Ontario Artist Microgrant Application Guide

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All responses will be kept confidential and used solely for the purposes outlined above. Your honest feedback is invaluable to us and will play a crucial role in shaping the future of arts support in California.

Program Overview

Arts Connection, The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, in partnership with the City of Ontario, is proud to announce the launch of the City of Ontario’s first-ever Artist Microgrant Pilot Program, opening December 15, 2025. This historic initiative represents a landmark investment in uplifting artists and building community through public art for the residents of the City of Ontario. The Microgrant Program will provide 7–12 artists with grants ranging from $500 to $1,500, supporting projects that have a social art component/public activation within the City of Ontario.

Applicants Eligibility

  • Be an artist of any discipline (visual arts, music, dance, writing, performance, mixed media, digital art, culinary arts, etc.)

  • Currently living in San Bernardino County and whose proposed project impacts the community from the City of Ontario.

  • Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.

  • Be able to complete the proposed project with a public activation in the City of Ontario by September 30, 2026.

  • City of Ontario Employees and elected-appointed folks cannot apply.

Project Criteria

Your project must result in a public activation within the City of Ontario.

  • Some examples include:

    1. Workshops

    2. Pop-up installations

    3. Live paintings

    4. Public performances

    5. Storytelling or cultural events

    6. Community-engaged arts experiences

  • Project must enrich the cultural life of the City of Ontario:

    • Some examples include:

      1. Uplifting community stories and voices

      2. Celebrating Ontario's history, culture, or people

      3. Increasing access to the arts and cultural exchange

      4. Strengthening community connection and pride

  • Projects must be feasible within the Microgrant budget and the program lifetime.

    • NOTE: Microgrant funding may be used with projects where you might already have additional funding from another source, or as part of a matching grant.

  • Only 1 application per project will be eligible

Ineligible Projects

The following projects will not be funded:

  • Projects not located/taking place within Ontario City limits

  • Projects without a clear public or community engagement component

  • Private events or projects restricted to select groups

  • Capital improvements or permanent construction

  • Fundraising events

  • Projects with religious purposes

  • Projects with political purposes, including but not limited to fundraising activities or services, and lobbying activities

  • Programs or services intended for private use, or for use by restricted memberships

  • Projects scheduled outside the grant timeline

  • Projects featuring discriminatory language or activities

Support and Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the Microgrant Application, please contact our Programs Manager and Residency Curator - Crystal Sepúlveda at Crystal@artsconnectionnetwork.org or our Associate Director - Ulises Rodriguez at Ulises@artsconnectionnetwork.org.

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