MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SAN DIEGO

Grants
Grant Programs & Applications
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Grant Resources
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Grant Applicant FAQs
Answers to some of the frequently asked questions about our current grant offerings.

Grant Panels
Learn about the critical role of peer review panelists in the grant application process and view resources for panelists.

Recent Grants Search
Searchable information about California Arts Council grant awards from 2010 to today.

Grantee Map
View an interactive map of recent California Arts Council grantees.

Programs Evaluation Plan
Learn about the CAC’s process with the consulting firms Scansion and WolfBrown to evaluate the agency’s portfolio of programs, assessing the effectiveness of our grantmaking and contract-based funding.

Online Application Portal
SmartSimple is the California Arts Council’s online application portal and grants management system.
Collective
Collective: Statewide Opportunities Resource
Browse opportunities such as jobs, internships, artist calls, grants, conferences, workshops, and more.

Collective: Organizational Profile Login
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Learning Center
Why the arts?
Arts and culture are essential to us all. Explore the benefits of the arts by topic.

Research & Reports
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Racial Equity Learning Resources
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CAC Publications & Reports
A collection of reports published by the California Arts Council.

Arts Glossary
Learn about key terms used in the arts and culture sector, and accompanying resources.
News
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Blog
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COVID-19 News & Resources
Find the latest COVID-19 announcements, including emergency funding opportunities, arts reopening resources, and state guidance.

DREAM Magazine
Voices and stories from across the state, sharing a glimpse into the depth of impact of creativity and cultural expression in a region as large and diverse as California.

Art News
Find relevant arts and culture stories from the local and national media and blogosphere.
Programs
Arts in California Parks
Arts in California Parks helps to nourish, educate, and inspire individuals and communities.

Arts in Corrections
A partnership with the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, designed to have a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of people experiencing incarceration. www.artsincorrections.org

California Creative Corps
A media, outreach, and engagement pilot program designed to support communities statewide following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creative Economy of California
Building a resilient future for California’s creative economy.

California Cultural Districts
Highlighting some of the thriving cultural diversity and unique artistic identities within local communities across the state. www.caculturaldistricts.org

Poetry Out Loud
Igniting student potential through the power of poetry. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered statewide by the California Arts Council. www.capoetryoutloud.org

California Poet Laureate
The Governor’s advocate for the art of poetry. Visit www.capoetlaureate.org.

California Teen Poet Laureate
COMING SOON: State legislation supports the development of the state’s first Youth Poet Laureate program.

Individual Artists Fellowship
Through a network of regionally based Administering Organizations, the Individual Artists Fellowship program will continue to recognize, uplift, and celebrate the excellence of California artists practicing any art form.
About
About Us
Learn about our agency’s mission, vision, values. View our annual reports and a timeline of agency history. Find guidance on the California Public Records Act.

Racial Equity Statement
We believe that racial injustice is the most pervasive and entrenched form of injustice permeating the institutions and structures that everyone must access. Read our Racial Equity Statement.

Strategic Framework
View the Strategic Framework and Decision Support Tool that guide our agency and Council’s policies and practices.

Council Members
Meet our policy-setting Council, appointed by your elected officials. Learn how to apply for Council member appointments.

Staff
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Council Meetings
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Calendar
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Work With Us
Learn about employment and contracting opportunities at the California Arts Council.
Support the Arts
Donate
Your direct contribution to the California Arts Council is tax-deductible.

Keep Arts in Schools Fund
Support creativity in California’s classrooms by donating to the Keep Arts in Schools Voluntary Contribution Fund on your state tax return.

Arts License Plate
Proceeds from the California Arts Plate support arts programming across California.

Grantee Database

Grant Year

2025-26

Grant Program

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$22,750.00

Project Description

With funding from California Arts Council, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will deliver the Teen Art Collective (TAC), a 75+ hour after-school program that brings together diverse high school students for a transformative experience in contemporary art, identity, cultural preservation. In partnership with the Balboa Art Conservation Center, TAC fosters youth voices through hands-on workshops, mentorship with California artists, and field trips to artists’ studios and cultural institutions. Students engage with professionals—many reflecting their own backgrounds—and explore museum collections, conservation science, and creative careers. The program is free to all participants and emphasizes culturally responsive learning, emotional growth, and collaborative artmaking. TAC culminates in a student-curated exhibition at MCASD, activating youth narratives and cultivating critical thinking, leadership, and respect for diverse cultures in a safe, supportive environment.

Organization Summary

MCASD provides an unprecedented variety of exhibition spaces and experiences for the community, showcasing an internationally recognized collection and a dynamic schedule of exhibitions and public programs. The Museum presents a rotating schedule of exhibitions annually and has a strong history of touring exhibitions to prestigious national and international venues. Youth are a key audience and, since 2007, MCASD has offered free admission to all visitors ages 25 and under. Programs for young people include the Extended School Partnership, Teen Art Collective, Family Art Labs, and monthly Family Free Days, as well as interactive night time event series. The Museum’s Reflections creative aging program serves older adults. On Free Third Thursdays the Museum offers extended hours with a changing roster of films, talks and perfromances. Play Days take place on the second Sunday of the month are also free for all and offer dedicated family programming and artmaking. The Museum’s La Jolla campus reopened to the public in April 2022 after a significant expansion which quadrupled the gallery space.

Organization