■The Measure P grant application period for artists or organizations closes on March 25.

■Fresno Arts Council will hold a public workshop on Saturday at the Woodward Park Regional Library.

■The Fresno Arts Council has not received many applications, but the director expects a flurry soon.

Organizations or artists looking to get funding have until March 25 to submit a proposal for a piece of Measure P grant money.

Authors of the 3/8-cent sales tax for parks and art set aside revenue to support nonprofit organizations and project-specific grants. And while rules for the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund Grants can be extensive, the Fresno Arts Council has one last workshop scheduled to help applicants understand what they need to get funding.

“This is such an exciting time for the City of Fresno arts community,” said Lilia Gonzales Chávez, Fresno Arts Council’s executive director. “We have seen the benefits of Measure P with enhancements to local parks and the development of new ones.

“With the release of the Expanded Access to the Arts Fund, we will begin to see the power of the arts to strengthen our community through engagement with programs and projects that speak to us in ways that motivate and inspire us all. I encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for this incredible opportunity.”

Grants Workshop on Saturday at Woodward Park Library

Twelve percent of Measure P funding goes to arts grants.

In the 2024/25 budget, the city of Fresno forecasted $74 million in revenue for Measure P.

Authors of the tax divided those grants into organizations looking for operational funding and artists looking for project-specific funding.

Measure P mandates that at least 10% of grant money goes to emerging organizations and artists. Eligible applicants have to either be a registered nonprofit or have a nonprofit sign off on their application.

Emerging artists or organizations can receive up to $50,000. Grants can cover 100% of the project or operational costs.

Artists looking to have their projects funded don’t necessarily have to be nonprofits. They can partner with nonprofits on an application.

Organizations can receive up to $300,000. Organizations can apply for both types of grants.

The Fresno Arts Council will hold a public workshop on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Woodward Park Regional Library. Those interested can apply here.

Applications Numbers Low, But Last-Minute Flurry Expected

Chávez says applications have been coming in slowly. They’ve received 15 so far.

But given the interest in their workshops, she expects a flurry over the last two weeks. Chávez expects north of 150 applications to come in.

“People are notorious for getting their grant applications in the last two weeks,” she said.

Around 130 people registered for the first grant workshop in January, which excited Chávez. Saturday’s workshop will be the final one.

Ideas have been all over the place, she said. Attendees at the workshops talk about ideas for murals, dance programs, and music programs.

“There is such a variety of things people have talked about I think it’s going to be a good mix,” she said.

Grassroots organizations such as Jazz Fresno and Dulce UpFront showed up at Measure P workshops.

“The organizations that really have worked diligently over the years to sustain without any support — I’m looking forward to their support,” Chavez said.