$10 Million in Grants for Oahu Culture and Arts

Oahu culture and arts businesses and nonprofits can now apply for reimbursable grants from the City and County of Honolulu’s $10 million Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund.

“The Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund is a tool to help people in culture and arts stay afloat while we work as a community to safely reopen O‘ahu,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “These are the people and places that represent the soul of our island. It’s vital we remember to connect with each other in difficult times and we can do that through engaging with art and culture in all forms. This program was created with the input of artists and cultural practitioners, and those are the people we hope to help as much as possible.”

“These programs are truly going to make a difference in our culture and arts industry,” added Misty Kela‘i, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts. “It makes me so proud that we are able to tailor our funds to fit our culture and arts industry and that we will be able to support all of the businesses and organizations that make Oʻahu unique.”

There are two grant programs: Mālamalama and Hoʻōla. An organization can qualify for one program, not both.

Each grant is a one-time reimbursement for costs incurred from the implementation of safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Organizations cannot apply for costs already covered by another federally funded program such as the CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Plan, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and others.

The City has a video tutorial about how to apply at oneoahu.org/culture-arts, including documents needed. Applications are being accepted now at oneoahu.org.

The Culture and Arts Relief and Recovery Fund is funded with CARES Act money.