Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant Program

Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant Program is sponsored by SVCREATES. This program invites artists and arts organizations based in the greater Gilroy area to apply for projects and/or programs aiming to elevate artists and the arts community in Gilroy by demonstrating the role arts can play in community empowerment, activation, and revitalization.

Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grant Program - SVCREATES Application and Program Guidelines This grant program is made possible through a partnership with the City of Gilroy, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the County of Santa Clara.

In alignment with the mission of SV CREATES , these grants aim to elevate artists and the arts community in Gilroy by demonstrating the role arts can play in equitable community empowerment, activation and revitalization.

Objectives for Gilroy Elevate the Arts Grants Support the creation and presentation of culturally relevant artistic work Raise the visibility and voice of local artists Engage the community and activate public spaces through the arts Catalyze capacity and resilience in our historically under-resourced arts ecosystem Rally public support of the arts as a fundamental part of Gilroy’s economic & urban development Artists and arts organizations based in the greater Gilroy area are invited to apply for projects and/or programs to be delivered in Gilroy between September 1, 2026 and August 30, 2027.

Grants are competitive and limited by the available funding. Partial funding may be awarded. Grant request range will be $3,000 - $10,000.

Monday, June 22 at 6:00pm Panelist/Staff Review and Scoring July 31 – August 14, 2026 1202 Contemporary : 2026 Exhibitions Series An expanded series consists of two distinct, eight-week exhibitions: the first, a group photography show in the spring, and the second, a curated group show in the fall, coinciding with the Day of the Dead and La Ofrenda festival.

MANOS : Fourth Annual Chalk Festival "Uplifting" A chalk arts competition and festival will engage artists, families, and youth of all ages with music, dance performances, and vendors at Christmas Hill Park.

Rubén Dario Villa : Third Annual La Ofrenda Festival and Wellness Fair The third annual Día de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair honors, celebrates, and preserves Indigenous traditions through a free, multi-generational celebration held in Downtown Gilroy, bridging the gap between arts, culture, and wellness.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County : ARTrepreneur Workshop Series A series of creative and business-based workshops designed to help artists in the Gilroy area get a start in the art world, including art as an income source as well as creative expression.

Silicon Valley Mariachi Foundation : Gilroy Summer Mariachi Workshops An educational workshop with an emphasis on mariachi music including group and individual instruction with mariachi instruments (violin, trumpet, guitar, vihuela, guitarrón) as well as voice and mariachi history, will culminate in an evening showcase for family and friends of the participants.

FAB Productions : Casa de Cultura Summer Art Nights A free, two-day community activation series at Casa de Cultura y Arte (CDCA). The series blends interactive visual art, themed live painting, and bilingual engagement to help transform downtown Gilroy into a family-friendly hub for creativity, connection, and cultural pride.

MANOS : 5th Anniversary Folklorico Showcase A public showcase of the students of MANOS Folklorico , featuring over 50 dancers and celebrating the music and dance of all the states and regions across Mexico, from marimba to mariachi.

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival A multi-day, volunteer-led film festival and cultural celebration that screens over 300 films from more than 40 countries each April across South Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, with Gilroy serving as the heart of the festival.

1202 Contemporary : 2025 Exhibitions Series Two eight-week art exhibitions open to the public in downtown Gilroy, featuring artists from Gilroy and surrounding communities working in printmaking, and an immersive installation that will include community participation.

6th Street Studios and Art Center : Youth Mentorship Mural on Railroad Alley In partnership with Shades of Brown Alliance (SOBA), a Gilroy based artist collective, this project will engage at-promise youth in a collaborative mural project that aims to beautify the downtown area, celebrate the cultural heritage of East/Old Gilroy, and foster artistic expression for youth.

Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS) : Tamale Festival Gilroy 2024 A Free Community Cultural Festival featuring live music performances, booths showcasing tamales from various regions of Mexico, a tamale cook-off, kid zone, and car show, in downtown Gilroy in September 2024 MANOS : Third Annual Chalk Festival "Halloween" Chalk arts competition and festival, with music, dance performances, and vendors in the heart of Gilroy, engaging artists, families, and youth of all ages.

Rubén Dario Villa : Second Annual La Ofrenda Festival and Wellness Fair Dia de Muertos Festival & Wellness Fair honors, celebrates and preserves Indigenous traditions, through a free, multi-generational celebration held in Downtown Gilroy, bridging the gap between arts, culture and wellness.

Gallery 1202 | Project: Exhibition Series 2023-2024 6th Street Studios and Art Center | Project: Traditional Arts Workshop Series MANOS | Project: Second Annual Chalk Festival "Día de Muertos" Theme Melanie Reynisson & Local Color SJ | Project: Gallery in the Alley-Capos Murals Rubén Darío Villa | Project: La Ofrenda Festival — Gilroy's Día de Muertos Festival and Wellness Fair South Santa Clara Valley Memorial District | Project: Eigleberry Street Patriotic Mural The 2026 application is now closed.

If you have questions about this grant or application, please contact SV CREATES' Director of Programs, Sinjin Jones: Type and Press “enter” to Search