HAYWARD ARTS COUNCIL

Grants
Grant Programs & Applications

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Grant Resources

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Grant Applicant FAQs

Answers to some of the frequently asked questions about our current grant offerings.

Grant Panels

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Recent Grants Search

Searchable information about California Arts Council grant awards from 2017 to today.

Grantee Map

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Programs Evaluation Plan

Learn about the CAC’s process with the consulting firms Scansion and WolfBrown to evaluate the agency’s portfolio of programs, assessing the effectiveness of our grantmaking and contract-based funding.

Online Application Portal

SmartSimple is the California Arts Council’s online application portal and grants management system.
Collective
Collective: Statewide Opportunities Resource

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Learning Center
Why the arts?

Arts and culture are essential to us all. Explore the benefits of the arts by topic.

Research & Reports

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Racial Equity Learning Resources

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CAC Publications & Reports

A collection of reports published by the California Arts Council.

Arts Glossary

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News
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Blog

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COVID-19 News & Resources

Find the latest COVID-19 announcements, including emergency funding opportunities, arts reopening resources, and state guidance.

DREAM Magazine

Voices and stories from across the state, sharing a glimpse into the depth of impact of creativity and cultural expression in a region as large and diverse as California.

Art News

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Programs
Arts in California Parks

Arts in California Parks helps to nourish, educate, and inspire individuals and communities.

Arts in Corrections

A partnership with the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, designed to have a positive impact on the social and emotional well-being of people experiencing incarceration. www.artsincorrections.org

California Creative Corps

A media, outreach, and engagement pilot program designed to support communities statewide following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Creative Economy of California

Building a resilient future for California’s creative economy.

California Cultural Districts

Highlighting some of the thriving cultural diversity and unique artistic identities within local communities across the state. www.caculturaldistricts.org

Poetry Out Loud

Igniting student potential through the power of poetry. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, administered statewide by the California Arts Council. www.capoetryoutloud.org

California Poet Laureate

The Governor’s advocate for the art of poetry. Visit www.capoetlaureate.org.

California Teen Poet Laureate

COMING SOON: State legislation supports the development of the state’s first Youth Poet Laureate program.

Individual Artists Fellowship

Through a network of regionally based Administering Organizations, the Individual Artists Fellowship program will continue to recognize, uplift, and celebrate the excellence of California artists practicing any art form.
About
About Us

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Racial Equity Statement

We believe that racial injustice is the most pervasive and entrenched form of injustice permeating the institutions and structures that everyone must access. Read our Racial Equity Statement.

Strategic Framework

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Council Members

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Staff

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Calendar

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Work With Us

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Support the Arts
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Arts License Plate

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Grantee Database

Grant Year

2026-27

Grant Program

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$18,638.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, the Hayward Arts Council, in partnership with the REACH Ashland Youth Center’s Arts & Creativity Program (Alameda County Office of Education), will implement Roots & Future, a school-year visual and media arts program for youth ages 14–24 in the unincorporated communities of Ashland, Cherryland, and South Hayward.

CAC funds will support lead artists, a teaching artist, youth stipends, materials, and a culminating public exhibition. Guided by established community-rooted artists, youth will engage in visual arts, photography, painting, mixed media, and digital image-making, anchored by two questions: Where do we come from? Where are we going? Participants document cultural memory and neighborhood history while producing original works that envision the futures they want to inhabit. The program culminates in a public exhibition and advances REACH’s cascading mentorship model.

Organization Summary

Hayward Arts Council – Core Programs & Services
1. Art Exhibitions & Galleries
HAC curates rotating exhibitions in six venues across Hayward, including:
John O’Lague Galleria and Gallery 2 (Within City Hall)
HAHS Art Gallery (within Hayward Area Historical Society)
Senior Center, Library Gallery Downtown, Weekes Branch Library

These spaces showcase local and regional artists and provide public access to diverse artworks.

2. Artist Support & Membership
Through its membership program, HAC offers:

Exhibition opportunities (in-person and online)

Calls for art and public art opportunities

Social media and monthly newsletter promotion

Networking events and receptions for artists and art lovers

3. Community Engagement & Education
HAC runs programs that foster creative growth and access to the arts:

Exhibits showcasing emerging, mid career and professional artists in a variety of media. Exhibits such as AAPI, Pride Month, Black History, and community highlights are presented every year.

Arts Education Exhibits showcasing students work highlighting foster care and neurodivergent youth are always part of the programs.

Teen poetry workshops

Presentation of student art awards and scholarships.

Arts Now Community Partnership with Create CA and HUSD, promoting equitable arts education

4. Online Exhibitions & Artist Spotlights
HAC features virtual exhibits and member artist highlights on its website, expanding visibility and access to local art.

5. Free Family Fun Art Classes
In partnership with Hayward Public Library, HAC presents art classes for ages 5-12 and caregivers in a inclusive environment where creativity grows and a teaching artist guides attendees with a hands-on-class once a month. HAC selects and pay teaching artists and provides supplies for attendees.
6. Older Adults Free Art Classes
At the Weekes Branch Library, HAC offers free classes for older adults where a teaching artist guides attendees with a hands-on-demo once a month. HAC selects and pay teaching artists and provides supplies for attendees.

Organization