HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-04; Arts Commission; Resolution 2026-001June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 3 of 46
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 4 of 46
FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS FUNDING PLAN BRIEF
The City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office fiscal year 2026-27 Community Arts Grants (CAG)
program supports projects and activities that provide quality arts and cultural programming
within Carlsbad. Funds are available for organizations, schools and individuals through a
competitive application and review process.
The fiscal year 2026-27 cycle utilized the cloud-based Grant Lifecycle Manager provided by
Foundant Technologies, allowing for improved accessibility and online access for all users.
The total funds available for the fiscal year 2026-27 grant cycle are $128,840, a 10% increase
from the previous grant cycle of $117,128.
Each grant was evaluated by three (3) scoring panelists for these funding categories:
1.Arts Organizations: Arts Projects
2.Educational Institutions or Affiliated Groups
3.Emerging Arts Organizations
Applications for the fiscal year 2026-27 Community Arts Grants cycle was open from February 13
to March 27, 2026. The Panelist Review period was from March 30 to April 17, 2026. Nineteen
panelists (19) successfully completed scoring the fiscal year 2026-27 Community Arts Grants
applications using the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager. The panelists included representatives
from city staff, education specialists, unaffiliated library staff and community members.
Funding Amounts
Each application was evaluated in three categories, with a maximum of 10 points per category.
However, the categories were weighted differently in calculating the final score: quality of
program and organizational capacity each accounted for 20% of the total score, while community
impact carried a weight of 60%. Foundant converted these weighted scores into percentages.
The final score for each application was determined by averaging the total scores from all
reviewers.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Arts Grant Funding Results
These are the results for the review scores and funding amounts:
•Total Available Funding:$128,840
•Total Applications:41
•Eligible Applications:39
•Total Number of Funded Projects: 35
•Total 2026-27 Amount Requested: $234,676
•Total 2026-27 Amount Funded:$128,840
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 5 of 46
Attachment A
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
1. ARTS ORGANIZATIONS: ARTS PROJECTS
• Total Arts Projects Applications: 24
• Total Arts Projects Amount Requested: $191,176.00
• Total Arts Projects Awarded: 21
• Total Arts Projects Amount Funded: $80,385.00
Campana Studios: Economic Advancement Program for Visual Artists
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 96
Project Description: A six-part artist business development workshop series providing
Carlsbad visual artists with practical tools to grow sustainable careers. Led by industry
professionals and offered free of charge, the program expands access to essential
professional development within the local arts community.
Carlsbad Educational Foundation: Mariachi for All: Expanding District Wide Cultural Arts
Education in Carlsbad
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE:70
Project Description: The CUSD Mariachi Club is a growing district wide performing arts
program that provides students with access to authentic Mariachi music, cultural education,
and public performance opportunities. It strengthens artistic skills and cultural appreciation
while expanding equitable access to music education across both high schools and future
middle school participants.
Carlsbad Oceanside Art League: Demo & Expression
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 77
Project Description: Each week, the PACC in Carlsbad becomes a lively creative hub. From
1:30–3:30pm, the center turns into a hands‑on art studio for all ages, with free materials and
guidance from teaching master artists. Visitors can reserve a spot or drop in. Along with 4
interactive youth art programs throughout the Village, and a legacy youth exhibition for ages
in 1st - 12th grade.
Classics for Kids, Inc.: Equitable Access to Music Education for Under-Resourced Students
in Carlsbad
REQUEST: $5,000 AWARD: $1,651.70 SCORE: 79
Project Description: Classics for Kids will serve 900 students through six 45-minute assemblies
at two Carlsbad Title I schools, integrating social-emotional learning and music from diverse
and female composers.
Coastal Communities Concert Band Foundation: Concerts in Carlsbad September 2026
through August 2027
REQUEST: $7,500.00 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 71
Project Description: The Coastal Communities Concert Band will provide concerts in Carlsbad
during the grant term - October 2026, February 2027 Anniversary Concert, June 2027, and
August Summer Pops. Our concerts through live musical performances promote and develop
Arts and Culture in Carlsbad.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 6 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
Kids for Peace: PeaceFest Music, Art & Service Festival
REQUEST: $7,500.00 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 71
Project Description: PeaceFest is a family-friendly music, arts and service festival to uplift and
unite our Carlsbad community. This second annual event will feature a youth Band Jam
competition, musical performances by all Carlsbad Unified School District schools, live art
demonstrations, and a peace-themed collaborative art project.
New Village Arts Theatre Inc.: NVA's 25th Anniversary: AS YOU LIKE IT The Musical
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 93
Project Description: In Fall 2026, New Village Arts (NVA) will celebrate its 25th anniversary by
producing the San Diego premiere of Shaina Taub and Laurie Woolery’s AS YOU LIKE IT: THE MUSICAL.
This vibrant new adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy features a bold, contemporary folk-
pop score and will be directed by NVA's Founder and Executive Artistic Director Kristianne Kurner.
North Coast Repertory Theatre Inc.: School Outreach Tours: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger,
too and Macbeth
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 95
Project Description: The Theatre School at North Coast Rep will be presenting two new
outreach productions that provide free, theatrical performances for Carlsbad schools. Our
production of Winnie the Pooh aims to instill a deeper understanding of language for
elementary school students, and our production of Macbeth aims to make the Bard's work
more accessible and understandable for middle and high-school audiences.
Pacific Arts Movement: Pac Arts Presents: Carlsbad Spotlight Screening
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.70 SCORE: 79
Project Description: Pacific Arts Movement will present the Carlsbad Spotlight Screening, a
free public film event featuring curated works by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander (AANHPI) filmmakers, with a live introduction. The event brings nationally
recognized cultural film programming to Carlsbad for the first time, offering residents an
accessible and professionally presented arts experience rooted in diverse storytelling.
Patrick Trolan: All The Faces
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.70 SCORE: 79
Project Description: 'All the Faces' celebrates the enduring spirit of surfing in Carlsbad,
California. Tracing its evolution from pioneering wave riders of the past up to today's
respected locals, through the iconic breaks that have defined generations along the seven
miles of pristine Carlsbad, North County coastline.
Patrons of the Arts Foundation: Season of Wonder: Carlsbad's Home for the Holidays
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 94
Project Description: Carlsbad Community Theatre will present Season of Wonder: Carlsbad’s
Home for the Holidays, a festive family-friendly holiday revue featuring local performers and
seasonal music. The production is designed to bring the community together through
accessible live theatre and shared holiday traditions.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 7 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
Persian Place: A Journey to Persia – Art & Craft Workshop Series
REQUEST: $ 7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 94
Project Description: A Journey to Persia is a free, interactive workshop series presented by
Persian Place, held once per month in Carlsbad library meeting and community rooms. Each
90-minute session welcomes up to 60 participants and features hands-on activities including
Persian tile design, printmaking, woodblock printing, carpet design and weaving, calligraphy,
and gastronomy.
Rx Ballroom Dance: Ballroom Dance for Mind and Body
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 75
Project Description: Rx Ballroom Dance (RxBD) will produce two inclusive community
showcases (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027) featuring adults with movement and cognitive
disorders. The project includes scholarships, preparatory lessons, rehearsals, accessible
performance venues, and community engagement activities that celebrate resilience, artistic
excellence, and the health benefits of dance.
San Diego Opera Association: Opera Playground
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 73
Project Description: San Diego Opera presents Opera Playground, a family-friendly recital
series that incorporates music-focused crafts, a singing workshop, and live performances by
renowned opera singers. Geared towards children ages four to eleven, the events, held at the
Carlsbad City Library and the Museum of Making Music, invite Carlsbad families to play, laugh,
and connect through the power of opera.
St. Michael’s by-the-Sea: Jazz Fest
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $4,151.70 SCORE: 83
Project Description: On September 26, 2026, St. Michael’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in
Carlsbad Village will host St. Michael’s Jazz Fest, a free, one-day music festival bringing the
lively sounds of New Orleans jazz, blues, and brass band music to the community. The event
offers an accessible and engaging opportunity to experience live music in a welcoming
outdoor setting.
Storytellers of San Diego: Lore and Legends of Carlsbad: Local Folklore, Storytelling, And
Cultural Heritage Project
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $2,276.60 SCORE: 75
Project Description: This project is an innovative, one-of-a-kind, historically novel effort to
record, preserve, and promote the oral lore of Carlsbad and the greater North County region,
preserving local history and cultural heritage while forming lasting bonds with cultural
venues. Through a series of live professional storytelling performances and interactive
workshops, the project preserves and promotes local folklore and history, teaching the art of
storytelling while increasing access to cultural spaces.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 8 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
Theatre and Arts Foundation of San Diego County: 2027 Performance Outreach Program
(POP) Tour
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $4,151.70 SCORE: 87
Project Description: La Jolla Playhouse will produce the 2027 Performance Outreach Program
(POP) Tour, featuring a world-premiere play by playwright Christian St. Croix that explores
themes of imagination and friendship. Project activities include an interactive developmental
process, free classroom workshops, and standards-based online educational resources.
Trinity One Theatre Troupe Inc: Carlsbad Community Engagement Initiative
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 90
Project Description: Trinity Theatre, an active theatre and arts education organization, is
establishing a second venue in Carlsbad, expanding its programs from Mission Valley to serve
Carlsbad residents. This project engages residents through three interconnected programs
that provide opportunities for creative participation, skill-building, and community
connection: Living Room Readers, held Sunday afternoons, offers free intergenerational
script readings that foster connection and creative expression, particularly among seniors.
Teen Leadership meets once per week after school, providing local youth with hands-on
training in technical theatre, production, and leadership skills.
Villa-Lobos International Chamber Music Festival, Inc.: Carlsbad Residency
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $6,026.70 SCORE: 90
Project Description: Brazilian pianist Aline Alves and Villa-Lobos artistic director and cellist
Lars Hoefs will be visiting orchestra and band classrooms at Carlsbad middle and high schools
to perform Latin American chamber music and dialogue and discuss various topics with the
students. The project will end with a performance that will include a string quartet as well as
a soprano, performing larger scale Latin American chamber works by composers from Brazil,
Mexico, and Argentina.
Westwind Brass, Inc.: Carlsbad Brass Connections: A Multi-Generational Soundscape
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $ 4,151.70 SCORE: 85
Project Description: Carlsbad Brass Connections delivers a city-wide series of professional
chamber music performances for seniors and the general public, paired with specialized
educational mentorship programs for students throughout the Carlsbad Unified School
District. This intergenerational initiative ensures that world-class artistry is accessible to every
resident, fostering a vibrant and connected cultural community.
Write Out Loud: Experiential Kamishibai
REQUEST: $6,400 AWARD: $3,601.70 SCORE: 83
Project Description: Write Out Loud will present a 5-session series of Kamishibai workshops
in 4 classrooms. These workshops will teach students how to create illustrations to
accompany their stories, coach students in presenting stories, and assist students in planning
presentations to parents and general audiences in their classroom, libraries, or neighborhood
parks.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 9 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
2. EMERGING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
• Total Emerging Arts Organizations/Projects Applications: 4
• Total Emerging Arts Organization Amount Requested: $20,000.00
• Total Arts Projects Awarded: 3
• Total Emerging Arts Organization Amount Funded: $9,955.00
Analia Romero: Lolita and Others
REQUEST: $5,000 AWARD: $1,651.60 SCORE: 74
Project Description: An immersive original theatre experience blending storytelling, music,
and movement, Lolita and Others brings professional artists and the Carlsbad community
together in a vibrant, collaborative performance. Through hands-on workshops and diverse
voices, this project transforms arts education and mentorship into a powerful, fully realized
production.
San Diego Jewish Arts Festival: JFest's The Whole Megillah 2027
REQUEST: $7,500 AWARD: $4,151.70 SCORE: 90
Project Description: JFest will partner with New Village Arts to host the seventh annual
Whole Megillah New Jewish Play Festival in Spring 2027. This 3-performance series
workshops contemporary, unproduced plays exploring diverse Jewish experiences.
Striving to Serve: Art Across Generations: Community Creation Series
REQUEST: $5,000 AWARD: $4,151.70 SCORE: 99
Project Description: Intergenerational arts project bringing together Carlsbad seniors,
veterans, students, and families to create collaborative artwork that fosters connection,
gratitude, and creative expression. Led by professional artists, free workshops will be held in
accessible community spaces.
3. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARTS IN SCHOOLS OR AFFILIATED GROUPS
• Total Educational Institutions Applications: 11
• Total Educational Institutions Amount Requested: $38,500
• Total Educational Institutions Awarded: 11
• Total Educational Institutions Amount Funded: $38,500
Carlsbad High School Choral Boosters: Choir Program
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: Carlsbad High School Choir Program consists of two award-winning show
choirs and a chamber choir. All students perform at four productions at the Carlsbad
Community Cultural Arts Center each year. Sound Express and Encore also develop
competition sets, traveling to 3-5 competitions a year to showcase a cohesive narrative
through movement and song.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 10 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
Carlsbad High School Dance Department: Dance Xtreme
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: Funds raised through the CHS Dance Program support Dance Xtreme,
our annual showcase that gives students the opportunity to perform on stage and celebrate
the progress they have made throughout the year. For many dancers, this is their first time
performing on stage, making it a meaningful and memorable experience. This allows
students to share their hard work and passion with parents, family, and friends while
celebrating the growth and achievements of every dancer in the program.
Carlsbad High School Theatre Department: Carlsbad High School Spring Production
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: The CHS Musical Production will present a Broadway-style musical with
a student cast, crew, and orchestra at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center. Students will develop
skills in singing, acting, and dance, as well as stagecraft, teamwork, time management,
problem-solving, and confidence in public performance.
La Costa Canyon High School Foundation, Inc.: 2027 Band-o-Rama Community Event &
Music Program Investment for Growth
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: La Costa Canyon High School band will be hosting a Band-O-Rama event
where we invite all local elementary, middle and high schools to join us in our gymnasium for
a showcase of band music. This is a music enrichment camp where coaches and student
leaders will be working with various instrument groups on music fundamentals and sheet
music.
La Costa Canyon High School Foundation, Inc.: La Costa Canyon Dance Program Spring
Production 2027
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: Every year, our La Costa Canyon Maverick dance students put on a Spring
Dance Production comprised of dancers from multiple levels, grades, and abilities on our
campus. We are proud that this production features over 200 students from both general
education and our access students who participate in our special education program.
La Costa Canyon High School Foundation, Inc.: Spring Musical 2027 LCC Theatre
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: We are excited to bring "Into the Woods" to the stage next year. It offers
excellent ensemble experience which helps extend the performance opportunity to many
students. It is our tradition to involve every single student at La Costa Canyon who is
interested in experiencing the joys of high school theatre.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 11 of 46
City of Carlsbad, Community Arts Grants Funding Plan Brief Fiscal Year 2026-27
Sage Creek High School Dance Department: Creative Modern Dance: Empowering Student
Voice Through Contemporary Technique and Partnering
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: Led by guest artist Cecily Holcombe from San Diego Dance Theater, this
project provides SCHS dancers with specialized training in modern floor work and
partnering through a process where students act as collaborators in the choreographic
process.
Sage Creek High School Drama: CUSD Children's Theatre Project
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: The Sage Creek Drama Department will perform a production written
specifically for young audiences. CUSD elementary and middle schools are invited to attend
free field trip performances, featuring an upbeat, age-appropriate show for K-8 students.
High school students not only perform but also engage with the audience before and after
the show.
Sage Creek High School Visual Arts: Living Arts: Collaborative Artist Workshop Series &
Student Showcase Program
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: This is a dynamic, community-centered program that brings professional
artists into our school to lead live workshops while guiding students in the creation of
collaborative, evolving artworks.
Valley Middle School: Advanced Art Portfolio Art Show
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: The end-of-year final portfolio art show is a public art exhibit featuring
the year-long Advanced Art students' complete body of work in addition to supplemental
artwork created by 6th, 7th and 8th grade art students. Visiting professional artists will visit
Mr. Snyder's art classroom throughout the year to teach specific skills which will be used to
create art for the exhibit.
Valley Middle School: 2026-27 Guest Artists/Coaches for Small Group Ensembles
REQUEST: $3,500 AWARD: $3,500 SCORE: PASS
Project Description: Enhance the 2026-27 Valley Middle School Band and Orchestra program
by bringing in specialized teaching artists to provide small-group coaching for Valley Middle
School’s 175 band and orchestra students, enhancing their musical growth through
individualized instruction.
June 4, 2026 Item #4 Page 12 of 46