SAMUEL LAWRENCE FOUNDATION

Grants
Grant Programs & Applications

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

Grant Resources

View training and technical assistance resources including FAQs, training videos, webinars, and instructions.

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

For organizations: apply for and access an organizational profile to post opportunities to Collective.

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

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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

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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

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$18,750.00

Project Description

Dance Start, a flagship program of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation, uses dance as a pathway to literacy and community connection for underrepresented children ages 3–8 across San Diego County. CAC grant funds will sustain free classes at Neighborhood House Association Head Start Centers, King Chavez Academy, and William J. Oakes Boys’ & Girls’ Club; expand programming to South Bay, Solana Beach, and San Marcos in partnership with Episcopalian Community Services, Southwestern College, La Colonia Boys’ & Girls’ Club, and CSU San Marcos; and increase workshops at Pacific Beach Recreation Center. Funds will also provide children and families free tickets to professional dance performances and offer paid teaching experience to college dance students. Through movement and storytelling, Dance Start nurtures vocabulary, listening comprehension, and social-emotional development in historically underserved San Diego communities.

Organization Summary

All SLF programs and projects demonstrate the power of our guiding principles: collaboration, shared learning, innovation.
The Samuel Lawrence Foundation (SLF) strives to promote human interaction and encourage broader community access to science, education, and the arts. Behind every successful SLF project are creative ideas, persistent hope, and clear communications, which invite others to be inspired and contribute their talent. We achieve this work by connecting with our community’s knowledge and collaborating on solutions. Our collective impact among direct programs is a testament to the power of collaboration and encouragement. SLF has several programs categorized into 5 main categories : Environment (San Onofre and Beyond, Top to Top, Social Justice in Uniontown Alabama, Climate Resilience Initiative) Science and Medicine (Microbiome Research and Earth Microbiome Project, Electromagnetic Field Research) Education (Kabul Schools Connection, Floating Schools of Bangladesh, Barrio Botany, Steam Leadership Series) Arts (Dance Start, Dually Noted, Open Door for the Arts, National STEAM photography exhibition) and Unsung Hero-ines. Each program seeks to help make the world a better place and to improve the lives of its inhabitants.

Organization