ARTS COUNCIL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Grants
Grant Programs & Applications

Learn about state arts funding for organizations and individuals. Access current guidelines and applications.

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 2017 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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Collective: Custom Alerts

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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

Access research, reports, and journal articles from the global arts and culture fields.

Racial Equity Learning Resources

Access racial equity tools, research, and community learning resources.

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
ArtBeat Newsletter

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Press Releases

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Blog

Read featured stories of California’s creative community, featuring guest features and voices from our grantees.

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

View the schedule and record of the Council’s public meetings.

Calendar

View dates and details on upcoming meetings, events, and workshops.

Work With Us

Learn about employment and contracting opportunities at the California Arts Council.
Support the Arts
Donate

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Arts License Plate

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

Grantee Database

Grant Year

2026-27

Grant Program

State-Local Partnership

Award Amount

$74,250.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, ARTS COUNCIL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY will invest in the local creative economy by awarding $220,000 in annual grants to artists and nonprofits. We will produce the annual Open Studios Art Tour, which generates $1M in local art sales, and provide arts education to over 11,000 students, prioritizing neighborhoods with the least access to resources to improve community connectedness and opportunity. Through the Watsonville Center for the Arts and the Tannery Arts Center, we’ll provide essential spaces for creators to teach, work, and thrive. By offering professional support and public advocacy, we help artists build sustainable careers. Our work fuels a sector that contributes $68M to the local economy each year, proving that a vibrant arts scene is essential to a healthy, connected Santa Cruz County.

Organization Summary

Guided by its 2022-27 Strategic Plan, Arts Council Santa Cruz County will build, support, and sustain a dynamic, responsive, and inclusive arts culture in Santa Cruz County as characterized by:
-Culturally rich and historically neglected communities are elevated, celebrated, and have a position of power in the arts ecosystem that reflects their cultural assets
-Art and artists drive the County’s cultural and economic success and well being
-Santa Cruz County residents of all backgrounds are engaged in a continuum of meaningful and relevant arts engagement activities that provoke a greater sense of belonging
-BIPOC artists and arts organizations that serve the County’s BIPOC community are well-resourced and well-positioned for their important work
To do so, the Council will pursue five strategic priorities:
-Promote an inclusive vision of arts in the County and the importance of vibrant and thriving arts ecosystems
-Increase investment in BIPOC communities and organizations in Watsonville and throughout the County
-Partner with a diverse set of actors to develop the County’s cultural economy
-Elevate the importance of high-quality, culturally relevant arts learning and support capacity and programming to foster the future generation of artists and art lovers
-Strengthen the Council’s culture and operations to enable its intended impact in the community

Through grants to artists and arts organizations, arts education programs that serve more than 18,000 youth across Santa Cruz County, and community initiatives such as Open Studios, the Tannery Arts Center, and the Watsonville Center for the Arts, we help Santa Cruz County thrive.

Organization