City Arts Investment Fund
2026 Grant Program

About the Arts Fund

The Rapid City Arts Council manages the Arts Investment Fund (AIF) Grant Program and serves as the city’s advisor on artistic and cultural development. Established by the City of Rapid City, the AIF provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that enrich the community through arts education and rich artistic and cultural experiences, enhancing the quality of life for Rapid City residents.

For 2026, the City Council has approved a $100,000 budget for the Arts Investment Fund, with grants available to eligible applicants based on awards determined by the Rapid City Arts Council.

All grant-funded activities must align with the purpose of the AIF:

• Contribute to and provide cultural, educational, entertainment, and recreational benefits available to and used by the citizens of the City of Rapid City.
• Promote and encourage public programs to develop public interest and build awareness of the arts.
• We strongly encourage first-time applicants and Native-led organizations to apply for this expanded opportunity to support arts and culture initiatives in our community.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Grant Alignment Requirement:
Proposed grant activities must align with the stated purpose of the Arts Investment Fund. The City of Rapid City recognizes the arts as “essential to public welfare.” This fund was established by statute to support municipal arts organizations and advance the artistic and cultural development of the Rapid City community. Applications should reflect initiatives that contribute meaningfully to this mission.

Community Development Goals
​Applicants must provide a clear and compelling rationale demonstrating how their proposed activities support the following community development goals:

1. Cultural Enrichment: Contribute to and provide cultural, educational, entertainment, and recreational benefits for the citizens of Rapid City.
2. Arts Engagement: Promote and encourage public programs that foster public awareness, interest, and participation in the arts.

Applications should detail specific outcomes and strategies that align with these goals to strengthen the case for funding.

Allowed Activities
The following activities are eligible under this grant program:

• General Operating Support (GOS): Funding to support the provision or presentation of performing arts, visual arts, or other programming that promotes the unique culture of the region.
• Location Requirement: All funded activities must take place within the city limits of Rapid City.

Activities NOT allowed/restricted under this grant program:

• Meeting or workshop fees
• Cash prizes
• Money for contest prizes
• Membership or participation rules that do not comply with non-discrimination laws
• School-based projects/programs produced by or on behalf of governmental agencies
• Brick and mortar and capital improvements
• Activities that have already been completed
• Religious programming and activities
• Fundraisers and social events
• Lobbying activities
• Political contributions
• Legal fees
• Programming outside of city limits of Rapid City

Eligibility

Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible:

1. Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations
   1. Serve the artistic and cultural needs of Rapid City residents.
   2. Propose activities taking place within the city limits of Rapid City.
   3. Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing (IRS determination letter required).
2. Projects with Fiscal Sponsorship
   1. Represent a local cause not recognized by the IRS.
   2. Serve the artistic and cultural needs of Rapid City residents.
   3. Propose activities taking place within the city limits of Rapid City.
   4. Have a fiscal sponsorship agreement with a credible Rapid City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The fiscal sponsor must agree in writing to: Lend nonprofit status to the applicant; Retain control and discretion over grant funds; Report on the use of grant funds; A signed agreement detailing fiduciary oversight, fiscal management, grant reporting, and other administrative services must be included with the grant application.
3. Ineligibility Guidelines
   1. Schools and School-Based Programs: Public or private schools or nonprofit organizations seeking funding for school-based programs produced by government agencies.
   2. Non-Compliant Organizations: Organizations that fail to comply with non-discrimination laws, including federal civil rights protections. Recipients must ensure no discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, or age, and programs must be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities.

Application guidelines & Form

Application Guidelines	PDF
2026 Application Form	WORD DOC | PDF

CHECKLIST

1. 2026 AIF Grant Application Form
2. Total budget for the program/project, including income and expense details
3. List of key staff, current officers, and board members, as applicable
4. IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (new applicants only)
5. Applicants must certify on the application form that they have reviewed the grant guidelines in full.
6. Application packet delivered to RCAC by the stated due date via an approved submittal method (listed on first page of Application Form)

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Congratulations
​2026 Arts Fund Awardees

• ​Bells of the Hills – $1,000 to support the 2026 season.
• Black Hills Center for Equality – $4,500 to support the annual Black Hills Pride Festival, promoting visibility, equity, and celebration.
• Black Hills Community Theatre – $4,000 to sustain youth scholarships.
• Black Hills Dance Theatre, LTD – $5,000 for its collaboration with the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra.
• Black Hills Film Festival – $3,000 to support the 2026 Black Hills Film Festival.
• Black Hills Powwow – $3,000 to support the 2026 He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate.
• Black Hills Youth Orchestra – $5,000 to support the 2026 season.
• Catalyst Theater Company – $8,000 to fund Pay-What-You-Can performances, increasing access for all community members.
• Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills – $8,000 to support the ensemble’s 19th season of concerts and outreach.
• Dakota Choral Union – $4,000 to sustain core programming by this long-established city-based ensemble.
• Flutter Productions/Suzie Cappa Art Center – $10,000 for its 2026 season.
• Improvise Arts – $2,500 for the 2026 Black Hills Jazz Fest.
• Racing Magpie – $10,000 for artist studios, a Native art gallery, arts and cultural programming, collaborations, and community space.
• Rapid City Concert Association – $1,500 for its 90th concert season.
• Rock the Rez – $13,000 for the very first Rock the Rez summer camp hosted in Rapid City.
• Rushmore Music Festival – $5,000 for Project BeethoVAN, an innovative mobile music education and performance initiative.
• Theatre 605 – $2,500 for the Storybook Island/Theatre 605 Theatre Camp.
• Rapid City Arts Council – $10,000 for fund administration and continued delivery of free arts experiences at the Dahl Arts Center, which welcomes over 15,000 visitors annually with visual art exhibitions, performances, arts education, and advocacy.

2025 Awardees:

• Backroom Productions, Inc – $7,500
• Black Hills Center for Equality – $8,000
• Black Hills Community Theatre – $15,000
• Black Hills Dance Theatre, LTD – $7,000
• Black Hills Symphony Orchestra – $5,000
• Catalyst Theater Company – $7,500
• Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills – $10,000
• Dakota Choral Union – $5,000 
• Flutter Productions/Black Hills Works – $17,000
• Rushmore Music Festival – $8,000 
• Rapid City Arts Council – $10,000 for fund administration​

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2024 Arts Contingency Fund Awardees:

• Black Hills Historical Society received $5,000
• Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, a city establishment, received $19,500
• Dakota Choral Union, a city establishment, received $9,000
• The Rapid City Municipal Band, a city establishment, received $15,000
• The Rapid City Ranger Band, a city establishment, received $7,500
• Black Hills Community Theater received $9,000
• Black Hills Pow Wow Association received $9,000
• The Chamber Music Festival received $1,000
• Flutter Productions, a part of the Black Hills Works family, received $5,000
• Racing Magpie received $9,000
• Rapid City Arts Council received $9,000 under a contract to manage the fund.

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2023 Grant Recipients

• ​Black Hills Symphony Orchestra* $17,500
• Dakota Choral Union* $9,200 
• Black Hills Historical Society, formerly known as Minnilusa Historical Association* $5,000 
• Rapid City Municipal Band* $16,100 
• Rapid City Ranger Band* $9,200 
• Backroom Productions, Inc. $2,500 
• Black Hills Chamber Music Society $3,500 
• Black Hills Dance Theatre $4,000 
• Black Hills Pow Wow Association $9,500 
• Chamber Music Festival $4,500 
• Dakota Artists Guild $800 
• Flutter Productions, Black Hills Works, Inc. $2,700
• Rapid City Concert Association $2,000
• Rushmore Music Festival $4,500 
• Rapid City Arts Council will also receive $9,000 from the fund 

​2022 Grant Recipients

• Black Hills Chamber Music Society, $3,726
• Black Hills Community Theatre, $8,279
• Black Hills Symphony Orchestra*, $19,663
• Cave Collective, $3,000
• Chamber Music Festival of the Black Hills, $3,726
• Dakota Artists Guild, $828
• Dakota Choral Union*, $10,349
• Minnilusa Historical Assoc & Pioneer Museum**, $5,988
• Rapid City Municipal Band*, $18,110
• Rapid City Ranger Band*, $10,349
• Rushmore Music Festival, $4,657
• Backroom Productions, $3,726

*Funding by City Ordinance
**Funding by City Agreement