The Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) is proud to present the 2022 Free Fall Baltimore grant opportunity - a citywide celebration that offers hundreds of free arts & cultural events at participating venues throughout Baltimore City. Held in conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month, local venues, artists, and organizations showcase the importance of the arts with free concerts, dance and theater performances, festivals, lectures, workshops, art exhibitions, and special events. This program is made possible by the generous funding support of The Maryland State Arts Council.
Each year BOPA provides grants to Baltimore City- based organizations and local venues/event spaces, with operating budgets under $300,000 to produce free cultural event in Baltimore City during the month of October. Grants will range from $250 - $1,000. We also provide an opportunity for organizations with operating budgets over $300,000 to participate in Free Fall Baltimore by promoting their events and incorporating them into the Free Fall calendar. Individual artists/creatives are allowed to apply for this grant if their event is also free and open to the public and located in a public space or Baltimore City based venue.
Free Fall Information Session
June 5th 6pm
Staff, relatives, and board members of BOPA Inc are ineligible to apply for this grant.
FAQ's
If I am a Baltimore County organization that serves Baltimore City residents can I apply?
Unfortunately, no. These grants are allocated for Baltimore City based organizations and artists.
Does my fiscal sponsor have to be an arts and culture organization?
No, they don’t. If your sponsor meets the criteria for being a 501c3 you can apply.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
No, these grants are getting more competitive, and we are unable to grant you more than one $1,000 grant. You can provide more than 1 one day programming; however, all the event dates must be included in one grant application.
My project is partially funded can I still apply?
Yes, you can still apply but you must indicate all your funding sources that are already in place to support your project.
What if I am unsure if I will be able to provide virtual or in person programming, can I still apply?
Yes, please note that in your application, it will not be held against you. However, we are strongly encouraging applicants to provide in person programming.
Who is responsible for the final report?
All applicants who receive funding are responsible for the final report.
When does my programming have to take place?
Programming must take place between October 1- 31
What if I have to cancel my event due to an emergency?
You are required to provide an alternate date for your programming in the application. If you are not able to fulfill your grant obligation you are required to notify us as soon as possible.
Failure to do so will also deem your ineligible to apply for future BOPA grants.
I’d like to have my event in a public park, what should I do?
You need to apply for a permit if you’d like to have your event in a public park. For more information on the timeline and process please check out https://bcrp.baltimorecity.gov/permitshome
I have never applied for a grant before and I still have questions, who can I reach out to for support?
Please contact Devin Shacklett at Dshacklett@promotionandarts.org