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Ojai Arts Commission approves 2026 grant timeline and creates five‑member ad hoc review committee
Summary
The Ojai City Arts Commission approved a grant cycle timeline that opens applications Sept. 1 and forms a five‑member ad hoc committee, led by Commissioner Wright, to score 2026 grant applications using an expanded rubric. The commission also authorized staff press outreach and social‑media announcements.
The Ojai City Arts Commission on Thursday approved the 2026 grants calendar and authorized creation of a five‑member ad hoc committee to review applications and make funding recommendations to the commission.
The commission adopted a timeline that opens applications on September 1 and closes them on September 30. Commissioner Wright said, “Which is opening the application September 1, closing them September 30.” Commissioners also directed staff to issue a press release and social‑media notices tied to the launch.
Commissioners said the change matters because the commission is administering a substantially larger arts grants budget this year. Chair West and other commissioners noted a $100,000 increase to the grants budget and urged realistic expectations by applicants; commissioners discussed past cycles when demand far exceeded funds available.
Most discussion focused on the ad hoc committee’s composition and scoring method. The commission agreed the ad hoc will include five members — the chair of the committee plus four community members — selected to represent a range of ages and experience. Commissioner Wright presented an expanded scoring rubric intended to make scoring more granular and consistent. The rubric retains artistic merit as the largest single criterion and breaks each category into more detailed sublevels (excellent/good/fair/poor) so reviewers can assign points with clearer guidance. Commissioner Steiner described the rubric as “very difficult to assess a grant… and for you to break it down this way” and said the more objective scoring should reduce subjectivity in future recommendations.
Staff said the application will be available online and as a fillable PDF; applicants may mail or drop off supporting materials at City Hall. The commission confirmed fiscal‑sponsor requirements remain in place. Commissioners asked that grant recipients be reminded about required summary reports and that staff clarify consequences for missing reports in application materials and award cover letters.
The commission voted to approve the calendar and process and to create the ad hoc committee. Commissioners said they will review and finalize the ad hoc membership and the rubric at the next meeting and aim to forward the commission’s recommendations to the city council in December so council can act before the end of the year.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the 2026 proposed grant cycle timeline and process: approved (motion passed by voice vote). Implementation details: application opens Sept. 1 and closes Sept. 30; staff to issue press release and social media notices. - Motion to create a five‑member ad hoc committee, led by Commissioner Wright, to review 2026 grant applications and use the submitted rubric as the primary scoring document: approved (motion passed by voice vote).
The commission said it will ask staff to confirm that application pages, payment/contact links and QR codes are active before Sept. 1 and to circulate the press release to commissioners so they can share it with community networks.
