Release Date: 3/26/2026

City of Boise Announces America 250 Grant Recipients

11 recipients will receive funding to total $30,000 for cultural projects commemorating and celebrating America 250.

The City of Boise is thrilled to announce grant fund recipients for the America 250 grant opportunity. 11 recipients will receive funding to total $30,000 for cultural projects that occur between April 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026, as part of the city’s celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

Applicants were encouraged to draw on themes presented in the American Association for State and Local History’s 250th Anniversary Program Field Guide — Unfinished Revolutions, Power of Place, We the People, American Experiment, and Doing History — to spark exhibits, performances, publications, community conversations, and other creative or cultural projects.
 
A community-based panel reviewed applications based on quality, community benefit, alignment with City of Boise and Department of Arts & History’s mission, accessibility, and management. Together these funded projects and events contribute to creating opportunity and a city for everyone.

The recipients are: (*indicates first-time recipients)
 
$3,500 Awards
 
*Brown Like Me: (Theme: Power of Place) Support for Brown Like Me’s 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, a two-day event honoring Black history, culture, and community in Boise through a community dinner, guest speakers, a traditional quilting bee titled “Idaho’s Woven Tapestry,” and a free public block party featuring food, dance, and fellowship.
 
$3,000 Awards
 
*City Club of Boise: (Theme: Doing History) Support for City Club of Boise’s archival project, “A Legacy: City Club of Boise, the First Ten Years,” to digitize and transcribe 173 forum recordings from 1995–2005 and make them publicly accessible online at no cost.
 
*Flamenco Idaho: (Theme: Power of Place) Support for Flamenco Idaho’s “Landscapes Project,” an interactive, multidisciplinary performance at MING Studios that explores Boise’s mountains and foothills, river, desert, and cityscape through music, dance, poetry, and participatory artmaking.
 
Foundation for Idaho History: (Theme: We the People) Support for the Foundation for Idaho History to present “Porch Night: United We Celebrate,” an immersive storytelling collaboration with Story Story Night inspired by the Idaho State Museum’s America 250 exhibition. Features live storytelling and music highlighting Idaho’s diverse cultural communities and celebrations.
 
Gemma Arts: (Theme: Power of Place) Support for the “Here We Have Idaho: America at 250” concert series, which integrates music, storytelling, and interpretive content connected to America 250 themes. Funding will provide artist stipends, support educational materials, and cover accessibility and production costs, including ASL interpretation and event documentation.
 
The Boise Bard Players: (Theme: Unfinished Revolutions) Support for Boise Bard Players’ summer production of “The Tempest,” including artist stipends, production costs as well as a pre-show educational seminar exploring connections between the play’s themes and American history. The project will also include one free public performance in the Boise area to expand community access.
 
Treasure Valley Children’s Theater: (Theme: Doing History) Support for Treasure Valley Children’s Theater’s annual spring school tour production, “Where in the Capitol is Ida?,” an original interactive mystery performance that introduces elementary students to Idaho history through live theater and problem-solving. Performed in local schools and aligned with Idaho history curriculum, the program engages fourth-grade students across the Boise and West Ada School Districts.
 
$2,500 Awards
 
African Community Development: (Theme: We the People) Support for African Community Development’s six-part community workshop series designed to center community voices and create inclusive, participatory spaces that strengthen shared understanding and broaden who is represented in civic dialogue.
 
*Boise Little Theater: (Theme: American Experiment) Support for Boise Little Theater’s production of “Rock of Ages,” a high-energy musical celebrating iconic American rock of the 1970s and 1980s. This production will highlight resilience, individual aspiration, and collective action.
 
$2,000 Awards
 
Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts (TRICA): (Theme: Doing History) Support for TRICA’s Summer Arts Camps, a series of America 250 themed camps where youth can explore American life over time through dance, visual art, and historical inquiry. Campers engage with teaching artists and historians to create original performances and artwork, culminating in free public presentations.
 
$1,500 Awards
 
Common Ground Community Choir: (Theme: We the People) Support for Common Ground Community Choir’s Spring Choir Concert featuring a diverse program of music reflecting the cultural breadth and historical experiences of the United States. Funds will support artist stipends, production, and documentation costs.
 
For a full schedule of city-sponsored America 250 events, including Grant Recipient events, visit CityOfBoise.org/America250.

About the City of Boise’s America 250 Celebration 
The City of Boise is proud to participate in a citywide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. We're celebrating what makes Boise unique: a community grounded in history, strengthened by diverse voices, and committed to building a thriving future for generations to come. Through community events, tours and exhibitions, learning resources, and the Fourth of July celebration, we invite everyone to explore the people and places that have shaped our city so far and ways to participate in and contribute to the American story. All events are free and open to all. More information: CityOfBoise.org/America250 

About the Boise City Department of Arts & History
The Department of Arts & History is Boise’s local cultural agency dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging through accessible and place-based arts and history. Our mission is to cultivate a distinct sense of place which reflects Boise’s rich past, diverse communities, and unique natural setting. Our operations empower and serve Boise residents as we create opportunities that nurture and sustain Boise’s past and its creative economy. More information: BoiseArtsAndHistory.org