SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Arts Council (CAC) has announced a new Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants to design a process and co-create a grant program specifically to support California Native American artists. This program intends to address and mitigate funding disparities and increase the visibility of Native American artists.
As the only statewide funder of the arts, the CAC is committed to uplifting and prioritizing the voices and needs of Native American artists in alignment with its racial equity statement principles. This initiative is a direct response to recommendations from a community-led meeting of Native American artists in California held in 2019, organized by the California Arts Council in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs.
“Native American artists strengthen California’s vibrant arts and cultural landscape and contribute to a better quality of life for all Californians,” said CAC Executive Director Danielle Brazell. “The development of this grant program is a crucial step toward honoring our commitment to create opportunities for Native American artists and foster their artistic contributions.”
This RFP invites proposals from individuals, sole proprietors, and organizations based in California, including certified small businesses, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs), 501(c)(3) organizations, and private for-profit organizations.
Key Dates
- RFP Release Date: November 21, 2024
- Optional Webinars: January 10 & 13, 2025
- Deadline for Questions: January 16, 2025
- Proposal Submission Deadline: February 11, 2025
- Interviews (if conducted): February 18-21, 2025
- Project Timeline (approximate): March 17 – September 15, 2025
Webinar and Q&A Resources
The CAC will offer two opportunities for potential applicants to attend an informational webinar in support of this RFP on Friday, January 10, at 11 a.m. PST, and on Monday, January 13, at 5 p.m. PST. Interested parties must register online by clicking the link of their preferred webinar time and date. For those unable to attend, both webinars will be recorded and published online.
Questions about this RFP must be submitted directly to CAC’s Procurement Analyst Carla Pareja at carla.pareja@arts.ca.gov by Thursday, January 16 at 5 p.m. PST. All questions and responses from the webinars and RFP process will be made available to the public no later than Wednesday, January 22, at 5 p.m. PST.
The complete RFP, including submission instructions and evaluation criteria, is available online at the CAC’s “Work With Us” webpage and through the State Cal eProcure marketplace at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/event/8260/0000033530.
The final deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 5 p.m. PST.
Important Notes on Language
The CAC is committed to using respectful and inclusive language. For this RFP, the CAC uses the term “California Native American Tribes” to include both federally and non-federally recognized tribes. The term “California Tribal Nations” or “Tribal Nations” refers only to federally recognized tribes. To acknowledge the potential negative and colonial connotations of the term “stakeholder,” the CAC uses the term “Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs).”
Media Inquiries Only:
Carissa Gutiérrez
Director of Public Affairs
carissa.gutierrez@arts.ca.gov
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The California Arts Council is a state agency with a mission of strengthening arts, culture, and creative expression as the tools to cultivate a better California for all. It supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, initiatives, and services. The California Arts Council envisions a California where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts.
Members of the California Arts Council include: Roxanne Messina Captor, Chair; Leah Goodwin, Vice Chair; Gerald Clarke; Caleb Duarte; Vicki Estrada; Roy Hirabayashi; Alex Israel; Dorka Keehn; Phil Mercado; Nicola Miner; and Olivia Raynor. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.
The California Arts Council is committed to increasing the accessibility of its online content. For language and accessibility assistance, visit https://arts.ca.gov/about/about-us/language-communications-assistance. To read this announcement in Spanish, please use the website’s Google Translate tool by clicking the “Translate” link in the upper righthand corner of this page.
El Consejo de las Artes de California se compromete a aumentar la accesibilidad de sus contenidos en línea. Para obtener ayuda con el idioma y la accesibilidad, visite https://arts.ca.gov/about/about-us/language-communications-assistance. Para leer este anuncio en español, utilice la herramienta Google Translate del sitio web haciendo clic en el enlace “Traducir” situado en la esquina superior derecha de esta página.
