California’s arts grant season begins January 19

At the California Arts Council, the first cycle of grant applications opens January 19.

This year, 12 grant programs have been rooted in several of the aspirational areas identified in the CAC’s strategic framework, including increased capacity building for local arts agencies, general operating support, multiyear grant opportunities, geographic equity, small organization prioritization, and funding for individual artists.

In an effort to make the agency’s grantmaking processes more effective and efficient, Council members voted to align grant activity periods with the fiscal year from which grant funds are allocated. To achieve this, the 2022 grant season will consist of two cycles, A and B, with applications opening in January and April, respectively.

Programs opening in Cycle A versus Cycle B are largely reflective of when current grant activity periods from our previous grant season will end. The two-part timeline also accounts for added time to develop new programs, and for programs that may be administered differently than they have been in the past. It provides an opportunity to receive outcome reports from programs to determine possible guidelines changes, allowing Council to invest more deeply in each program, reduce confusion in the field, and increase grantmaking efficiency for staff.

GRANT CYCLE A

APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY 19

Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief — Up to $30,000 in operational funding for arts and cultural organizations, prioritizing small organizations.

Cultural Pathways — Up to $30,000 for two years of support for arts programs in communities of color, recent immigrant and refugee communities, or tribal groups.

Impact Projects — Up to $20,000 for collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues currently faced by California’s communities, prioritizing projects of small organizations.

JUMP StArts — Up to $50,000 for high-quality arts education and artists-in-residence programs for priority youth and young people impacted by the justice system.

Reentry Through the Arts — Up to $50,000 for arts projects for return residents who have experienced incarceration.

State-Local Partners — Up to $60,000 for general operating support and technical assistance for county-designated local arts agencies.

State-Local Partner Mentorship — Up to $40,000 to establish a county-designated local arts agency in a county with no such identified agency.

GRANT CYCLE B

APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 2022 — More details coming soon

Administrators of Color Fellowship* — Support for an inclusive workforce for the field of arts and culture.

Arts and Accessibility* — Support for enhanced opportunities for arts participation by people with disabilities.

Folk and Traditional Arts — Support for California’s rich and diverse cultural traditions, its culture bearers and practitioners.

Individual Artists Fellowships — Support to recognize, uplift, and celebrate the creative practices of California artists at key career levels.

Statewide and Regional Networks — Support for arts service organizations providing practical resources for the communities they serve.

Find FAQs and other need-to-know information for grant applicants, such as informational workshops, webinars, and more here.