Please note: The CAC has reopened the funding opportunity for Arts Education Exposure. Grant program guidelines have been revised for clarification of applicant eligibility, grantee requirements, and review criteria. Application submission deadlines have been extended by one week, from June 16 to June 23, 2022, to compensate for the weeklong closure to implement these changes.  

PRESS RELEASE: Round Two of the California Arts Council Arts Grant Season Reopens with Revised Guidelines

Background & Purpose
In 2016, the CAC expanded our arts education offerings to include the Arts Education Exposure (AEE) program. The purpose of the Exposure program is to support attendance at high-quality performances and exhibits for students who would particularly benefit from these experiences. Students may be identified as priority communities for participation due to socio-economic status, geographic region, or other aspects of students’ life experiences that elevate the impact of having opportunities to engage with these cultural assets. Exposure program experiences may include art exhibits and performances, field trips to arts venues, and/or in-school assemblies.  

Artists involved in this grant category will demonstrate the highest level of rigor and commitment to craft, and their work will offer deep cultural resonance with the student communities to be served. Student artwork, whether prepared in advance or executed onsite, is not appropriate as the artistic focus of this grant category. The impact of student attendance at artistic events should be complemented by pre- and post-attendance activities, such as artist talkbacks, teaching artist workshops, and/or facility tours.

Eligible Request Amounts 
Applicant organizations can request up to $60,000 for the two-year grant period. 

Funding Restrictions 
For organizations with total operating revenue above $250,000, the sum of requests for CAC grants during the same year of funding cannot exceed 50% of the total operating revenue from the most recently completed fiscal year.

Arts Education Office Hours

Virtual office sessions are available to provide technical assistance for the Artists in Schools, Arts Education Exposure, Arts Integration Training, and Creative Youth Development grant programs. Arts Program Specialist Amy Garrett will discuss your organization-specific grant application questions, with participants admitted via a Zoom waiting room. Hours are offered Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12-1pm through June 16. Click here to register.

Application Links:

Online Application Portal:
calartscouncil.smartsimple.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Grant Resources page

Grant Review Panel Process

2020 Grantee Information:

Program Timeline:

Staff Assistance

Before contacting staff, check FAQs to see if application questions can be answered. If staff assistance is still required for guidance or clarification, email is the best way to contact Program Specialists. We recommend that you contact staff well in advance of the deadline to ensure you can be accommodated. Please note: staff assistance is not available after 5:00 p.m. on the day of a grant deadline. People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf Blind, or have difficulty speaking may dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). Large print is available upon request.

Staff Contact: