Mayor Suzanne LaFrance
Municipality of Anchorage
June 18, 2026
Mayor LaFrance Announces 2026 Mayor’s Arts and Community Grant Recipients
Today, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance announced the recipients of the 2026 Mayor’s Arts and Community Grants, as well as the second round of the “Beyond the Beige” grant initiative.
These programs provide essential financial support to local nonprofits and cultural organizations working to foster a more vibrant, connected, and resilient Anchorage.
“I am proud to support our local nonprofits and cultural organizations as they work to strengthen our community,” said Mayor LaFrance. “Investing in their work is a direct investment in a safer, more vibrant community for everyone who calls Anchorage home.”
Expanding Access to the Arts
For the 2026 Arts Grants, the Mayor prioritized projects that expand public access to arts and culture, specifically those offering free or low-cost programming. This year, 17 organizations were selected to receive funding.
Examples of projects include:
Anchorage Folk Festival: Increasing capacity for free and low-cost workshops and performances.
Alaska Theatre of Youth: Providing free tickets to school performances for students, teachers, and chaperones.
Alaska Chinese Association: Upgrading costumes and equipment used for free public performances.
See below for the full list of 2026 Arts Grant recipients.
Supporting Community Programs
The Community Grants focus on organizations with projects that directly support the Mayor’s policy priorities of public safety, housing, and community building. From the pool of applicants, 51 organizations were selected.
Highlighted recipients include:
The Dome: Supporting the Community Health Initiative.
Rocket Fuel: Providing 3,900 weekend meal bags for food-insecure students.
Anchorage Project Access: Expanding the “Lifeline to Health” program to connect homeless families with critical health services.
Data for Indigenous Justice: Hosting community healing events and cultural gatherings.
See below for the full list of 2026 Community Grant recipients.
Revitalizing Public Spaces with Beyond the Beige
Now in its second year, Beyond the Beige—a partnership between the Municipality of Anchorage and the Anchorage Community Development Authority—will award a total of $100,000 among five community-driven projects designed to bring vibrant, engaging public art and color to Anchorage.
Selected projects span the Municipality, from downtown to Spenard and Girdwood. This year’s installations will transform everyday vehicles into sculptural art, feature large-scale murals celebrating Alaska heritage, and revitalize local infrastructure with bold, bright designs.
“Great public spaces help create great communities,” said ACDA Executive Director Mike Robbins. “Beyond the Beige is a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can support local artists, energize neighborhoods, and make Anchorage a more vibrant place to live, work, and visit. ACDA is proud to partner with the Municipality on an initiative that brings creativity, community pride, and investment into public spaces across the Municipality of Anchorage.”
“Anchorage is surrounded by some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world and is home to an incredible creative community, and our urban spaces should reflect that energy,” said Mayor LaFrance. “The Beyond the Beige initiative is about transforming our neighborhoods with bold, local artwork and color. These projects will help turn everyday spaces and infrastructure into points of civic pride that brighten our community.”
See below for the full list of 2026 Beyond the Beige projects.
2026 Beyond the Beige Grant Recipients
Anchorage Museum — Alaska Art Car & Creative Mobility Showcase sculpture installation.
Huffman/O’Malley Community Council and Federation of Community Councils Inc. — Hillside public mural project at O’Malley Road and Lake Otis Parkway.
Girdwood Art Institute, Four Valleys Community Schools, and the Girdwood Lions Club — Girdwood Community Mural project.
Cook Inlet Housing Authority — Colorful repainting of a commercial building in Spenard.
Anchorage Museum, Seed Lab, Jeff Schultz Photography, and Artec Life — Large public mural, “Into the Sun,” on the Solar Building in downtown Anchorage.
2026 Mayor’s Arts Grant Recipients
Alaska Black Caucus
Alaska Chinese Association
Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance
Alaska Junior Theater
Alaska Theatre of Youth
Alaska Youth Orchestras
Anchorage Community Theatre Inc.
Anchorage Concert Association
Anchorage Downtown Partnership Community Services
Anchorage Folk Festival Inc.
Anchorage International Film Festival
Anchorage Symphony Orchestra
Cyrano’s Theatre Company
Drag for a Cause
HEART INC
Northern Culture Exchange
YMCA of Alaska
2026 Mayor’s Community Grant Recipients
Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis (AWAIC)
Alaska Children’s Trust
Alaska Chinese Association
Alaska Coalition of BIPOC Educators
Alaska Community Foundation — Chugach Park Fund
Alaska Creative Economies
Alaska Humanities Forum
Alaska Jewish Campus
Alaska Mental Health Consumer Web
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association
American Legion Jack Henry Post 1
Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness
Anchorage Community Land Trust
Anchorage Cops for Community
Anchorage Mushing District Inc.
Anchorage Project Access
APU Nordic Ski Center
Armed Services YMCA of Alaska
Asian Alaskan Cultural Center
Assets, Inc.
Beacon Hill
Bean’s Cafe, Inc.
Bridge Builders of Anchorage
Camp Fire Alaska
Catholic Social Services Alaska
Chugiak Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Data for Indigenous Justice
Enlaces
Friends of Boyer’s Orchard (FOBO)
Girl Scouts of Alaska
Girls on the Run Southcentral Alaska
Greater Anchorage Inc. dba Fur Rondy
Japan Alaska Association
Juanita Strong Forever Project
Korean Cultural Center Alaska
Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage, fiscally sponsored by the Alaska Public Interest Research Group
Nine Star Education & Employment Services
Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage
Northern Alliance Reentry Inc.
Pacific Community of Alaska
Pasefika Roots Institute of Language and Cultural Arts
Polynesian Association of Alaska
Renewable Energy Alaska Project
Rocket Fuel
Singletrack Advocates (Alaska)
Special Olympics Alaska — Anchorage Community
STAR, INC
The Dome
Umoja Coworking & Incubator
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Mayor LaFrance Announces 2026 Mayor’s Arts and Community Grant Recipients
