Organizer Information
The City of Bellevue Arts & Culture Program administers the 2027 Project Grant, a public funding program supporting arts, cultural, and heritage projects that serve residents and visitors of Bellevue, Washington. The program seeks to support innovative projects led by artists, individuals, groups, businesses, and organizations, particularly projects that address cultural gaps and create new opportunities for creative and civic engagement. The program is supported by 4Culture and the King County Hotel Lodging Tax.
Title & Description
City of Bellevue 2027 Project Grant
The 2027 Project Grant provides one-year funding for publicly accessible arts, cultural, and heritage projects taking place in Bellevue, Washington, during 2027. Applicants may request $3,000, $5,000, or $7,000 in project funding.
Eligible projects can include workshops, lectures, film screenings, festivals, art installations, gallery exhibitions, concerts, performances, and other activities involving at least one artist or cultural practitioner. Projects are expected to offer meaningful public benefits and contribute to Bellevue's cultural life, particularly by filling gaps in existing arts, cultural, or heritage opportunities.
Applicants may also request a separate $1,000 BelRed Arts District bonus if their project will take place in Bellevue's BelRed Neighborhood and meets the additional requirements for activating or raising awareness of the district.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Film & Video
- Performing Arts
- Music
- Literature & Writing
- Cultural Heritage
- Installation Art
- Community Arts
- Festivals & Events
- Workshops & Education
Eligibility
The grant is open to individuals aged 18 or older, groups, businesses, and organizations acting as the primary project leaders. Individual applicants must have a Social Security Number, Tax ID, or EIN.
Projects must be publicly accessible, take place in Bellevue, and include an artist or cultural practitioner. Previous Project Grant recipients may apply again.
Organizations receiving Eastside Arts Partnership grants are not eligible. Other exclusions include churches or religious organizations when funds would support religious purposes, discriminatory organizations, groups currently in litigation with the City, political campaigns or parties, and unions representing City employees.
Political, religious, fundraising, and certain prohibited expenses are also ineligible.
Program Benefits & Awards
Applicants may request one of three grant levels:
- $3,000
- $5,000
- $7,000
An additional $1,000 BelRed Arts District bonus is available for qualifying projects located in the BelRed Neighborhood.
Funding is available for one year and cannot be carried forward. Payment is generally made after project completion and submission of the required Post-Grant Report, although an exception may permit up to half of the award to be received after work begins.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 October 2026
- Allocations Committee Review: October–November 2026
- Arts Commission Review: November 2026
- City Council Review: November–December 2026
- Award Announcements: December 2026
- Award Acceptance Deadline: January 10, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
- Post-Grant Report Deadline: November 30, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
The City reserves the right to modify the timeline.
Location
Bellevue, Washington, United States
Additional Details
Applications are competitively reviewed according to artistic innovation, public access and benefit, and project feasibility. Proposals should demonstrate how they address community cultural needs, expand creative participation, fill an existing cultural gap, and provide clear public benefits.
Recipients must acknowledge City of Bellevue support in printed programs, public signage, and relevant digital media. They must also complete a final report documenting the funded project. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional funding sources where project costs exceed the grant amount.