The Union County Board of County Commissioners and the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs are pleased to announce that applications to the 2026 Local Arts grant program are now being accepted. The Union County Local Arts Program, known as “LAP,” supports arts programming produced by both arts organizations and non-arts organizations located in and serving residents of Union County.
“Our Local Arts grant program provides necessary funding and support to these organizations so they can remain focused on developing the inclusive projects, quality artistic programs, and cultural events Union County is known for,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I strongly encourage eligible organizations that offer arts programming to take advantage of this opportunity and apply.”
The Local Arts Program is made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Two types of grants are available under this program:
- General Operating Support grants are available to nonprofit arts organizations. The maximum request is $15,000, and the request cannot exceed 40% of the organization’s projected 2026 budget.
- Special Project grants are available to both arts organizations and non-arts organizations (including nonprofits, libraries, and units of local government) to fund a specific arts project, such as a performance series. The maximum request is $5,000. Matching funds are required.
“Local art events offer more than just entertainment for our residents; they contribute to the vibrancy and cultural legacy of this community,” said Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Liaison to the Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board. “I’m looking forward to seeing the great work that our awardees come up with in 2026!”
Arts activities must take place in Union County during 2026. Applications must be completed online using the Grant portal. Funds will be awarded to applicants that demonstrate a high degree of professionalism in arts programming. The deadline to submit a completed LAP application is September 24, 2025.
Full details, including eligibility requirements, are outlined in the Local Arts Grant 2026 Guidelines.
The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs administers the Local Arts Grant, as well as the History Grant and the HEART Grant. Guidelines for all three grant programs are available at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities/.
A Grant Workshop including a Q&A will be held on Thursday, August 7, from 3:00–4:30 pm on Zoom, offering information and guidance about the three grant programs. Register to attend the Grant Workshop at https://ucnj.org/cha-workshop/.
For questions about the Local Arts program, or to obtain the link to the grant portal to begin an application, contact the LAP Grant Coordinator, Martha Sturm at msturm@ucnj.org.