The City of Dubuque and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission are now accepting applications for the Arts & Culture Operating Support grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025. Full program guidelines, scoring criteria, and access to the application portal are available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artsgrants.

The Operating Support grant is designed to assist established, Dubuque-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status whose primary mission is to create, produce, present, or provide arts and cultural experiences for public audiences.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A commitment to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their programs and operations.
• Alignment with the goals and priorities of the City of Dubuque’s 2016 Arts & Culture Master Plan.

Since the program’s inception in 2005, the City of Dubuque has invested over $4.9 million in local organizations and initiatives, expanding access to diverse arts and cultural experiences. These investments drive economic activity, strengthen community engagement, and support Dubuque as an equitable and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

“Through the most recent round of Operating Support grants, the City awarded funding to 16 nonprofit organizations, with individual awards ranging from $1,033 to $28,471, supporting budgets between $26,000 and $7.1 million annually,” said Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager. “These investments support nearly 1,500 full- and part-time arts and culture workers and contribute to an estimated $70.4 million in annual economic impact through tourism, hospitality, and retail activity—all while enhancing quality of life and community development.”

For more information, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/artsgrants or contact Bonnie Spurling, Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager, at bspurlin@cityofdubuque.org or 563-690-6059.