More Joy grants support groups engaging the New Orleans community through parading, public performance, and other free, street-based activities that have roots in or pay homage to the street parading culture of New Orleans. These are activities typically done by Black Masking Indians (also known as Mardi Gras Indians) and Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs. Grants will be $3,500. 

The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, April 10, 2025.  This site will shut down at 11:59 p.m. on April 10, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Organizations can only apply in ONE category for a Community Arts Grant, New Orleans as Cultural Capital OR More Joy, depending on your eligibility.

This is a grant for the calendar year 2026.  Please review Community Arts Grants guidelines available HERE, especially the criteria by which your proposal will be judged, prior to completing this application.

Applicants MUST BE either:

• Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service domiciled in Orleans Parish
• An organization incorporated by the State of Louisiana as a nonprofit organization and domiciled in Orleans Parish
• A nonprofit organization using a fiscal agent (not required). Fiscal agents must be domiciled in Orleans Parish.
• Must have an organizational bank account to receive grant payments or have a fiscal agent.
   

Additional eligibility requirements:

• Produce or celebrate New Orleans’ Street Parading traditions usually created by New Orleans indigenous cultural group
• Incorporated by the State of Louisiana as a nonprofit organization
• Domiciled in Orleans Parish

PLEASE NOTE: While the grant activity period is the 2026 calendar year, grant funds are usually not available prior to May of that year.

Community Arts Grants are made possible by the City of New Orleans.  Arts New Orleans developed this program under contract with the City more than 40 years ago and still administers the CAG program today. 

Please remember you may save your application as a draft and ask Arts New Orleans staff for feedback before submitting. Questions can be directed to Grantmaking and Administrative Specialist Grace Rennie at grace@artsneworleans.org or 504-374-1147

Operating support grants are available for nonprofit arts organizations with 501(c)(3) status from the IRS domiciled in Orleans Parish.

Grant amounts are based on expenses from the organization's 2024 fiscal year: 

• $14,000 for nonprofits that spent at least $700,000
• $7,000 for nonprofits that spent between $200,000 - $699,999
• $3,500 for nonprofits that spent under $200,000

The deadline is Thursday, April 10, 2025. This site will shut down at 11:59 p.m. on April 10, 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: Organizations can only apply in ONE category for a Community Arts Grant, New Orleans as Cultural Capital OR More Joy, depending on your eligibility.

 Nonprofit organizations selected to receive grants in the New Orleans as Cultural Capital category will receive funding for calendar years 2026 and 2027. Please review the Community Arts Grants guidelines available HERE, especially the criteria by which your proposal will be judged, prior to completing this application.

 Please remember you may save your application as a draft and ask Arts New Orleans staff for feedback before submitting.

PLEASE NOTE: This two-year grant will be renewed for the second year of activity (e.g. if you're a small organization and you're awarded a grant, you will receive $3500 for 2026 and, after the 2026 activity period has ended and your final report is submitted and approved, you will receive $3500 for 2027). Also note that grant funds are usually not available prior to May of each year.

Community Arts Grants are made possible by the City of New Orleans. Arts New Orleans developed this program under contract with the City more than 40 years ago and still administers the CAG program today.

 Questions can be directed to Grantmaking and Administrative Specialist Grace Rennie at grace@artsneworleans.org or 504-374-1147