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Costa Mesa Arts Commission approves 2025–26 grants guidelines with facility-use discount
Summary
On Aug. 7 the Costa Mesa Arts Commission approved updated arts grant guidelines that add discounted city facility use for awardees and set the 2025–26 grant cycle; commissioners asked staff to expand outreach and explore increased award amounts.
The Costa Mesa Arts Commission voted 7-0 on Aug. 7 to adopt updated arts grant program guidelines to govern the 2025–26 cycle, including new language allowing discounted use of city parks and community facilities for award recipients.
Commissioners said the discount is intended to reduce event and production costs for grantees and increase participation. Vice Chair Dedarian and several commissioners praised the change and urged broader outreach to ensure artists know about the opportunity. Director Gruner and art specialist Laurette Garner told the commission staff will begin promotional outreach in the fall and aim to open applications in January.
Why it matters: The addition of a facility-use discount is designed to offset reduced grant award levels and to help more projects proceed in Costa Mesa. Commissioners consistently raised concern that current grant funding serves fewer artists than in prior years and asked staff to identify options to increase future award amounts.
Details and commission discussion: Staff introduced the guideline edits as a return item following requests at a prior meeting to add discounted facility access for grantees. Commissioners praised the concerts-in-the-park and other summer programming as evidence of strong community demand and urged more marketing to reach schools, nonprofit partners and individual artists. Commissioner Ashendorf, Commissioner Ford and others also suggested non-monetary supports, such as city promotion of grantee events, as ways to increase impact without raising grant totals immediately.
Staff timeline and outreach: Garner said she plans to begin outreach and marketing in October and expects the grant application to open in January. Several commissioners encouraged early bilingual outreach to schools and community organizations.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (consent calendar): motion to approve minutes from the June 5, 2025 Arts Commission meeting passed, motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Chair Ochoa; second: Commissioner Wundercheck.) - Approval of arts grant guidelines for the 2025–26 cycle: motion to approve staff recommendation passed, motion carried 7-0. (Mover: Vice Chair Dedarian; second: Commissioner Lucia.)
What didn’t change: Commissioners noted the approved guidelines do not immediately increase individual award amounts; several members requested staff explore options to restore larger award levels in future cycles and report back with funding alternatives.
What’s next: Staff will finalize materials for the 2025–26 grant cycle, proceed with outreach in the fall and return to the commission with any recommended funding changes or additional promotional supports.
