2027 Grant Application

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In 2026, YCCC invested $20,353 in 11 projects across six towns:

  • Comic Book Writing Workshops (Willamina): Seven workshops and a Free Comic Book Day taught 62 participants to tell stories in panels.

  • Ancestor's Garden (Dayton): Neighbors planted three garden beds of native plants like soaproot and soft rush.

  • Terroir Creative Writing Festival (Dayton): The 14th festival returned to Stoller to celebrate Oregon's literary voices.

  • Saturday Film Club (McMinnville): The club has met weekly since January, read a dozen local scripts, and shot a film that premieres at McMinnville Cinema 10 in February 2027.

  • Lunar New Year (McMinnville): The fourth annual celebration featured dragon and lion dance, koto, taiko, wushu, Korean performing arts, and hula.

  • Art Harvest Studio Tour Mentorship (McMinnville): Five working artists mentored 12 students.

  • Beverly Cleary Days (Yamhill): The town honored its hometown author, complete with a "Walk with Beverly" watercolor map.

  • Colors of Colima (Lafayette): Dancers performed at a Cinco de Mayo assembly and the McMinnville UFO Parade.

  • Hispanic Heritage Month (Newberg): The program included a Mercado Fest, pocket shrines, a Lotería workshop, and Día de Muertos.

  • Traveling Trunks (Newberg): The trunks share Indigenous art and stories, including Brook Thompson's plush salmon and lamprey, Christy Ruby's sea otter fur figure, and books from Grand Ronde.

  • Oregon ArtsWatch (county-wide): ArtsWatch gives local arts the steady coverage that 400 county arts stakeholders said they needed most.

If your idea brings culture to life in Yamhill County, we want to hear about it.

Applications for the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition grant program typically open October 1 and close November 15 at 11:59 pm PST.

Applicants can expect to be notified of funding decisions in late December, with grant agreements and checks generally issued by the end of January. All funded activities must take place between January 1 and December 31 of the grant year.

Apply for a Grant

Saturday Film Club, McMinnville

Projects must be completed within this timeframe. If a project cannot be completed as proposed, awarded funds may need to be returned. While extensions may be considered in exceptional circumstances, applicants are encouraged to plan projects within the stated grant period.

If significant changes to a funded project or timeline arise, please contact the Yamhill County Cultural Coalition (YCCC) as soon as possible.

Types of Projects YCCC Funds

The Yamhill County Cultural Coalition supports a wide range of projects that advance arts, heritage, and humanities in Yamhill County. Below are examples of the types of projects YCCC has funded in previous grant cycles, aligned with our mission and community priorities.

  • Projects that expand access to arts learning, support artists and students, and encourage hands-on creative participation across age groups.

    These projects often advocate for:
    access to arts education, skill-building, mentorship, and lifelong creative learning.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • Chehalem Ceramic Residency Program – artist residencies with public workshops and exhibitions

    • Art Harvest Studio Tour Student Mentorship Program – pairing high school students with working artists

    • Comic Book Writing Workshops – youth workshops culminating in printed comic booksDescription text goes here

  • Public programs that bring people together to celebrate culture through shared experiences such as performances, readings, workshops, and community gatherings.

    These projects often advocate for:
    community connection, cultural exchange, and public participation in the arts.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • Terroir Creative Writing Festival – a county-wide literary conference

    • Lunar New Year Celebration – community celebration of Asian culture

    • MLK Day Celebration: “At the Table with Dr. King” – civic and cultural performance honoring Dr. King’s legacy

  • Projects that preserve, interpret, and pass on local history, traditions, and cultural knowledge, often through intergenerational learning.

    These projects often advocate for:
    cultural continuity, historical understanding, and respect for traditional knowledge.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • Coming of Age Ceremony and Plankhouse Construction – cultural revitalization led by Kalapuya Weaving

    • Beverly Cleary Community Literacy Event – place-based literacy and heritage programming

    • Yamhill County Heritage Traveling Trunks – classroom resources focused on Native Oregon and local history

  • Projects that enhance cultural infrastructure and ensure that arts spaces are welcoming, accessible, and available to the public.

    These projects often advocate for:
    equitable access, ADA inclusion, and long-term community cultural spaces.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • Camellia Trail Expansion – community-designed murals in public spaces

    • Black Box Theatre ADA Updates – accessibility improvements for a community performance venue

  • Projects that document, amplify, and share cultural stories through media, journalism, podcasts, and public-facing platforms.

    These projects often advocate for:
    visibility of local culture, informed communities, and inclusive storytelling.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • News Coverage that Empowers Yamhill County Culture – county-focused cultural journalism

    • Beverly Cleary Days– Beverly Cleary Days is a free, family-friendly celebration held every year in the town where Beverly Cleary herself grew up. We bring together authors, illustrators, readers young and old, and enough fun to fill a chapter book.

  • Projects that support cultural expression through music, dance, visual arts, and traditional attire, especially for communities that have been historically underrepresented.

    These projects often advocate for:
    cultural pride, representation, and intergenerational transmission of cultural practices.

    Examples of funded projects include:

    • Colors of Colima: Traditional Regional Attire – folklórico dance attire supporting youth performance

    • Hispanic Heritage Month Programs – multi-event celebration of Latino arts and culture