PILLAR: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: May 27, 2026
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Arts and Culture
PRIORITY: N/A
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the ArtsActivate 2027 Program, a project-based cultural support program within the Office of Arts and Culture to support art and cultural services in the City of Dallas for FY 2026-27 and approve the program guidelines - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)
*In alignment with Dallas Cultural Plan.
Body
BACKGROUND
The updated Cultural Policy of the City of Dallas, adopted on November 28, 2018, by Resolution No. 18-1683 and amended most recently on December 10, 2025, by Resolution No. 25-1895, provides that guidelines for the various Cultural Support Programs will be submitted for review and approval of the City Council. This serves to affirm the artistic nature of services to be provided through these various cultural programs and to specify the review and selection process for cultural services.
ArtsActivate 2027, as it will be referred to for FY 2026-27, is the project-based funding program for Dallas-based arts and culture organizations, individual artists, social service organizations, and other eligible non-profit organizations. ArtsActivate 2027 will continue to emphasize the goals of public benefit, and neighborhood/community engagement. The goals of ArtsActivate 2027 are as follows:
1) Grow Dallas’ artistic footprint by providing new artistic services across Dallas, including in nontraditional spaces and through unique artistic disciplines.
2) Provide public benefit by building and enhancing artistic and cultural experiences available to the residents of the City of Dallas.
3) Connect individuals across Dallas to strengthen communities and/or neighborhoods through the arts.
The program will open for three rounds for funding in FY 2026-27. ArtsActivate 2027 proposals should be innovative, public events that create active and ongoing engagement with people, neighborhoods, and communities in Dallas. They should celebrate artistic diversity, build community connections, and enhance the visibility of neighborhoods through arts and culture.
In early 2026, the Office of Arts and Culture engaged the community in two in-person and virtual sessions to discuss the guidelines for the 2027 program. Based on feedback received from these engagement sessions, the following notable updates and changes were included in the proposed ArtsActivate 2027 Guidelines:
• Introduction of an application checklist, to help applicants understand all requirements before beginning an application
• Amendments to ArtsActivate application scoring, including:
o New points for “Contract compliance” to reward previous awardees for completing past projects on time and in budget
o New points for “Artist support” to reward applicants for prioritizing the payment of participating artists
o An applicant quiz to ensure that special events protocols and insurance needs are understood before signing a contract
• Clarification on artist eligibility and project eligibility
• Clarification on allowed ticket revenue
• Updated timeline for each round
The Cultural Policy requires that Cultural Support Programs be authorized by resolution of the City Council, including approval of the various cultural support program guidelines.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On April 2, 2026, the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission voted to recommend these guidelines for the ArtsActivate 2027 program.
On April 16, 2026, the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission voted to recommend these guidelines for the ArtsActivate 2027 program.
The Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on May 18, 2026. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15473186&GUID=8957FAA6-E9C0-49C8-8D82-AE791DFAA989>
FISCAL INFORMATION
This action has no cost consideration to the City. Appropriations for the Cultural Support Programs are established in the General Fund through the annual budget development process. Each award to a cultural organization or individual artist through ArtsActivate 2027 Program will be $16,000.00 or less and authorized by administrative action.