Williamsburg Area Arts Commission

Applications for FY25 funding are now open. Deadline to apply is 4:00 pm on December 1,  2023. 
Learn more

Overview


The purpose of the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission (WAAC) will be to assist Williamsburg City Council and James City County Board of Supervisors and other appropriate bodies and organizations in supporting and stimulating excellence in the arts and in creating an atmosphere that encourages the growth, development, and accessibility of cultural amenities for the benefit of citizens and visitors.

Members

  • Thomas Phelps, Chair (James City County)
  • Robin Phillips, Vice Chair(James City County)
  • Georgianna Avioli, Secretary (James City County)
  • Susan Corbett, (City of Williamsburg)
  • Bob Leek, (City of Williamsburg)
  • Nancy Sullivan (York County)
  • Barbara Vollmer (City of Williamsburg)
  • Nick Vrettos (James City County)
  • TBD, (City of Williamsburg)

WAAC grants are funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts

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Applying for the Grant


Applications for FY25 open Monday, October 2, 2023. Deadline to apply is Friday, December 1, 2023. Grants are then reviewed by WAAC and recommendations are made to City Council in February of 2024. Award notices will be sent to recipients after the budget is adopted (May/June 2024). 

APPLICATION PORTAL

The Williamsburg Area Arts Commission welcomes all 501(c)(3) arts and cultural organizations to apply for supplementary funding for a project or performance which meets WAAC grant requirements. 

Guidelines & Criteria for Funding

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Year-End Report Form

The year-end forms are always due on or before the last day of the fiscal year (June 30). When grantees log into the online system, the  dashboard shows your applications. Click the one with the green “CONTINUE” button (this is the current year’s application). From here, you will see the Year-End Report (under “Your Tasks”). 

2024 Fiscal Year Grantees

Williamsburg Area Arts Commission grant recipients for the 2023-2024 fiscal year (July 1 - June 30):

Funding Sources

Total funding for the fiscal year 2024 arts grant program is $159,000. This comprises gifts of $75,000 made by The City of Williamsburg and $75,000 made by James City County plus a $9,000 state challenge grant from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Arts Calendars


Organizations who receive funding are encouraged to submit events to the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce (must be a Chamber member) and Williamsburg Tourism Council/Visit Williamsburg website calendars:

Forums & Reports


February 2023 -- The Williamsburg Area Arts Commission hosted a forum entitled "A Full House: Building Audiences for the Arts." Read the Final Report or Executive Summary. 

Fall 2021 -- The Williamsburg Area Arts Commission conducted a survey of its grantees, with specific interest in what, in a post-pandemic world, our groups would need in order to bring the art they are creating directly to the communities of Williamsburg, James City, and York counties, and to the many thousands of tourists who visit our area each year. View the complete final report.

Fall 2021 -- The WAAC held its fall forum, " “Shaking the Money Tree: Grants and How to Get ‘Em," on October 21, 2021. View a copy of the PowerPoint deck here. You may also view a recording of the complete presentation.  

Spring 2021 -- View a recording of the Spring Forum, " Survive, Revive & Thrive: How We Emerge from the Recent Virtual Past" with speaker Ruby Lopez Harper of the Americans for the Arts.