Before applying, please review the full program guidelines for detailed information on program requirements and eligibility.

• Application Deadline: April 30, 2026, 11:59 PM
• Grant Request Amount: Up to $30,000
• Grant Activity Period: October 1, 2026 — September 30, 2027
• Estimated Arrival of Funds: January — March 2027 

Background & Purpose

The California Arts Council’s Strategic Framework prioritizes racial equity and broad geographic reach into communities of all sizes and needs. Recent data and community input demonstrate the need for greater access to general operations funding in support of maintaining California arts and cultural organizations during times of uncertain economic growth. 

The General Operating Support grant program provides direct funding to arts and cultural organizations in support of ongoing operations. 

Arts organizations defined: An arts and cultural organization is defined as an entity with a primary purpose of providing arts, creative, or cultural programming/services. Assessed by CAC staff, this purpose is determined by the organization’s mission, purpose statement, and/or by its summary of core organizational programs and services. 

Eligibility

Organizations eligible to apply include: 

1. Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), California organizations 
2. Units of municipal, county or Tribal governments
3. Fiscally sponsored organizations
4. Arts service/network organizations with total revenue of $5 million or below
5. Arts producing or presenting organizations with total revenue (TR) of $1.5 million or below 

Funding Restrictions  

• Organizations who apply for the 2026 State-Local Partners grant are not eligible to apply for the General Operating Support grant.
• Arts service/network organizations can only apply if they have a total revenue (TR) of $5 million or below.
  • Arts service/network organization defined: An organization with the primary purpose of providing practical services for artists, creators, culture bearers, and/or arts and cultural organizations (ex. professional association, coalition, etc).
• Arts producing or presenting organizations can only apply if they have a total revenue of $1.5 million or below.
  • Arts producing or presenting organization defined: An organization with the primary purpose of creating or exhibiting artistic or cultural work and/or cultivating arts learning (ex. theatre, gallery, music studio, etc).

2025 Office Hours

Virtual office sessions are available to provide technical assistance for the Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Support grant. Join Arts Program Specialist Arielle Rubin as she answers general questions regarding this program.

Office hours are structured to be a ” drop – in” format. Audience members are welcome to join and exit as needed; advanced registration is required to participate. The schedule for office hours is listed below:

• Monday, March 16, 2026, 10-11am – Register Here
• Monday, March 30, 2026, 12-1pm – Register Here
• Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10-11am – Register Here

Program Timeline