Castle Rock to Award $85,000 in Art and Culture Grants

The Town of Castle Rock has set aside $85,000 through its Public Art Fund for the 2026/27 Art and Culture Grant Program, an infusion aimed at expanding local performances, public art and classroom arts opportunities. The town is asking artists, schools, nonprofits and other community groups to apply as it seeks to strengthen the town’s cultural life.

The program is structured in three categories: program grants up to $10,000 each (up to five awards), project grants up to $5,000 each (up to five awards), and educator grants up to $1,000 each (up to 10 awards). Those category limits add up to as many as 20 awards under the program’s maximums. A panel made up of Public Art Commission members, Town staff and a Councilmember will review applications, and award recommendations will go to Town Council for approval in May.

The town’s announcement encourages broad participation: “Nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educators, artists and businesses are invited to apply for grant funding to help enhance Castle Rock’s cultural landscape, foster community engagement and encourage artistic expression.” At the same time, one earlier source described a narrower eligibility rule, “Only nonprofit 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations providing art and culture programming within Castle Rock are eligible to apply”, a difference the town’s web page and staff can clarify for prospective applicants.

Castle Rock is hosting an information session from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Cantril School, 312 Cantril St., to outline application requirements, expectations for funded projects and to answer questions before applications are submitted. According to the town posting, online applications for the 2026/2027 cycle must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, March 20. Applicants should be prepared to include a project purpose statement, demonstration of alignment with community cultural goals, a proposed budget and evidence of capacity to implement the proposal; letters of support from collaborators may be requested.

The grant program builds on an initial round of awards the town recently approved. Town Council previously approved six grants totaling $30,683 after a panel reviewed 17 applications. Among those awards were a program grant of $4,968 to Castle Rock Band for a free public concert series and support for instrument maintenance and storage, and an educator grant supporting a four-session songwriting workshop at Castle Rock Music. Maya Yates, special project analyst and staff liaison to the Public Art Commission, said staff and volunteers “learned the first round produced many incomplete or non-shovel-ready applications and that future cycles will open earlier with clearer guidance and information sessions for applicants.”

For applicants, the practical steps are clear: plan projects to take place within Castle Rock town limits, assemble a concise budget and community-alignment statement, attend the Feb. 10 information session if possible, and submit the application by the March 20 deadline. For questions or to confirm eligibility and current submission details, call the Town of Castle Rock at 720-896-8696 or visit the town’s Art and Culture Grants page on the official Castle Rock website. The program offers a timely chance for local groups to “paint the town” with new performances, murals and classroom arts that can shape the community’s cultural identity; awards recommended in May will set the 2026/27 season in motion.