Organizer Information
The City of Bellevue Arts & Culture Program administers the Eastside Arts Partnership (EAP) Support Grants, a public funding program supporting nonprofit arts, cultural, and heritage organizations serving Bellevue residents and visitors. The program provides two years of operating support to eligible East King County nonprofits and emphasizes public access, creative engagement, community participation, and organizational sustainability. The program is supported by 4Culture and the King County Hotel Lodging Tax.
Title & Description
2027–28 Eastside Arts Partnership (EAP) Support Grant
The EAP Support Grant provides operational funding for eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations based on the Eastside of King County. Organizations may request up to $15,000 per year, provided the request does not exceed 50% of their annual organizational budget.
The grant provides two years of operating support. If an organization receives an award in 2027, the same award amount may be provided again in 2028, provided the organization maintains its nonprofit status and the same level of service.
Applicants may also apply for the PowerUp for Equal Access bonus grant, a separate $5,000 opportunity supporting efforts to address gaps in arts and cultural access for underserved communities.
Categories
- Arts & Culture
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Film & Media
- Literature & Literary Arts
- Heritage & Cultural Programs
- Arts Education
- Community Arts
- Multidisciplinary Arts
- Nonprofit Arts Organizations
Eligibility
The opportunity is organization-based rather than an individual artist open call. Eligible applicants must:
- Be a nonprofit organization with official IRS 501(c)(3) status.
- Have an arts-based mission or an NTEE code within the Arts, Cultural and Humanities category.
- Be located on the Eastside of King County.
- Have the majority of programming take place in East King County, including Bellevue, Bothell, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, or Woodinville.
- Offer at least one publicly accessible program or service serving Bellevue residents.
- Have operated as a nonprofit for at least two consecutive years, covering 2025–26.
Individuals, Project Grant applicants, churches and religious organizations using funds for religious purposes, political campaigns or parties, certain employee unions, organizations currently in litigation with the City, and organizations that discriminate against protected groups are not eligible.
Program Benefits & Awards
Eligible organizations may request up to $15,000 per year, subject to the 50% annual-budget limit.
- Two years of operating support
- Up to $15,000 annually
- Potential $5,000 PowerUp for Equal Access bonus in the first year
- Support for staff time, organizational services, and publicly accessible programming
- Funding for programs benefiting Bellevue residents and visitors
The PowerUp bonus is intended for compelling proposals addressing arts and cultural gaps affecting underserved communities.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10 October 2026
- Allocation Committee Review: October–November 2026
- Arts Commission Review: November 2026
- City Council Review: November–December 2026
- Awards Announced: December 2026
- Award Acceptance Deadline: January 10, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.
- Post-Grant Report Deadline: November 30, at 11:59 p.m.
The City reserves the right to change the timeline.
Location
Bellevue and East King County, Washington, United States
Additional Details
Applicants are evaluated competitively based on creative engagement, public access and benefit, organizational capacity, and sustainability. Funding preference is given to Bellevue-based organizations.
Recipients must provide at least one publicly accessible program, event, or service each year and acknowledge City of Bellevue support in printed programs, signage, and relevant digital media. A final/post-grant report is required before funding is released. Organizations should also be prepared for possible on-site reviews by the Arts Commission.
The PowerUp for Equal Access grant defines underserved communities broadly, including communities whose access to arts and culture may be limited by geography, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, economics, age, or disability.