San José, Calif. (August 13, 2025) – The City of San José has awarded more than $4.7 million in grant funding for over 100 San José-based cultural events and organizations for fiscal year 2025-2026, reaffirming the City’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, diverse, and resilient arts and cultural ecosystem.
The approved funding for the 2025-2026 Cultural Funding Portfolio supports a broad range of San José artists, cultural organizations, and community-based initiatives, helping drive the City’s creative economy while advancing cultural equity and civic engagement. This year’s investment represents an eight percent increase from the previous year’s $4.35 million allocation, ensuring continued support for the sector despite persistent challenges.
San José’s arts and culture community continues to face financial hardships due to recent federal funding cuts and ongoing post-pandemic recovery. Approximately eight local organizations have lost nearly $900,000 in federal funding, while audience attendance and earned revenue have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. This local trend mirrors national patterns, particularly in live performance sectors such as theater.
“For San José residents, the arts are a source of community pride, helping to build more livable and vibrant communities,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “The City recognizes the vital role arts plays in economic development and quality of life, and we are proud to remain the largest funder of the arts in Santa Clara County.”
In addition to the $4.7 million in Cultural Portfolio grants, an additional $2 million will support City programs and events such as CityDance, Make Music Day, the Cornerstone of the Arts awards as well as initiative-specific grants, technical assistance support and public arts conservation and maintenance.
“San José’s post-pandemic rebound would not be possible without the local artists and creatives at the heart of our experience economy,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “We’re proud to fund the creative class of individuals and organizations whose vision fuels the vibrancy, innovation, and culture of our city.”
Funding for these grants comes from the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), with 15% of annual TOT revenue allocated for cultural programs and Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) operations. Grant awards are determined through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process to ensure transparency, equity, and the effective use of public funds.
The Cultural Funding Portfolio includes operating grants, festival and celebration grants, and participation grant programs that support multicultural expressions reflective of San José’s diverse communities. Of the 111 grants awarded for 2025-2026, 58 (52%) will directly support organizations, programs, or events serving San José’s BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities, marking a 3% increase from last year.
“Support from the City of San José has been key to launching and growing our AAPI Playwright Festival, which sold out for the second consecutive year”, said Contemporary Asian Theater Scene President Leianne Wong Lamb. “Conceived by Artistic Producer Jeffrey Lo, this funding enables us to amplify AAPI stories, build the Asian American theater canon, and create space for reflection, healing, and joy through the arts.”
“The City’s continued investment in our work is not just support for the opera & the arts—it’s a bold commitment to the creative sector as a cornerstone of civic vitality and economic growth,” said Opera San José General Director Shawna Lucey. “This partnership places San José at the forefront of a new model for American cities, where cultural investment drives innovation, community, and prosperity.”
The full list of this year’s Arts and Cultural Grant Awards is available online.
Applications for the City’s Cultural Grants funding for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 will begin in January 2026, with guidelines announced and pre-application workshops beginning in November and December 2025. For more information, please contact Ron Muriera, Director of Arts and Industry Support at 408-793-4334 or ron.muriera@sanjoseca.gov.
About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
