California Arts Council Breaks Previous Grant Award Record in Its First Round of Funding Alone for 2022

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today the California Arts Council announced its first round of grant awards for 2022, with funds for Cycle A totaling more than $31 million for more than 1,100 grants supporting nonprofit organizations and units of government throughout the state of California. All told, the projected sum of grants to be awarded for 2022’s regular program cycle is more than $40 million.

The dollar amount for Cycle A already marks the largest annual investment in the California Arts Council’s 46-year history. Nine more programs are slated for funding in Cycle B, and additional opportunities for Administration Organization grants will open in the coming months.

“We are elated today to be able to say that, with this first round of funds, we are placing a historic amount of money into the very worthy hands of California’s arts and cultural workforce—and with more yet to come,” said California Arts Council Chair Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez. “We have long since understood the value of our artists in this state, and we are incredibly grateful to our Governor and our Legislature for their support and sharing in a like-minded vision for a California where all people flourish with access to and participation in the arts.”

Organizations were awarded grants across seven different program areas within Cycle A, focused on the CAC’s efforts to address geographic equity, enable autonomy and sustainability for smaller organizations, and grow the strength of local arts agencies and their partnerships.

The California Arts Council’s grant programs are administered through a multistep, public process. Following an open call for applications, submissions are adjudicated by peer review panels from the arts and cultural fields and representative of California’s diverse geography; racial, ethnic, and gender identities; perspectives and knowledge. Based on panel recommendations and availability of funds, the Council voted on grant awards at a virtual public meeting on May 12. The final votes for the remaining grant programs for the fiscal year will take place in the fall.

Interested members of the public, artists, arts organizations, and community leaders are encouraged to visit the California Arts Council website to learn about future grant opportunities as details become available. Notification of grant program guidelines, applications, and technical assistance opportunities will be also published in the California Arts Council’s weekly e-newsletter, ArtBeat. Subscribe at https://arts.ca.gov/news/artbeat.

2022 Grant Programs and Awards – Cycle A

Awards are listed below by individual program.

Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief: Supporting arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Number of Grants Awarded: 519
Total Investment: $13,087,230

2022 Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief Awards (PDF)

Cultural Pathways: Supporting arts programs in communities of color, recent immigrant and refugee communities, or tribal groups.

Number of Grants Awarded: 78
Total Investment: $2,034,788

2022 Cultural Pathways Awards (PDF)

Impact Projects: Supporting collaborative projects that center artists and artistic practice in responding to issues currently faced by California’s communities.

Number of Grants Awarded: 391
Total Investment: $7,149,724

2022 Impact Projects Awards (PDF)

JUMP StArts (Cycle A): Supporting arts education projects for youth impacted by the justice system. 

Number of Grants Awarded: 93
Total Investment: $3,963,411

2022 JUMP StArts Awards (PDF)

Reentry Through the Arts: Supporting arts projects for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Number of Grants Awarded: 39
Total Investment: $1,727,517

2022 Reentry Through the Arts Awards (PDF)

State-Local Partners: Supporting county arts leadership.

Number of Grants Awarded: 51
Total Investment: $3,153,000

2022 State-Local Partner Awards (PDF)

State-Local Partner Mentorship: Supporting the establishment of county-designated local arts agencies in each of the four counties in which no such agency exists.

Number of Grants Awarded: 1
Total Investment: $36,000

2022 State-Local Partner Mentorship (PDF)

Media Inquiries:
Kimberly Brown
Public Affairs Specialist
kimberly.brown@arts.ca.gov

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The California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, initiatives, and services. The California Arts Council envisions a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.

Members of the California Arts Council include: Lilia Gonzáles-Chávez, Chair; Consuelo Montoya, Vice Chair; Gerald Clarke, Vicki Estrada, Jodie Evans, Ellen Gavin, Alex Israel, Phil Mercado, and Roxanne Messina Captor. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

The California Arts Council is committed to increasing the accessibility of its online content. For language and accessibility assistance, visit https://arts.ca.gov/about/about-us/language-communications-assistance.

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