GRANTS Funding to help cultural programming

Center in Balboa Park, said she plans to apply for the city’s emergency funding grant, as well as other annual grants for cultural organizations offered by the city.

The cultural center is a space to celebrate African American and indigenous people in San Diego through art shows, dance, educational workshops and other events. The center has been offering online educational events on its Facebook page to keep supporters engaged.

Cheatom said the center is open three days a week as opposed to every day. The coffee shop inside the center has helped keep the doors open, but it’s not enough money to keep the nonprofit going, she said.

“Culture unites us, and we need that more than ever,” Cheatom said. “Culture, art and dance is our weapon for the future .... It’s so important to keep these little art organizations because we don’t have endowments like the big guys.”

She said a lot of smaller nonprofits that serve diverse communities provide programs for free to community members, so they rely on donations and grant opportu-cultural nities to survive.

The city’s Commission for Arts and Culture also is accepting applications for the city’s Organizational Support Program, which provides general operating support funding to nonprofits, and Creative Communities San Diego, which funds cultural programs, festivals and parades.

More than $5.7 million were awarded to 168 nonprofit organizations for fiscal year 2021 and $11.4 million to 159 nonprofits for fiscal year 2020.

Organizations can apply online at www.sandiego.gov/ arts-culture/funding/cares.