VIVA Initiative

Visibility & Investment for Vibrant Arts

Now Accepting Applications

Application Period: September 4 –25, 2026
Program Period: October 2026–April 2027

The Stanislaus Arts Council is pleased to announce the VIVA Initiative, a 9 month capacity-building and visibility program designed to strengthen, elevate, and amplify Latino/Hispanic arts, culture, and creative expression throughout Stanislaus County.

Through VIVA, the Stanislaus Arts Council will provide selected artists, creative practitioners, arts and cultural organizations, and community-based creative groups with access to professional promotional support, strategic communications resources, community distribution opportunities, and light-touch marketing assistance designed to help participants expand their visibility and connect with broader audiences.

We are seeking applications from individuals, collectives, arts organizations, cultural organizations, and community-based creative groups that are seeking support in increasing awareness of their work, programs, events, and contributions to Stanislaus County's cultural landscape.

Program Goals

The VIVA Initiative seeks to:

  • Increase the visibility of Latino/Hispanic arts, artists, cultural practitioners, and creative programming throughout Stanislaus County

  • Strengthen marketing and communications capacity among participating artists and organizations

  • Expand community awareness, engagement, and participation in arts and cultural activities

  • Provide equitable access to professional promotional infrastructure and resources

  • Create stronger connections between artists, cultural organizations, community partners, and audiences

  • Support the long-term sustainability and public presence of participating creative individuals and organizations

What Selected Participants May Receive

Depending on individual needs, program capacity, and the nature of the proposed project or activity, selected participants may receive access to a combination of the following services:

Print & Physical Media Support

  • Posters and flyers

  • Event promotional materials

  • Digital files prepared for print

  • Strategic distribution through community hubs and partner networks

Digital Marketing & Promotion

  • Social media graphics and campaign content

  • Promotional copy and messaging support

  • Cross-platform amplification through Stanislaus Arts Council channels

  • Select paid digital promotion, when applicable and resources permit

Web & Visibility Support

  • Event calendar listings

  • Features in Stanislaus Arts Council communications and newsletters

  • Rotating Latino Arts Spotlight features

  • Opportunities for artist, organization, or program profiles

Community Distribution & Outreach

The Stanislaus Arts Council will work to connect participating projects with community distribution networks that may include:

  • Libraries

  • Schools and educational institutions

  • Cultural venues

  • Community organizations

  • Local businesses

  • SAC networks

  • Community events and Art Walk

  • Other appropriate community partners

Technical Assistance

Participants may also receive light-touch guidance related to:

  • Marketing strategy

  • Public messaging

  • Social media communications

  • Promotional planning

  • Reusable marketing templates

  • Branding and visibility tools

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from Latino/Hispanic artists, creative practitioners, collectives, arts organizations, cultural organizations, and community-based creative groups located in or serving Stanislaus County.

Applicants may include individuals or organizations working across a broad range of artistic and cultural disciplines, including but not limited to:

  • Visual arts

  • Performing arts

  • Music

  • Dance

  • Theatre

  • Literary arts

  • Cultural traditions and heritage

  • Craft and folk arts

  • Media arts

  • Film and photography

  • Public art

  • Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary creative practices

  • Community-based arts and cultural programming

Applicants do not need to be large or established organizations. VIVA is particularly interested in supporting individuals and organizations that have meaningful creative or cultural work but may have limited access to professional marketing, communications, or promotional resources.

What Are We Looking For?

We are interested in applications that demonstrate:

  • A clear creative, cultural, or community purpose

  • A connection to Latino/Hispanic arts, culture, heritage, or creative expression

  • A desire to increase visibility and audience engagement

  • A specific event, program, body of work, organization, or creative practice that would benefit from promotional support

  • A willingness to collaborate with the Stanislaus Arts Council throughout the program

  • A commitment to providing timely information, images, logos, event details, and other materials necessary for promotion

Participation in VIVA does not guarantee that every requested service or promotional activity will be provided. Services will be determined based on program capacity, participant needs, available resources, timing, and alignment with the initiative's goals.

Apply Today!

〰️ Application is below 〰️

Apply Today! 〰️ Application is below 〰️

The VIVA Initiative, funded by the Adelante Fund at the Stanislaus Community Foundation, presented by the Stanislaus Arts Council provides customized marketing, communications, and visibility support to eligible Latino and Hispanic arts organizations, artist collectives, cultural groups, and creative initiatives serving Stanislaus County. VIVA is not a cash-grant program. Selected participants will receive services and promotional support based on their individual needs, program readiness, and available resources.

The application below should take 10-15 minutes to complete.

  • Applications are open September 4 through September 25, 2026.

  • Submitting an application does not guarantee selection or a specific level of service.

  • Support packages will be customized and may vary among participants.

  • Applicants must provide accurate information and respond within program deadlines.

  • Incomplete or ineligible applications may not advance for consideration.

  • Assistance completing the application is available upon request.

  • Information collected will be used for program selection, administration, evaluation, and required grant reporting.

  • Applicant information will not be publicly shared without permission, except as required by law or the program’s funder

  • All applicants will be notified by email on or before October 1, 2026, regarding their acceptance into the VIVA Arts Initiative.

Program Timeline

September 4, 2026
Applications open

September 25, 2026
Application deadline

October 1, 2026
Selected applicants notified

October 2026
Participant onboarding and campaign planning

November 2026–April 2027
Rolling promotional campaigns, technical assistance, community outreach, and visibility support

April 2027
Program evaluation, participant feedback, and outcomes assessment

How the Program works

Selected participants will work collaboratively with the Stanislaus Arts Council to identify their most important visibility and promotional needs.

Following acceptance, participants will complete an onboarding process that will help establish:

  1. What you are promoting
    Your event, program, creative work, organization, or cultural activity.

  2. Who you are trying to reach
    Your audiences, communities, and potential new audiences.

  3. What support would be most useful
    Promotional materials, digital visibility, community distribution, messaging assistance, or other available resources.

  4. How we will work together
    Participants will provide the information, imagery, logos, deadlines, and other materials needed to develop effective promotional campaigns.

  5. How we will measure impact
    Together, we will document promotional activity, audience engagement, reach, and other appropriate outcomes.

Program Goals & Anticipated Reach

Through this initiative, the Stanislaus Arts Council anticipates supporting approximately:

3–6 Latino/Hispanic-led arts, cultural, or creative participants

and/or

6–10 cultural events, programs, or creative initiatives

with coordinated promotional support during the program period.

Collectively, VIVA seeks to contribute to an estimated 25,000–35,000 community member impressions and points of engagement through digital promotion, print distribution, community outreach, and coordinated communications.