HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Beginning July 1, Arts Council of the Valley (ACV) will accept proposals for the Fall 2025 Advancing the Arts grant cycle to fund art projects designed to benefit the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community. Arts for Education and Creative Inspiration awards range from $500 to $1,500 for projects taking place between Nov 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Electronically submitted proposals for both grant categories are due by 5 pm Saturday, Oct 11, 2025. Notification of awards will be made within three weeks of the deadline.

“Advancing the Arts grants invest in the vital arts infrastructure of our community and have touched tens of thousands of lives over the past 24 years,” ACV Executive Director Jenny Burden said. “These awards tangibly express ACV’s continuing commitment to creative projects designed to cultivate the arts, create experiences, and connect communities.”

Advancing the Arts grants are awarded each year in two cycles, fall and spring. In 2024-25, ACV allotted a total of $20,000 to seven Arts for Education and eight Creative Inspiration projects designed to serve some 135,000 people. More than $518,300 has been awarded to artists and art educators since ACV launched the grants program in 2001.

Visit valleyarts.org/grants-arts-for-education or valleyarts.org/grants-creative-inspiration for Fall 2025 guidelines and application materials.

Online Grant Information sessions – covering both types of grants – help guide potential applicants through the process and allow time for individual questions. Sessions typically last about an hour, and attendance is strongly encouraged for anyone considering a grant proposal.

Fall Info Sessions are scheduled Thursday, Sept 18 at 5 pm, and Tuesday, Sept 23 at 4 pm. To register, visit valleyarts.org/grants-arts-for-education or valleyarts.org/grants-creative-inspiration
and select the session you would like to attend.

Awardees may receive one grant per calendar year. All applications for the 2025 Fall cycle must be submitted electronically by 5 pm October 11, 2025.