Arts & Youth

The California Arts Council's Arts and Youth program provides targeted funding to expand access to meaningful, culturally responsive arts education and engagement for young people throughout California. Designed for infants, children, and youth up to age 25, the program supports initiatives that foster self-expression, community connection, cultural literacy, and lifelong participation in the arts. The initiative reflects the CAC’s commitment to equity, particularly for youth whose access to arts programming is hindered by socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, linguistic, disability, or other systemic barriers. The Arts and Youth program invites applications from California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of municipal, county, or Tribal governments, and fiscally sponsored organizations. Grants of up to $25,000 are available to support projects taking place between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. No matching funds are required. However, organizations with annual revenue above $250,000 may not request more than 50% of their total prior-year revenue across all CAC grants. Organizations with revenue under $250,000 face no such funding restrictions. Applicants must choose between applying to this program or the Impact Projects program; they may not apply to both. Funding priorities include organizations serving historically underserved communities, especially those located in rural or inland California, in the bottom two quartiles of the Healthy Places Index, or in areas with a documented history of low CAC investment. Additional emphasis is placed on first-time applicants (excluding those who only received Cultural Pathways grants) and smaller organizations with total revenue below $250,000. The 2025 application period opens on April 2, 2025, and closes on June 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Panel reviews will take place in July and August, with award announcements and notifications scheduled for September. Funds are expected to be disbursed between January and March 2026. All grant recipients must submit a final report by October 30, 2026. To support applicants, virtual office hours will be held by Program Specialist Emily Taggart on April 7, May 5, and May 27, 2025. Sessions are conducted in a drop-in format, though advance registration is required. For additional information or individualized support, applicants are encouraged to contact Emily Taggart at artsyouthgrant@arts.ca.gov. Applications must be submitted through the CAC’s online portal at calartscouncil.smartsimple.com.