Grants for California Artists

The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) has launched the “Investing in Artists” grants program initiative for California artists. What is largely missing from current grants are those that support the individual capacity-building and self-sufficiency of artists – investing in the working tools and market strategies that allow artists to create high-quality work more consistently, and to distribute that work to new audiences and to achieve greater long-term creative independence and financial sustainability. The grants are not for developing or producing projects.

This program is designed to support diverse working artists in California in the performing, visual, literary, media, design and cross-disciplinary fields. The funding categories include:

Artistic Equipment and Tools which provides one-time implementation grants up to $15,000 each (with the average being closer to $10,000) for individual artists to acquire tools, materials or equipment that will strengthen their long-term capacity to create work.

This can include:

1. Artistic equipment, performance materials or technical supplies necessary to advance the creation of future artistic work.
2. One-time capital improvements to enhance artist’s studio, rehearsal, production or presentation space.
3. Professional fees for qualified technical, production or design consultants required to implement capital improvements or acquisitions.

Presenting and Marketing Work which provides two types of funding:

1. Planning grants for up to $5,000 in round one and two.
2. Professional fees for qualified consultants to conduct business planning, audience research, or develop new marketing ideas or distribution strategies of the work of artists.
3. Travel and meeting expenses for artist to investigate promising models, meet with potential collaborators, or conduct other planning activities in the field.
4. Out of pocket costs of supplies, printing, postage or telephone directly associated with the planning activity.

Because few grants are given to valley artists or arts and cultural organizations, it is important that local artists apply for this funding. We need to let grant givers know that there are qualified artists in all disciples that live and work here.

There are three rounds in the next year when grants will be funded. The Fresno Arts Council sponsored a workshop on July 16th with the Program Director of CCI here to meet and talk with artists about the grants. The deadline for the first round of applications is August 3, 2007. The deadline for the second round is January 11, 2008 and for the third round, June 6, 2008.

For more information, go to the CCI website at www.cciarts.org.

Update:

You may now register online for the next grant workshop.