ARTS STABILIZATION PROGRAM

The Arts Stabilization Program began in 1998 in an effort to strengthen the arts community and specifically nonprofit arts organizations. In 2007 some Arts Stabilization programs were expanded to include small arts groups and individual artists. This program provides resources, support and technical assistance to Sacramento County arts and cultural organizations, artists and arts groups in marketing, business and financial planning, board and staff development and professional development.  

Individual artists should check back for professional development workshops.

Microgrants
These grants seek to provide vital support as emerging groups and artists establish themselves and become contributors to Sacramento’s arts communities. Grant applications are accepted year-round, in four categories: Career Advancement, School Field Trip, Small Arts Project and Artist Residency. Click here to download a PDF version of the Microgrant Guidelines.

Applications are reviewed once per month or as needed.  Grants typically range from $100 to $595.  Individual artists, arts groups, arts organizations and community organizations and schools wanting to fund an arts related event or activity or further their professional development are eligible to apply. Artist Residency grants will fund artist residencies with students of all ages at schools and in community settings.

Stabilization Grants
Stabilization Grants are designed to target specific needs of nonprofit arts organizations, arts groups and artists. Grant amounts vary based on category.  Applications are typically reviewed four times per year or as needed.  Please refer to the programs’ guidelines for additional information. Stabilization Grants include:

• The Marketing Grant is open to nonprofit arts organizations and emerging arts groups seeking to fund new marketing initiatives; increase and improve marketing strategies; and reach the region's untapped audience interested in culture and the arts. This grant is not open to individuals. Applicants must show a history of programming within Sacramento County. Grants typically range between $1,000 and $5,000.
• The Planning Grant is open to nonprofit arts organizations and emerging arts groups seeking to develop essential planning documents such as a strategic/long range plan or a marketing plan. This grant is not open to individuals. Applicants must show a history of programming within Sacramento County. Grants typically range between $1,000 and $5,000.
• The Professional Support Materials Grant has not yet been released, but will be open to artists, nonprofit arts organizations and arts groups to develop a work sample (i.e. portfolio), or documentation of artwork, for grant applications and marketing purposes. Grants typically range from $500 to $3,000.

Organizational Development
Seeking to strengthen the managerial and fiscal practices of nonprofit arts organizations, this program draws on regional and national resources as well as the Nonprofit Resource Center to provide board member and management training opportunities. The program also seeks to provide technical assistance, professional development and leadership development opportunities for arts administrators. Read more (expand text)

• Organizational Development Training: Scholarships are available to both staff and board members; workshops and trainings are offered throughout the year. They address a variety of board development and management issues including board/staff roles and relationships; board management; recruitment; development/fundraising; and financial management. Computer training courses are also available.

• Arts-Focused Workshops: Workshops specifically address arts-related organizational development issues. The workshops are designed to address both the volunteer board-run organizations as well as the more established primarily governance board.

• BoardLink: BoardLink is an ongoing program of the Nonprofit Resource Center designed to strengthen the Sacramento region through training and connecting the community’s emerging leaders with nonprofit boards. This program trains individuals from the Sacramento region on the roles and responsibilities of nonprofit board members, and it introduces trained candidates to local nonprofit agencies affiliated with the BoardLink program.

• Custom-Designed Trainings: The Nonprofit Resource Center will offer custom-designed trainings for arts organizations requesting individualized board development. The NRC will provide either a single half-day training or one to two 1-hour trainings that take place during board meetings.

• Custom-Designed Technical Assistance: Additional assistance for arts organizations with identified needs but no funds for implementation, or are facing unanticipated challenges, may be available on an as-need basis.llapse text)

Arts & Culture Resource Guide
The Arts & Culture Resource Guide is offered as a one-stop compendium of local, regional and national resources in funding, management, marketing, and professional development. The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission works to introduce artists to additional resources in the community at large. The Arts & Culture Resource Guide is available to you.  Call (916) 808-3992 for a hard copy.

Resources and workshops
SMAC will offer professional development workshops for individual artists.  These workshops are still being developed.  Please check back soon for more information. 

Email SMAC staff to let us know of a Stabilization need that you have.