This year’s California Arts Council (CAC) Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) Program for Region 3 – Central California is now accepting applications through Friday, May 5. The Central California Region grant program is open to artists living in 17 counties across central California: Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Ventura.
The Arts Consortium is happy to partner with other county arts agencies throughout this region to promote this opportunity to local artists.
IAF Program grants support individual artistic practice through unrestricted funding and state-wide recognition to artists at key moments in their careers, elevating their capacity for continued contribution to the field and our state. This program is intended to support a broad spectrum of artists working in all disciplines, from diverse geographies and communities of all sizes across California.
The 17 counties in Central California have been divided into 3 micro-regions, each with a Lead Agency who will administer an application and review process for that micro-region. SVCREATES will partner with the three Lead Agencies to assist with hyperlocal panelist representation and hyperlocal support to individual artists through the application and award process. The micro-regions and their respective lead organizations include:
MICRO-REGION 1
Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo
Lead Agency: Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture
MICRO-REGION 2
Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare
Lead Agency: Fresno Arts Council
MICRO-REGION 3
Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
Lead Agency: San Benito County Arts Council
Awards will be made in three fellowship categories:
CAC Emerging Artist Fellows – $5,000
Emerging artists are those in the beginning stages of making their work public and engaging the larger community in their practice. Individuals at this career stage may have had a few public showings of their work, but do not yet have ongoing resources or support.
CAC Established Artist Fellows – $10,000
Artists in the Established tier regularly make their work public and engage the larger community in their practice. Individuals in this tier can give multiple examples of artistic and/or cultural works that have made significant social impact.
CAC Legacy Artist Fellows – $50,000
Artists in the Legacy tier can point to a significant body of work, produced over a substantial period of time, that has engaged their communities and made a significant social impact. Artists in this tier may be able to point to Emerging and Established Artists that they have mentored or influenced.
Up to 63 total awards will be made across the Central California region. The CAC has selected additional administering organizations for other regions in the state; interested parties outside of Central California can find more information on how to apply by visiting the CAC website.
Links to application forms and application support will be available on the SVCREATES’ website on Friday, March 10. Applications will be due Friday, May 5. Award notifications will be made by August 2023.
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ABOUT SVCREATES
SVCREATES is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to elevate Silicon Valley’s creative culture and strengthen the Santa Clara County region through the arts. SVCREATES builds the cultural sector’s capacity through grants and programs, raises the voice and visibility of our creative culture, and increases access to arts for high-need communities. To learn more about SVCREATES, visit www.svcreates.org.
