before a contract can be issued and before any performances. Visit the Culver City Business Services website or call the Business Support Center at (310) 594-7847 for information. If you already have a Business Tax Certificate, it must be renewed annually. No grant contract may be issued without a valid Culver City Business Tax Certificate.

Evaluation and Selection Process
Grant applications will be reviewed by City staff to ensure that the application is complete. The applications will be presented to a peer review panel for evaluation and scoring. The panel includes independent individuals with applicable expertise. The recommendations of the review panel will be presented to the Performing Arts Grant Program Subcommittee who will forward its recommendation to the Cultural Affairs Commission for consideration. The City Council will review the recommendations made by the Cultural Affairs Commission and make the final determination concerning grant awards.

Scoring Criteria - 100 Total Possible Points

• Artistic excellence and cultural merit of project - 45 possible points
• Culver City outreach and engagement - 20 possible points
• Realistic project budget and funding - 20 possible points
• Contribution to cultural equity and inclusion - 15 possible points

BEFORE YOU BEGIN...PREPARE YOUR ANSWERS, BUDGET AND ATTACHMENTS

1. Use this sample of the grant application to prepare your ANSWERS and gather information.

Sample of 2024 Grant Application - Do Not Submit(PDF, 231KB) 

2. Use these instructions and templates to create your PROJECT BUDGET. Create a final PDF to upload with your application.

Link to Budget Template(XLSX, 25KB) (Excel .xlxs)

Link to Budget Instructions with Template(DOCX, 56KB) (Word .docx)

3. Complete the VENUE information and gather signatures. Create a final PDF to upload with your application.

Link to Venue Letter of Intent(DOCX, 35KB)  (Word .docx) 

4. Confirm that your NONPROFIT status is active. Create a final PDF to upload with your application.
You do not need to pay for a formal letter or report. Just a screenshot of the website showing "Status Active" is sufficient.

Visit the CA Secretary of State Business Search to Confirm

(PDF, 118KB)Sample of Secretary of State Confirmation(PDF, 512KB)

Upload PAG

Deadline to apply and upload your artistic samples for the Performing Arts Grant Program is September 15, 2023 at 5 PM.

You can find the full grant guidelines and the application form on the main grant page.

After you have submitted the main application, come back to this page to upload your videos, photos, and other support materials. 

Please upload the required samples and support materials listed below.  Files must be uploaded using the blue box below. 

Confirm that the files are in the appropriate format and include your organization name. Please name the files using the samples below.

Required Artistic Samples - Videos Preferred and/or Photos
One video required; maximum of four total samples

• File Name:  Your Organization Name - Artistic Sample 1
• File Name:  Your Organization Name - Artistic Sample 2

Other Support Materials - Articles, Flyers, Reviews, Programs, etc.
Maximum of four attachments

• File Name:  Your Organization Name - Article
• File Name:  Your Organization Name - Flyer
• File Name: Your Organization Name - Program

   

VENUES

Partial List of Culver City Venues(PDF, 132KB)

Performances must take place in an ADA-compliant building or facility that is wholly or partially located in Culver City or under the purview of the City of Culver City or is assigned a USPS zip code of 90230 or 90232. Please note that you are not limited to the venues or dates on these lists. Information about some of the venues that are often used for performing arts events is listed below.

For contact details of these and additional venues, please refer to the Partial List of Culver City Venues.(PDF, 132KB)

Veterans Memorial Complex: This complex includes Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Rotunda Room, Garden Room, Culver City Teen Center, and Culver City Senior Center. All facilities are available for rentals and regularly accommodate performances and rehearsals.

Kirk Douglas Theatre: Center Theatre Group is the resident company of the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Only Culver City-based performing arts organizations are eligible to participate in the Kirk Douglas Theatre Community Access Program. 2024 access dates are to be determined. Standard rentals are available for other organizations based on availability.

Ivy Substation: The Actors’ Gang is the resident company of Ivy Substation. All applicants are eligible to participate in the Ivy Substation Community Access Program from June 28 to July 14, 2024. Standard rental rates apply.

Culver City Parks: There are several parks within Culver City that could accommodate performances. Visit the Culver City Parks and Recreation page for a list of parks with photos, amenities, and contact information. 

Robert Frost Auditorium is located on the campus of Culver City High School and is available for rentals.

Wende Museum: The former armory building, adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park, has been transformed into a modern museum and includes indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for events.

The Venue Letter of Intent(DOCX, 35KB) , signed by the grant applicant and signed by a representative of the venue, is required. Upload the signed document with your grant application. 

Cultural Data Profile Funder Report 

The City of Culver City is participating with SMU DataArts to utilize the Cultural Data Profile (CDP). The City of Culver City, along with other funders, requires applicants to complete an annual survey that collects financial and programmatic data. Applicants will complete the online Cultural Data Profile and use that data as part of their application to all participating funders throughout the state. Organizations with expenses below 50K can opt to complete a shorter Cultural Data Profile, making the data entry process faster and more equitable for small nonprofits. All applications must include the DataArts Funder Report for the Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program with their application. 

DataArts is a web-based data collection and business intelligence platform, which is the result of field-wide collaboration among cultural nonprofits, public and private grantmakers, researchers, and advocates. DataArts’ flagship service is the Cultural Data Profile (CDP) or Survey, a standardized online form completed annually by approximately 10,000 cultural organizations as a common component of grant applications to hundreds of participating grant programs nationwide. Organizations can produce a variety of reports designed to help increase management capacity and inform decision-making.    

 The City of Culver City requires all Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program applicants to complete a CDP through the SMU DataArts website. A DataArts Funder Report is a requirement of the grant application package and must be submitted by the applicable deadline.    

Follow these instructions to complete a CDP:     

1. Go to: da.culturaldata.org to access your already existing DataArts account. If you do not have a DataArts account, you can create one.  If you create a new account, your next step will be to join an organization.    

2. Once you are logged in to your account, click ‘New Survey’ from your Dashboard to create and complete a CDP for your most recently completed fiscal year.       

3. Enter data using your board-approved financial audit/review or year-end financial statements.     

a. If your organization is not audited/reviewed, enter data based on board-approved, year-end financial statements.       

b. DO NOT enter project budgets, budgets for future years, or data from incomplete or not-yet-approved audits/reviews/financial statements. When should I enter my Data?     

c. Provide notes in the Funder Report narrative in your CDP explain any significant financial or other variances in your Funder Report.  Those notes will appear below those sections in your Funder report.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to explain significant variances, to explain a deficit or surplus, to describe plans to retire a deficit, or to use a surplus. Unexplained budget or attendance variances may result in poor reviews or scores.   

4. If there are inconsistencies in your data, the built-in error check will alert you and you will be able to correct any issues as you go.   

5. Once you clear the error check, you will generate a Funder Report for City of Culver City Cultural Affairs.

6. After clicking the ‘View’ dropdown, select ‘Generate Report.’ This is an important step that means you are giving The City of Culver City permission to see your data. While a Funder Report will generate, it will NOT be automatically sent to The City of Culver City.

7. Save the PDF Funder Report so you can upload and submit it to with the rest of your grant application. 

The completion of the DataArts CDP will require an investment of time. A number of resources are available to help applicants, including an online Knowledge Base, training videos, educational resources and data literacy courses. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the SMU DataArts Support Center for assistance with the updated platform during regular business hours.      

For new users who need assistance in completing a Cultural Data Profile or current users who need guidance using the new platform, there are frequent online orientation trainings through the DataArts website. You can register for an Orientation to the DataArts Platform through the training calendar. You can also listen to a recording of the latest online orientation.     

Applicants should direct questions concerning the DataArts Cultural Data Profile to:      

SMU DataArts Support Center Toll Free: (877) 707-3282
Email: help@culturaldata.org

The SMU DataArts Support Center is available Monday–Friday from 6 AM to 4 PM PST. 

Complete this Evaluation Form after your grant performance.

Zip Code Tally Worksheet (PDF)(PDF, 53KB)

Sample Invoice for 2023 Grant Payments (Word Document)(DOCX, 41KB)