City of Alameda Seeks Proposals for Cultural Public Art Grants

Published on January 29, 2026

The City of Alameda has released a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for Cultural Arts and Arts Programming Grants. This includes grants for the performing arts, literary arts, film & video, screenings and installations, arts education, art lectures and presentations, special events, and artist-in-residence programs. A total of $60,000 is available to be distributed across four grants by the City’s Public Art Commission.

The RFP is available for download at www.alamedaca.gov/culturalartrfp. The City will also host a virtual RFP Orientation on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 5:00 pm. To register to attend, please click here: https://alamedaca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9_-EG9xZTo6-dzHQ60XHQw

Proposals are due on Thursday, March 19, 2026 by 5:00 pm and must be submitted online at cityofalameda.submittable.com. All cultural arts programming must be free, open to the public, and located in the City of Alameda.

Previous cultural arts awardees include:

Rhythmix in the Parks: Unity Fest
A family-friendly festival featuring music and dance performances highlighting the vibrant artistic cultural traditions of Africa and the African Diaspora in Alameda parks.
Grantee: Rhythmix Cultural Works
Date(s): June, 2026

Circus Bella at Radium Runway
Circus Bella's enchanting one-ring circus at Alameda Point offers a vibrant celebration of circus arts that bridges generations and cultures.
Grantee: Radium Presents Inc.
Date(s): July 26, 2025

DeepDIVE: Under the Waves
DeepDIVE is a two-part multimedia performance piece exploring the mystery of the ocean, using video, music, dance, and large projections onto the Posey Tube building.
Grantee: West End Arts District
Date(s): November 8, 2025

Alameda Haunts Contest & Fete de Rattlin' Bones 20th Anniversary Celebrations
Alameda Haunts is a safe, family-friendly, city-wide Halloween house decorating contest that historically takes place on the days leading up to October 31.
Grantee: FunAmeda Productions
Date(s): October 24-31, 2025

Radio Day by the Bay
Radio Day by the Bay celebrates the artistic and cultural legacy of radio through live performances, historical exhibits, and community engagement.
Grantee: California Historical Radio Society
Date(s): July 19, 2025

Whispers of the Sanctuary
Whispers of the Sanctuary is a new original ballet conceived by Alameda Civic Ballet, inspired by the quiet beauty and ecological richness of the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary in Alameda.
Grantee: Alameda Civic Ballet
Date(s): Spring 2026

Alameda Native History Project's ACORNS!
ACORNS! combines interactive experiences, art education, functional public art installations, and land-based cultural arts events to preserve Native American heritage, educate the public about local Native History, and foster appreciation and representation of Native American Culture in Alameda.
Grantee: Alameda Native History Project
Date(s): July 2025 - May 2026

Hana Hou Hō'ike
Hana Hou Hō'ike is a family-friendly celebration featuring vibrant performances from the rich traditions of Polynesian dance, singing, and drumming. This Hō'ike provides a dynamic platform to share the beauty and depth of Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Māori cultures with the broader community, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
Grantee: Hālau Makana Polynesian Cultural Arts Center
Date(s): October 19, 2025

Plein Air Paintout 2025
The Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout hosts up to 40 juried artists for a week of painting tree-lined streets, stately Victorian homes and shops, picturesque marinas, historic naval ships and naval air station, as well as beaches, lagoons, parks, and San Francisco and Oakland skylines in Alameda.
Grantee: Frank Bette Center for the Arts
Date(s): July 28, 2025 - August 2, 2025

The Foodbank Players
The Foodbank Players will use the cultural art grant to cover the operating expenses for the 2025 season and beyond. The 2025 season includes Hamlet (September 2025), A Christmas Carol (December 2025), A Raisin in the Sun (March 2026) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (June 2026).
Grantee: The Foodbank Players
Date(s): September 2025 - June 2026

For more information, visit www.alamedaca.gov/culturalartrfp or contact Jackie Keliiaa, Development Manager, at 510-747-6857 or jkeliiaa@alamedaca.gov.