The City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) requests proposals from qualified consultants, trainers, firms, or organizations to design and deliver high-quality professional development opportunities for representatives from Sacramento-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations. The purpose of this initiative is to provide valuable tools and resources to strengthen organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

Please review the full Request for Proposals and Frequently Asked Questions page before applying.

Project Budget: $50,000

Required Activities: 

• Develop curriculum centering one or more of the priority areas: audience development, board development, financial management, grant writing and fundraising, leadership development, or marketing, branding, and communications.
• Provide workshops, classes, or one-on-one services in person (in City spaces) or through synchronous virtual means. 
• Collect participation feedback and attendance data. 

Preliminary Timeline:

• Questions about the RFP due by: August 21, 2026
• Proposals due by: August 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
• Estimated week of interviews (If necessary): Week of September 7, 2026
• Estimated week of award notification: Week of September 18, 2026
• All work completed: September 30, 2027

To be considered, proposals must include the following:

1. Executive Summary: Description of proposer’s history and relevant experience in delivering professional development services. 
2. Project Approach: Description of the proposer’s approach to completing all objectives and requirements. Include a brief statement demonstrating the proposer’s understanding of Sacramento's nonprofit arts and cultural sector, as well as its approach to effectively serving arts and cultural organizations varying in size, discipline, mission, and structure. 
3. Work Plan and Project Schedule: Detailed outline of proposed deliverables including learning outcomes and objectives, proposed timeline for all deliverables and scheduling options or limitations, proposed delivery methods, and any materials, assistance, or resources required by the City.
4. Cost Proposal: Fee schedule(s) and hourly rates related to the implementation and completion of this project.
5. Project Team: Identify personnel that will be assigned to the project. Include credentials and experience for all personnel and biographies or CV of leading team members. New personnel cannot be substituted for those listed in this application without prior written consent of the City. 
6. References: Provide three references for whom the proposer has completed similar projects. Include the name, email, phone number, date(s) of service, and the scope of work performed for each reference.

Please review full RFP before applying. Link to Request for Proposals

Questions: Questions about the project are due by 8/21/2026. All questions will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions. Provide questions to Arts Program Coordinator April Breis.

• Email: abreis@cityofsacramento.org
• Phone: 916-808-3977

Program Overview

Sacramento Film + Media is committed to sustaining and growing film and television production in the City of Sacramento. Sacramento Film + Media Rebate Program supports this goal by subsidizing permit fees, reimbursing the costs of city personnel assigned to a film location, and reimbursing qualified expenses for production companies when these activities occur in the City of Sacramento.

Sacramento Film + Media will reimburse up to $250,000 in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27. Once available funds are depleted, funding for the rebate program will no longer be available. Rebate funds that have not been distributed in FY 2026/27 and remain available due to a lack of eligible or qualifying applicants will be rolled over to the next fiscal year. Rebates include:

1. 100% reimbursement of required services and fees by the City of Sacramento, including Sacramento Police Department (limited up to 8 officers per day, each for a maximum of 12 hours per day), Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Film + Media permit fees, permit fees from other city departments, and/or Parking Services fees;

after all City of Sacramento required services are paid out, an additional rebate of:

2. 25% reimbursement of qualified expenditures which occur within the City of Sacramento (e.g., hotel nights, rental cars, rental equipment, location fees, catering, local hires, wardrobe purchases, dry cleaning, local security, per diem payments, gasoline, etc.). The full list of qualified expenditures can be found here. Sacramento Qualified Expenditure Chart

Eligibility

• Feature film and television projects with a City of Sacramento budget over $1,000,000.
• Eligible productions include feature films; television films, pilots, series, and unscripted; and documentaries. See a list of ineligible productions below.
• At least five (5) shooting days must occur in the City of Sacramento.
• Evidence of 80% financing for the total budget is required.
• Applications for film and television projects must be submitted prior to the beginning of principal photography in the City of Sacramento to be considered eligible.
• Applicants MUST be scheduled to begin principal photography on the qualified project within 60 days of the Film + Media Office issuing a Certificate Letter of Conditional Eligibility.
• Applications submitted MORE THAN 60 DAYS prior to the start of principal photography will be considered but not be certified. 
• Production companies may only apply for one rebate per calendar year.
• An independent, third-party Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP) Report is required and shall be paid by awardee.

Funding support may be revoked at any time if it is determined that the production does not fit within the criteria of the Film + Media Program Rebate Guidelines, or the applicant provided false or misleading information to the City.

Read the full Guidelines here.

The Office of Arts and Culture utilizes the expertise of review panels to evaluate applications 

submitted for consideration to our funding programs. Review panelists play a critical role in the 

government grantmaking process by providing expert evaluation of grant applications, ensuring 

a fair and transparent assessment based on established criteria, and promoting accountability 

and responsible allocation of public funds.

PANELIST CRITERIA

Panelists must meet the following criteria: 

• Must be at least 18 years of age. 
• Have computer access and a reliable internet connection. 
• Have the ability to carry out all tasks outlined in the Panelist Duties. 
•  Have the ability to maintain the standards outlined in the Panelist Code of Conduct. 
• Selected panelists must register as a supplier though the City's Ebid Portal and may be required to obtain a Business Operations Tax Certificate. BOTC costs must be paid by panelist and may be reimbursed. OAC staff will assist with these processes.

All prospective panelists MUST read the full guidelines before applying. For full guidelines please CLICK HERE or visit our Website.

CONTACT US:

Please contact staff with any questions.  

Email: saccityarts@cityofsacramento.org

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations are available upon request. Please submit requests to OAC staff at saccityarts@cityofsacramento.org.   

The Office of Arts & Culture (OAC) is accepting applications for its Emerging Curators Fellowship program, a funded opportunity for emerging curators to develop and present two exhibitions at the Robert T. Matsui Gallery inside Sacramento City Hall. 

The Emerging Curators Fellowship is a year-long program, where one fellow will produce and mount two exhibitions (each on view for 4 months) with the support of a curatorial mentor. The fellow will receive a stipend and funding for both exhibitions. A mentor will meet with the fellow on a regular basis (minimum of 30 hours) to help fine tune ideas and provide feedback and guidance on the development of both exhibitions. This program is intended to provide an opportunity to those interested in the visual arts curatorial field, but may not have easy access to funding, locations, or other resources.

Be sure to read the full guidelines here. Email oacgallery@cityofsacramento.org with any questions. Please note that emails are not answered on weekends or City holidays. Emails will not be answered after 3pm on the last day to apply. We strongly advise not waiting until the last minute to submit your application.