Please note: The CAC has reopened the funding opportunity for Cultural Pathways: Technical Assistance. The deadline to apply for this grant program is January 26, 2023.

PRESS RELEASE: California Arts Council Reopens Three Funding Opportunities

Background & Purpose

The California Arts Council’s policies and practices prioritize racial equity and have a broad geographic reach into communities of all sizes and needs. These priorities include strengthening the creative expression of artists, artistic practice, and community collaboration as vital strategies in healing, stabilizing, uplifting, and transforming communities. Artistic projects that foster creative social change in equity and access provide crucial opportunities for sustaining strong, healthy, vibrant, safe, and resilient communities in a region. 

The Cultural Pathways-Technical Assistance program is rooted in the CAC’s commitment to serving the needs of an increasingly demographically complex California, and the belief that a healthy arts ecosystem reflects contributions from all of California’s diverse populations. 

The purpose of the Cultural Pathways-Technical Assistance program is to strengthen the capacity of 2022 Cultural Pathways grantee organizations that are rooted in historically and systemically under-resourced communities and to anchor the cultural and creative work of these organizations into the cultural landscape of the state.

Eligible Request Amounts 

Applicant organizations can request up to $150,000 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. 

• Current (2022) Cultural Pathways grantee organizations are not eligible to apply. 

• Organizations are not eligible to apply to receive technical assistance for their own organization. This grant program is specifically designed for an organization to deliver technical assistance and professional development to the 2022 Cultural Pathways grantees.

Matching Funds

This grant does not require matching funds.

Informational Webinar

Click here to watch the video
Presentation slides (PDF)

Arts Program Specialist Gabrielle Rosado provides an overview of the California Arts Council’s Cultural Pathways – Technical Assistance grant, currently open for applications.

Office Hours

Virtual office sessions are available to provide technical assistance the Cultural Pathways – Technical Assistance applicants. Arts Program Specialists Gabrielle Rosado and Josy Miller will discuss your organization-specific grant application questions, with participants admitted via a Zoom waiting room. Hours are offered as follows:

Thursday, December 22, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. – Click here to join the meeting

Monday, January 9, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. – Click here to join the meeting

Friday, January 20, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. – Click here to join the meeting

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. 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.