Individual Artist Fellowship

The Administering Organization — Individual Artists Fellowship grant, offered by the California Arts Council (CAC), supports regionally based organizations in implementing and managing regranting programs that directly benefit California artists. This program is part of the CAC’s effort to celebrate excellence in the arts and empower artists across all disciplines to engage with and impact their communities and the broader cultural ecosystem. Grounded in principles of racial equity, the program seeks to ensure statewide accessibility and inclusivity in its funding efforts. Selected Administering Organizations (AOs) will be responsible for regranting fellowships to individual artists within a defined geographic region in California. Applicants must demonstrate experience managing regranting programs for individuals, offering outreach and technical assistance, and operating an online grants management system. Organizations eligible to apply include California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, municipal or county agencies, and Tribal governments. Applicant organizations must apply to serve one of eight geographic regions. Each region has a maximum funding cap based on population size. For example, Region 6 (Los Angeles and Orange Counties) has a maximum request amount of $1,000,000, while smaller regions like Region 1 (Upstate counties) have a maximum of $300,000. The total allocation for the program will be determined once the state budget is finalized, and awards may differ from requested amounts depending on panel review and funding availability. Matching funds are not required. Applying for this grant does not prevent organizations from applying for other CAC programs. The 2025 application cycle opens April 2, 2025, and closes June 5, 2025. Panel reviews will take place in July–August, with funding decisions announced in September and notifications sent in October. The grant activity period will run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2027, with an interim report due October 30, 2026, and a final report due November 1, 2027. Grant funds are expected to be disbursed between January and March 2026. To support applicants, the CAC will host virtual office hours with Program Specialist Gabrielle Rosado on April 7, May 5, and May 27, 2025. Participation requires advance registration. For specific inquiries, applicants can contact Ms. Rosado directly at artsfellowsgrant@arts.ca.gov. Applications must be submitted via the CAC’s online portal at calartscouncil.smartsimple.com.