The California Arts Council (CAC) has announced a new Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants to design a process and co-create a grant program specifically to support California Native American artists. This program intends to address and mitigate funding disparities and increase the visibility of Native American artists.

This initiative is a direct response to recommendations from a community-led meeting of Native American artists in California held in 2019, organized by the California Arts Council in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs.  

This RFP invites proposals from individuals, sole proprietors, and organizations based in California, including certified small businesses, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs), 501(c)(3) organizations, and private for-profit organizations. 

Key Dates

RFP Release Date: November 21, 2024
Optional Webinars: January 10, 2025, 11 a.m. and January 13, 2025, 5 p.m.
Written Questions Due: January 16, 2025, 5 p.m.
Questions and Answers Posted: January 22, 2025, 5 p.m.
Proposal Submission Deadline: February 11, 2025, 5 p.m.
Interviews (if conducted): February 18 –21, 2025
Project Timeline (approximate): March 17 – September 15, 2025

Webinar and Q&A Resources 

The CAC will conduct a webinar on this RFP on Friday, January, 10 at 11 a.m. (register) PST and Monday, January 13 at 5 p.m (register). Interested parties must register online to participate in the webinar. For those unable to attend, the webinar will be recorded and published online.

Questions regarding this RFP may be submitted through a public inquiry process. Email CAC Procurement Analyst Carla Pareja at carla.pareja@arts.ca.gov by 5 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 11. All questions and responses from the webinar and the RFP process will be made available to the public no later than Tuesday, January 22, at 5 p.m. PST.

The complete RFP, including submission instructions and evaluation criteria, is available at: https://caleprocure.ca.gov/event/8260/0000033530.