The Central Coast Creative Corps, a program funded by the California Arts Council in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council and five other county arts councils, will provide $140,000 grants to 23 projects formed between community-based organizations and artists, creative workers, and other culture bearers.
The program’s goal is to invest in artists across disciplines in collaboration with community partners for 12-month projects that produce a sustained outreach and engagement initiative addressing one of the following four priority areas:
- Public health awareness to stop the spread of COVID-19
- Public awareness of water and energy conservation, climate change mitigation, emergency preparedness, relief, and recovery
- Civic engagement, including election participation
- Social justice and community engagement
The grant opportunity is open to community-based organizations in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
Community partners are invited to apply for the funds to engage an artist (or individual artist collective) for a one-year project from September 2023 to August 2024. Of the funding award, $100,000 will go directly to the artist for their work on the campaign; $20,000 is allocated for artist-community relations, supplies and materials, and other costs incurred for production and/or implementation; and $20,000 is for program administration.
The Central Coast Creative Corps includes the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council, the Arts Council for Monterey County, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, the San Benito County Arts Council, the Ventura County Arts Council, and the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture (which serves as the lead administering organization). The CCCC envisions a Central Coast where all communities thrive through artistic, creative, and innovative solutions for civic, historical, and cultural injustices.
Community partners who receive grants will be able to access a directory of Central Coast artists expressing interest in program participation, or they may work with an artist with whom they may already be affiliated. Artists can sign up to join the directory.
This program is part of the California Creative Corps, developed by the California Arts Council in partnership with the State legislature. California Creative Corps is an economic and workforce recovery pilot program intended to support pandemic recovery and the environmental, civic, and social engagement of California’s most disproportionately impacted communities.
More information about eligibility, how community partners can apply for this grant, and upcoming information sessions that will offer guidance and address questions throughout the application period can be found on the Central Coast Creative Corps website. The deadline to apply is May 1.