Arts Opportunities

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The City of Costa Mesa offers opportunities for artists and arts organizations. Please note that each project/program has different opening and closing dates. See below:

Arts Grant Program

The objective of the Arts Grant Program is to support and grow the arts community in Costa Mesa. Funds will be granted to art projects that take place within Costa Mesa. For the purpose of this application, a project may be an event, activity, or program.

The Arts Grant Application is currently closed and will open again in January of 2025.

How to Apply

Please read the Arts Grant Guidelines (includes a downloadable/printable application).

Online Application

ARTventure

Exhibition Spaces

The City of Costa Mesa hosts two exhibition spaces for local artists to show their artworks.

The Exhibition, established in June of 2015 and is a space located in the Costa Mesa Senior Center that also offers local artists the opportunity to display and sell their artwork for a four month period.

The Youth Art Wall space gives youth oriented nonprofit organizations and Costa Mesa schools the opportunity to display their artwork for a four month period. Artwork is displayed on four 4x4 canvas boards and in the conference room within City hall lobby.

How to Apply

For more information, check out the Exhibition Spaces Handbook (includes downloadable and printable application) and download (optional) a Excel template for photos of the proposed artwork, to include: a title, medium, description, the size of the piece and the price, if it is available for sale.

To apply online, please fill out the online application .

Poet Laureate Program

Poet Laureate Logo 2 The role of the Poet Laureate is to represent and promote poetry and literacy in Costa Mesa. This position is honorary and includes an honorarium in the amount of $5,000 (two payments of $2,500), for a two-year term, which commences on January 6, 2025 and concludes on December 31, 2026.

The Poet Laureate Program Application reopens on September 9, 2024 and closes on October 28, 2024.

How to Apply

Poet Laureate Program Guidelines-TBD (downloadable application included)

Online Application

Utility Box Art Program

The City of Costa Mesa is dedicated to incorporating art into public spaces and is especially interested in incorporating the work of local artists in such spaces whenever possible. A Utility Box Art Program was launched in early 2015, spotlight a handful of utility boxes as beautiful art pieces. Over fifty distinct, artistic designs are now spotlighted throughout Costa Mesa.

How to Apply

Please read through the Utility Box Art Program Handbook for more details (includes a downloadable/printable application).

Application cycle opens October 9, 2024 and closes on December 31, 2024. Utility Box designs and vinyl wraps are applied to utility boxes beginning January through the end of June.

Online Application for Artists
Online Application for Sponsors

Eligibility Requirements

Artist must be a resident of Orange County
18+ years old
Artwork must be “G” rated
Artwork submission must be a high resolution (300 dpi) file with dimensions of 20 inches high and 40 inches wide.

City of Costa Mesa

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