2027 Grants Accelerator Program (GAP) Guidelines
2027 Grants Accelerator Program (GAP) Guidelines
World Arts West 2027 Grant Accelerator Program (GAP) Application Guidelines
Program Overview
The World Arts West (WAW) Grants Accelerator Program (GAP) is a year-long, cohort-based mentorship and training program designed to support cultural artists and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area who are historically excluded from traditional philanthropy. GAP provides experiential training, peer learning, and one-to-one coaching to support participants to successfully apply for and secure foundation and government grants. The program is free of charge for all participants.
For the purposes of this program, World Arts West defines a cultural artist or organization as a practitioner or organization whose creative work serves to express, preserve, advance, and communicate the values, traditions, and stories of a community or culture, often with an intention to share with others and/or contribute to community well-being.
Eligibility
Applicants must be cultural artists or cultural arts organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County & Sonoma County.)
We encourage applicants who are:
Artists of color, immigrant, refugee, LGBTQ+, disabled, and/or from other historically excluded communities.
Organizations that are rooted in, led by, and serving your cultural community.
Applicants must demonstrate:
Commitment to attending all 11 program sessions (Jan–Dec 2027 with a July break).
Willingness to learn and engage in peer support.
An active project, program, or organization that uplifts historically excluded communities.
Program Commitments
11 Monthly Webinars/Labs on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 10-11:30am PST.
Participation in 1:1 coaching sessions with GAP staff.
Submission of at least three grant proposals during the program year.
Expect to commit 8-12 hours a month to this program.
Active engagement with peers in the cohort.
Cohort Size
Up to 10 participants will be selected for 2027.
Timeline
Application Opens: October 27, 2026
2027 WAW GAP Information Session [will be recorded and shared on our website after]: Tuesday, November 17, 10am PST
Application Due Date: December 4, 2026, 11:45 PM PT
Notifications: December 17, 2026
Program Dates: January–December 2027
Questions? Please email Program Co-Director Krista Smith at kristalynnsmith@gmail.com.
About World Arts West
World Arts West's MISSION is to support the artists who are preserving and innovating the world's cultural dance traditions. We serve as a central hub for a wide range of artist services and play an important role in advocating for culturally-specific dance communities.
World Arts West collaborates with artists, organizations, and communities that promote intersectional solidarity and enhance cultural competence, which we believe is vital for advancing social justice. We focus on the needs and experiences of the artists we serve by actively listening to their perspectives.
As we continue to grow and strengthen our legacy as an important platform for uplifting cultural artists, our long-term VISION is to cultivate a sustainable future for the global dance community. We aspire to become the national thought leader, presenter, advocate, and service provider for the largest world dance network in the United States.
2027 GAP Scoring Rubric
Category Points What We’re Looking For
Artistic/Organizational Strength 20 Clear articulation of activities and impact of cultural work.
Community Relevance 20 Artist/Organization is rooted in, led by, and/or serving a cultural community; demonstrates cultural responsiveness.
Equity & Access 20 Applicant represents and/or serves historically excluded communities.
Commitment to Learning 20 Evidence of readiness to engage in training, feedback, and peer support.
Feasibility & Capacity 20 Ability to commit to program schedule; demonstrates time management and follow-through.
Total 100 Top scoring applicants will be selected to join the cohort.
2027 GAP Application Questions (Your Application Must be submitted through our Application Form)
*Best practice is to write down your answers on a separate doc (Google/Word) so you can then copy/paste inside the application form. The form allows you to SAVE your work BEFORE submitting.
Once submitted, there will be no edits allowed.
Applicant Information
Name
Organization
Contact info (Address, Phone Number, Email Address)
Website
Social Media Handles
Your Cultural Work
Please tell us about the cultural community you or your organization serve. (400 words max)
Please tell us about your or your organization's artistic/cultural work. (400 words max)
Please tell us about your artistic/cultural work's impact on the cultural community you serve. (400 words max)
How does your and/or your organizational leader’s background or lived experience connect with your cultural work and the cultural communities you serve? (400 words max)
Your Grants Experience
Have you applied for grants before? If yes, which ones? Were you awarded? If yes, how much money were you awarded?
Your GAP Goals
Why are you interested in being a part of the 2027 GAP cohort? (300 words)
Are there particular skills you hope to build, and if so, what are they? (300 words)
Your Commitment
Cohort meetings are scheduled for the third Wednesday of each month from 10am-11:30am PT. Can you commit to attending 11 monthly (90-minute) meetings (Jan–Dec 2027 with no meeting in July)?
Can you commit to attending a monthly 30 minute one-to-one coaching session with a Grant Specialist (scheduled at your convenience) and submit at least three grant applications during the year?
Participating in GAP requires steady follow-through over the course of the year. What strategies or practices do you use to stay organized and meet due dates? (200 words max)
Anything Else?
If there is anything else you'd like to let us know, please use this space to provide any additional information. (200 words max)
World Arts West announces the 2026 cohort of its Grants Accelerator Program (GAP)
The 2026 GAP cohort reflects the diversity and leadership of the Bay Area’s cultural dance ecosystem, including artists and organizations rooted in immigrant, refugee, LGBTQ+, disabled, and other historically excluded communities. Cohort members will participate in monthly webinars and working labs, receive one-to-one coaching and proposal reviews, and benefit from peer learning and promotional support throughout the year.
2026 Grants Accelerator Program Cohort
