About
Established by the State of California in 1976, the California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all.
We are California’s only public arts grants provider with funding that is accessible to all 58 counties. As a state agency, we support local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, programs, and services. The arts sector is large and diverse and its businesses and workforce are a significant contributor to our state economy and identity. California is home to 11,563 nonprofit arts organizations and our state’s creative sector accounts for $18.67 billion in assets and 15.4% of California’s total employment.*
Featured Grantee Photos (clockwise from top left): Viver Brasil Dance Company – photo by Genna Cui; transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project; Gamelan Sekar Jaya; Latino Center of Art & Culture; CounterPulse – photo by Robbie Sweeny; Council members in a meeting; African American Shakespeare Company – photo by Joseph Giammarco.
