Purpose: What is the intended impact of this program?
The California Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Practitioners is a response to the economic crisis, and ensuing financial needs of individuals, that has resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. The large-scale shutdown that was needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 has continued to put the entire arts sector on hold, effectively disrupting artists’ ability to earn income. Individuals are the backbone of arts and culture—exhibitions and performances, educational arts programming, community-anchoring cultural enterprises, and social impact-based creative entrepreneurship—and they need financial help to remain in our communities and contribute to making the state artistically and culturally vibrant.

The California Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Practitioners is for artists and cultural practitioners who need financial help as a result of this federally recognized qualified disaster. Grants will be distributed to reflect the cultural and geographic diversity of the state of California—including those who are of historically underserved communities who are especially vulnerable financially due to this economic crisis. Although not factors in grant decisions, we strongly encourage the following to apply: Those of historically marginalized communities, which may include, but are not limited to, African and African American, Arab, Asian and Asian American, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Native American and Indigenous, Pacific Islander; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Transgender and Gender-Variant people; people with disabilities; women; and those who are low-income, have high debts, have difficulty obtaining or retaining sources of income, or live in rural or immigrant and refugee communities.

Administering Organization & Application Details

Application submissions for the California Relief Fund for Individual Artists and Cultural Practitioners are now closed.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) was announced as the Administering Organization for the program in August 2021. For more information, visit https://ybca.org/california-relief-fund/.

Program Contacts:

Submit your questions about the California Relief Fund for Artists & Cultural Practitioners to artistrelief@ybca.org.