Background & Purpose

The Arts and Youth program is rooted in the CAC’s belief that arts learning and engagement should be available to all young people in California. Providing access to meaningful, culturally responsive arts experiences helps youth develop a greater sense of self, deepen their connection to their communities, and make meaningful connections across histories and cultures. By participating in the arts, youth gain the knowledge, skills, and understanding to actively take part in creative processes, projects, and pursuits throughout their lifetimes as culturally literate, engaged citizens.

The CAC acknowledges that barriers to access are compounded by factors such as socio-economic status, geographic isolation, gender identity, racial identity, cultural identity, digital divide and disability and is committed to addressing these barriers in order to achieve greater equity. The Arts and Youth program expands meaningful arts participation and learning in diverse settings and contexts for infants, children, and youth ages 0-25 by prioritizing programs that directly bridge barriers to access and participation. 

Funding Priorities

• Organizations serving historically and systemically underserved communities located in the lower two quartiles of the Healthy Places Index, including rural and inland areas, as well as regions with a history of low investment from the CAC;
• First-time grantees, who have not previously received direct CAC funding (except for organizations whose only previous CAC funding was a Cultural Pathways grant); and 
• Small organizations with total revenues of $250,000 or below.

Eligibility

• Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3), California organizations
• Units of municipal, county, or Tribal governments
• Fiscally sponsored organizations

Eligible Request Amounts

Applicant organizations can request up to $25,000.

Matching Funds

Matching funds are not required for this grant.

Funding Restrictions

• For applicant organizations with total revenue below $250,000, there are no funding restrictions. 
• For applicant organizations with total revenue above $250,000, the sum of requests during the same year of funding cannot exceed 50% of the total revenue from the most recently completed fiscal year. 
• Applicants cannot apply to this program and the Impact Projects program; they must choose one.

2025 Office Hours

Virtual office sessions are available to provide technical assistance for the Arts and Youth grant program. Join Arts Program Specialist Emily Taggart as she discusses your organization-specific grant application questions.

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, April 7 – 1 p.m.: Register here

Monday, May 5 – 1 p.m.: Register here

Tuesday, May 27 – 1 p.m.: Register here

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.