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CULTURAL ARTS MATCHING GRANT GUIDELINES

Visit Pearland manages a grant to provide funding from the hotel & motel tax fund for projects that support Cultural Arts/Fine Arts in Pearland.

Guidelines include the following:

Terms

Application Opens: August 17, 2026
Application Deadline: September 18, 2026 (Applications will not be accepted after this date.)
Notification of Awards: By October 14, 2026
Grant Funding: November 5, 2026
Final Reports: Recipients of the 2027 Matching Grant will have until September 30 of 2027 to submit a final report. The final report form will open up as early as August 1 of 2027. FY2026 grant recipients must submit a FINAL REPORT for Fiscal Year 2026-funded projects by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for FY2027 consideration. (Separate final reports are required for each event in a joint grant project. It is advised to begin the final report upon opening on August 1, 2026)
Total Cultural Arts Matching Grant Program Funding: $40,000 for Fiscal Year 2027
Maximum Award per Organization: $6,000, awarded based on merit
Grant funds must be expended by September 30, 2027. Unused funds must be refunded to the City of Pearland.
Recipients must submit documentation confirming that performance standards outlined in the application have been met.
Programming must occur between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027 in order to be considered eligible for a matching grant. This timeline marks the beginning and end of the city’s 2027 fiscal year. Programming that may take place during the application period must be communicated to Visit Pearland 30 days in advance of proposed program date(s) to verify eligibility.

Eligibility

Cultural Arts Grants are open to eligible non-profit organizations proposing a grant-funded project, program, event, or activity that will take place within the corporate city limits of Pearland. To qualify, projects must meet all of the following criteria:
 
  • Applicant must be a non-profit organization with current 501(c)(3) status.
  • Application must be submitted or authorized by the organization’s president or other authorized signatory.
  • Grant-funded projects, programs, events, or activities must take place within the corporate city limits of Pearland.
  • The grant-funded project, program, event, or activity must include a publicly accessible cultural arts component.
  • Project must focus on the development and public awareness of Cultural Arts/Fine Arts.
  • Only one application per organization per year will be considered.
  • Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project or event will attract visitors to Pearland and contribute to the local tourism and hospitality industry, including the potential to generate overnight stays.
  • Priority will be given to proposals that create a measurable economic impact by encouraging regional, statewide, or out-of-town attendance, and by showcasing Pearland as a vibrant cultural destination.
  • Political organizations and individuals are not eligible.   

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis and evaluated using the following criteria (along with additional considerations listed in the application):
  • Project demonstrates meaningful public engagement and opportunities for the community to experience and participate in Cultural Arts programming.
  • Focus on the development of Cultural Arts in Pearland.
  • Demonstrates public outreach and awareness.
  • Includes a minimum 50% funding match.
  • Demonstrates measurable potential to attract regional, statewide, or out-of-town visitors, generate hotel/motel activity, and showcase Pearland as a cultural destination.
  • Demonstrates compliance with prior grant requirement.
  • Preference may be given to organizations based within the corporate city limits of Pearland and/or organizations with an established history of serving the Pearland community.

Application Submission Process

The FY2027 Pearland Cultural Arts Grant Program applications will only be accepted via the Submittable platform.
 
To submit your application visit VisitPearland.com/CulturalArtsGrant.
 
For more information contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 281-997-5975.