GRANTS
Pennsylvania Partners on the Arts (PPA) is a partnership between local organizations and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA). Operating in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, PPA re-grants funds to support a wide variety of local and community arts activities. Since its creation in 1996, PPA has demonstrated enormous success in achieving the PCA’s mission: to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s communities through the arts by providing thousands of artistic activities, arts services and arts programming within the Commonwealth of PA.
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) program provides regionalized funding through the Creative Sector Flex Fund and Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grants.
As one of fourteen regional PPA partners with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Berks Arts serves Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill Counties.
For additional information, contact:
PPA Administrator
Berks Arts
P.O. Box 854
Reading, PA 19603-0854
Phone: 610.898.1930
email: PPA@berksarts.org
CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT CYCLE ARE NOW CLOSED:
As a creative entrepreneur, you are a leader on the pathway to recovery and increased opportunity in our rapidly changing environment. The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant program provides creative entrepreneurs with small business consulting and $2,000 in critical financial resources to grow businesses and revenue.
Funding for the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program comes from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
***Attention: Creative Entrepreneurs located in Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill Counties***
As of September 1, 2025, funds for PA Council on the Arts’ (PCA) Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program are temporarily unavailable for the 2025-2026 grant cycle in the aforementioned counties. Questions regarding CEA program eligibility, the application process, and the timeline for future availability of funds may be directed to Amanda Lovell at the PCA.
Current 2024-2025 CEA grantees located in the aforementioned counties should continue to contact and report to John Ruggles at Berks Arts regarding their 2024-2025 CEA grant and final reporting requirements.
CREATIVE SECTOR
FLEX FUND
APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT CYCLE NOW CLOSED.
**No applications will be accepted, or reviewed before Sept. 1, 2025.
Designed to address the changing needs of dynamic PA arts organizations with average annual revenue ranging from $10,000 to $200,000 (formerly those eligible for the now-retired Program Stream & Entry to Program Stream).
***Attention: Nonprofit organizations operating in Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill Counties***
As of September 1, 2025, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) will be the point of contact for the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF) 25-26 grant cycle.
2024-2025 CSFF grantees located in the aforementioned counties should continue to contact and report to John Ruggles at Berks Arts regarding CSFF grant questions and final reporting requirements due on January 31, 2026.
General questions regarding the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) program and the CSFF may be directed to Amanda Lovell at the PCA.
The Berks LaunchBox hosts free seminars and workshops on topics of interest to entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The sessions are an important part of our strategy to help grow and expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the community. Past topics have included legal issues, social entrepreneurship, improving your social media presence, creating a pitch and more. Some of these events include networking time. Please plan to attend one of our upcoming sessions! Check back frequently for new offerings.