Grants for Arts in California
Last updated October 4, 2026
There are 17 active grants for arts tagged to California, part of 5,005 active grants for arts listed nationwide. Updated daily.
Find the grants for arts matched to your org
Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 17 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.
| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Anderson Children's Foundation Grants Anderson Childrens Foundation · Foundation ~April · Varies The Anderson Children's Foundation funds nonprofit programs serving children and youth in the Coachella Valley of California (health, education, recreation, arts). | |
| ARTogether Mini-Grant for Artists ARTogether · Foundation Rolling · Varies ARTogether (Oakland, CA; 'where immigrants and refugees connect and create') offers a Mini-Grant for artists to support a current, ongoing project — funds may be used for art supplies, equipment, costumes, technical support, etc.… | |
| CCI Zoo Labs: FUND Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Up to $50K Center for Cultural Innovation (CA) runs Zoo Labs: FUND (up to $50,000 unrestricted + mentorship) for Bay Area culturally-rooted music teams. Recurring annual; 2025 cycle closed. | |
| ACTA Apprenticeship Program Alliance for California Traditional Arts · Foundation Not published · Varies The Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) Apprenticeship Program contracts exemplary California-based master folk/traditional artists to provide intensive 6–12 month mentorship to qualified apprentices, sustaining the state's… | |
| Del Mar Foundation Community Grants Del Mar Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Del Mar Foundation supports organizations, projects and activities that promote civic pride and community cohesiveness in Del Mar, California - acquiring and preserving open space, improving beaches and parklands, and sponsoring… | |
| Decentralized Pictures Film Financing Awards Decentralized Pictures Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Decentralized Pictures is a non-profit that offers film financing awards decided by its user community. | |
| CCI Quick Grant Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Up to $600 Center for Cultural Innovation (CA) offers the Quick Grant — up to $600 professional-development microgrants to CA artists/arts workers, OPEN on a rolling monthly (15th) cycle. | |
| CCI Investing in Artists: Artistic Innovation Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Up to $9K Center for Cultural Innovation (CA) runs Investing in Artists: Artistic Innovation (up to $9,000) for individual Bay Area performing/media artists. Recurring annual; 2025 cycle closed. | |
| Building Bridges Documentary Fund Center for Asian American Media · Foundation Not published · $10K – $100K Center for Asian American Media (San Francisco, CA) runs the Building Bridges Documentary Fund for filmmakers making documentaries about the U.S.-Muslim community ($10K–$100K by phase). | |
| CCI San José Creative Economy Fund Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K Center for Cultural Innovation (CA) administers the San José Creative Economy Fund (up to $8,000) for San José creative-sector small businesses. 2026 cycle closed July 17, 2026; recurring annual. | |
| ACTA Living Cultures Grants Program Alliance for California Traditional Arts · Foundation Not published · Varies Grants from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) supporting nonprofit organizations and groups practicing and preserving California's folk and traditional arts, with emphasis on low-income communities and communities of… | |
| Community Foundation for Oak Park General Fund Grants Community Foundation for Oak Park · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 The Community Foundation for Oak Park (California) issues grants from its general fund and its special funds; general fund grants 'are usually $500 or less' because the general fund must also support Foundation operations. | |
| Rohnert Park Utility Box Art Program City of Rohnert Park Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $2K The Rohnert Park Utility Box Art Program (approved by City Council Feb 10, 2026), funded by the Rohnert Park Foundation, is an annual program (July to July) with a $30,000/year budget funding $2,000 for each of 15 city-owned traffic… | |
| Community Arts Grants Arts Council for Monterey County · Foundation Not published · Up to $8K Grants of up to $7,500 annually to nonprofit organizations (total revenue up to $3 million) to bring public arts and culture programs to life in Monterey County; one grant per organization per year. | |
| CCI Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment Center for Cultural Innovation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Center for Cultural Innovation (CA) runs Investing in Artists: Tools & Equipment (up to $5,000) for craft artists nationally. Recurring annual; 2025 cycle closed. | |
| Burbank Arts & Education Foundation Grant Program Burbank Arts and Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Twice each year (Spring and Fall), the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation (BAEF) awards grants to Burbank Unified School District TK-12 public-school teachers, staff, and administrators to fund classroom projects and programs in arts… | |
| KidsPlay Youth Activity Funding Assistance (Community Foundation of Orange) Community Foundation of Orange · Foundation Rolling · Up to $250 'Created by the Community Foundation of Orange in 2007, KidsPlay ensures that no child is left on the sidelines' by providing access to youth sports, visual and performing arts, and enrichment programs. 'KidsPlay currently supports… |
Showing 1–17 of 17
About grants for arts in California
Arts grants support visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, cultural preservation, and creative organizations. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the flagship federal funder, distributing over $160 million annually. State arts councils, foundations like the Andy Warhol Foundation and Mellon Foundation, and corporate sponsors provide extensive additional funding.
Grants for Arts in other states
Other grant categories in California
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for an NEA grant?
The NEA offers grants through multiple programs including Art Works, Challenge America, Our Town, and Research: Art Works. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov. Most require 501(c)(3) status or government affiliation. The NEA funds in specific disciplines (dance, design, literature, media arts, music, theater, visual arts) with distinct application cycles.
Can individual artists get grants?
The NEA's direct individual grants are limited to Literature Fellowships and honorary awards. However, many state arts councils, foundations (Pollock-Krasner, United States Artists, Creative Capital), and residency programs provide direct artist funding. Fiscal sponsorship through organizations like Fractured Atlas opens additional grant opportunities for individual artists.
Are there grants for community arts programs?
Yes. The NEA's Our Town program funds creative placemaking. State and regional arts councils heavily fund community programming. Foundations like ArtPlace America, the Kresge Foundation, and local community foundations support community arts. CDBG funds can support arts-based community development projects.
Get a shortlist of Grants for Arts in California built for your organization
Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.
Find my grants — emailed to meHere's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 17 grants
~2 hrs
at ~7 min per grant profile
Your agents, the same 17
under a minute
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning